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FBL-ENG-PR-LEICESTER-PUEL
Struggling Leicester sack coach Claude Puel
LONDON, Feb 24, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Leicester announced the sacking of
manager Claude Puel on Sunday following the struggling Premier League side’s
sixth defeat in seven games.
Saturday’s 4-1 loss to Crystal Palace dropped the 2015/2016 champions to
12th, only eight points above the relegation places.
A statement released by the club said: “Leicester City Football Club has
today (Sunday) parted company with Claude Puel, who leaves his position as
first team manager with immediate effect.”
First team coaches Mike Stowell and Adam Sadler will assume caretaking
responsibilities.
“The club would like to thank Claude for his efforts in leading the team
during his 16 months in the role and wish him well in his future career,” the
club added.
Puel’s assistant manager Jacky Bonnevay has also been let go.
The 57-year-old Puel is the fifth English topflight manager to be sacked
this season, following Slavisa Jokanovic from Fulham, Mark Hughes
(Southampton), Jose Mourinho (Manchester United) and David Wagner
(Huddersfield).
The Foxes’ miserable run includes a defeat to League Two side Newport in
the FA Cup.
Their dip in form followed a promising period over Christmas when they
beat both Chelsea and Manchester City, their last home success on Boxing Day.
Their last win was on New Year’s Day, with Jamie Vardy scoring the goal in
a 1-0 victory at Everton.
The Midlands side have endured a traumatic season with the death of owner
Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others in a helicopter crash outside the
club’s King Power stadium in October.
Puel took over from Craig Shakespeare at Leicester in October 2017 after a
year long spell in charge of Southampton.
The Frenchman steadied the ship and eventually led the side to a ninth-
place finish in the Premier League.
He was backed by the club’s board last summer, spending money on the likes
of James Maddison, Ricardo Pereira, Rachid Ghezzal and Caglar Soyuncu as he
aimed to change Leicester’s style of play.
However, the Frenchman’s approach came under fire from fans, especially
his use of Jamie Vardy – with the former England striker also publicly
questioning his manager’s tactics and training regime.
Celtic manager and former Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers is reported to be
among the front-runners to replace Puel in the summer, with the club set to
install an interim manager for the remaining 11 matches of the season.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1900HRS