Leicester City banking on Dean Smith’s experience to stay up
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Dean Smith will take charge for Leicester’s last eight games of the campaign.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Leicester City have named former Aston Villa and Norwich City boss Dean Smith as caretaker manager until the end of the season, the Premier League club announced on Monday.
The 52-year-old Englishman replaces Brendan Rodgers, who was sacked on April 2 after his side’s slump into relegation trouble.
He will take charge of Leicester’s last eight games of the campaign as they battle to extend their nine-year stay in the top tier.
The Foxes sit second bottom in the table and are two points from safety after last Saturday’s damaging 1-0 home defeat by fellow strugglers Bournemouth – their 19th league loss of the season.
“I’m really happy to have the opportunity to lead the team during these final weeks of the season,” Smith said.
“The challenge in front of us is clear, but it’s one myself and my coaching team have experienced before and, with the quality in this squad and the number of games remaining, it’s very much achievable.
“Our first job is to rebuild confidence and instil belief in the team and I’m looking forward to getting to work with the players this week.”
Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha expressed confidence that Smith is the right man.
“We’ve endured a challenging season, but I have no doubt that we have the quality in our squad to win this fight,” he said.
“Dean’s experience will be key to unlocking that potential, helping the team rediscover its confidence and channelling the support of our fans, who will be so important during these final eight games.
“This is a fight we can win, together.”
Leicester have lost both matches since Rodgers was dismissed, with first-team coaches Adam Sadler and Mike Stowell taking charge on an interim basis prior to Smith’s appointment.
Smith’s backroom staff will include former Chelsea and England captain John Terry, who previously worked for him as an assistant coach at Villa.
Craig Shakespeare, who was assistant coach to Smith at Norwich and Villa, will also reprise his role at Leicester, the club he guided to the Champions League quarter-finals during his spell in charge of them in 2017.
Smith, who was sacked by second-tier Norwich in December, faces a daunting assignment for his first game, a trip to in-form champions Manchester City on Saturday.
The Foxes have not won a game in all competitions since a 4-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Feb 11.
“Saturday will be a big test, but it’s the kind of occasion that reminds us all what it means to be a Premier League club, competing on the biggest stages against the best players in the world,” he added. AFP, REUTERS
