“Leicester City Part Ways with Steve Cooper After Just 12 Premier League Matches as the Foxes Begin Their Search for a New Manager to Steady the Ship Amid a Challenging Start to the Season”
Leicester City have officially parted ways with manager Steve Cooper after just 12 Premier League games in charge. The announcement, made on Sunday afternoon, comes in the wake of a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.
The Foxes find themselves in a precarious position, sitting 16th in the league table, just two points clear of the relegation zone. Their struggles were compounded as 18th-placed Crystal Palace earned a crucial point against Aston Villa the same day, narrowing the gap.
While Cooper’s tenure included victories over Bournemouth and a dramatic late win against Southampton, his side has faltered since, securing just one point from their last four matches. With nearly a third of the season gone, Leicester’s board felt a change was necessary to stabilize the team and revive their campaign. The search for a successor begins as the Foxes aim to turn their fortunes around.
Steve Cooper’s dismissal marks a rapid end to a tenure that began just this summer when he succeeded Enzo Maresca, who departed Leicester City to take charge at Chelsea. Cooper, previously known for guiding Nottingham Forest to Premier League promotion through the Championship play-offs and ensuring their survival in their first season back, was seen as a steadying presence for the Foxes. However, his time at the King Power has been cut short after a disappointing start.
Leicester’s focus now shifts swiftly to finding a replacement who can rescue their season. The search is expected to feature familiar names, including some of the candidates considered before Cooper’s appointment in the summer. With a wealth of experienced and eligible managers on the market, the club will aim to make a decisive choice to steer them clear of relegation trouble and reinvigorate their campaign.
Graham Potter is set to be a prominent name linked with the Leicester City job following Steve Cooper’s departure. With Potter still without a managerial role and the England job now unlikely to be in his immediate future, the former Brighton & Hove Albion boss could be eyeing a return to club management.
Other potential candidates include Carlos Corberan, who has revitalized West Bromwich Albion and guided them towards the top six of the Championship. Ruud van Nistelrooy, recently appointed as interim manager at Manchester United, may also be considered, along with Lee Carsley, currently overseeing England’s U21s. These names, among others, could be in the frame as Leicester seek a manager to turn around their fortunes.