Claude Puel is to take charge at Leicester
Claude Puel has been named the new manager of Leicester and the former Southampton boss has agreed a contract which runs until June 2020.
The 2015/16 Premier League champions have moved quickly to replace Craig Shakespeare, who was fired last week after a 1-1 draw with West Brom continued Leicester’s faltering start to the season.
The Foxes have subsequently been guided to a League win over Swansea and a Carabao Cup victory over Leeds by caretaker boss Michael Appleton, who will continue in his role as assistant manager.
He will work under the experienced Frenchman Puel, who has previously managed Lyon and Monaco, and steered Southampton to an eighth-place finish and an EFL Cup final last term, before he was dismissed at the end of the season.
Puel said: “It’s a great privilege to become the new manager of Leicester City – a club whose values and ambitions are closely aligned to my own.
“The opportunity to help the club build on its remarkable recent achievements is a truly exciting one and I’m looking forward to working with the owners, players, staff and supporters to deliver further lasting success.”
And Leicester City Vice Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “When we began the process of identifying a new manager, the board quickly established the profile of candidate we needed to take the Club forward and Claude Puel was a perfect fit.
Puel was sacked after just a season in
Puel was sacked after just a season in charge at Southampton despite an eighth-place finish and a Cup final appearance
“Upon meeting Claude, his attention to detail, knowledge of our squad, understanding of our potential and his vision to help us realise it were extremely impressive.
“He quickly emerged as the outstanding candidate and I am delighted we will have the opportunity to reinforce our long-term vision, aided significantly by his expertise.”
Puel, 56, finds himself back in the Premier League just 133 days after losing his Southampton job.
Leicester are 14th in the table after Saturday’s win and the new man’s first game in charge will be Sunday’s home game with Everton