Leicester City consider Celtic's Ange Postecoglou as Brendan Rodgers replacement?

By Oliver Thomas, Senior Reporter | 20 September 2022

Leicester consider Postecoglou as Rodgers replacement?

Celtic head coach Ange Postecoglou emerges as a potential candidate to replace Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City, according to a report.

Celtic head coach Ange Postecoglou has emerged as a potential candidate to replace Brendan Rodgers at Leicester City, according to a report.

Rodgers is facing an uncertain future at the King Power Stadium, with the Foxes sitting rock bottom of the Premier League table after accumulating only one point from their opening seven games.

Last weekend's heavy 6-2 defeat away against Tottenham Hotspur was Leicester's sixth successive loss, and Rodgers has admitted that his job is under threat.

"I don't know, to be honest. Whatever their [the owners'] decision is, I will always respect it," Rodgers told Sky Sports News after Leicester's defeat in North London.

"I think we've seen enough. I felt the team tonight, if you watched them play in the first half, you could see the confidence and creativity. It's just cutting out mistakes.

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers on September 17, 2022 © Reuters

"There is no doubt we've had a tough first seven games, especially after the summer we've had – Tottenham away, Arsenal away, Chelsea away, Manchester United at home and a couple of other games we should win.

"It [the international break] has probably come at a good time to reset everything, break the cycle from the summer as well. The owners will do what it is they feel they need to do.

"I'm not daft, I know football, and the last six games don't make great reading. But I have every confidence the team can push on and climb the table if they play like they did in large parts and cut out mistakes."

Leicester are believed to be calculating the cost of sacking Rodgers – who still has three years remaining on his contract – with one report claiming that they would need to fork out in excess of £10m to relieve the Northern Irishman of his duties.

According to The Scotsman, the Foxes could approach Postecoglou should they decide to part ways with Rodgers, who moved to the King Power Stadium from Celtic in 2019.

Postecoglou was one of the frontrunners with the bookmakers to replace Graham Potter at Brighton & Hove Albion before they decided to appoint Roberto De Zerbi as their new head coach on Sunday.

Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou applauds fans after the match on March 2, 2022 © Reuters

The 57-year-old was initially questioned by many when he replaced Neil Lennon at Celtic in June last year, but he has since gained the respect of the Parkhead faithful.

Postecoglou won the Scottish Premiership title and the Scottish League Cup in his first season in charge last term, and he also secured Champions League group-stage football for the first time in five years.

The Australian, who has implemented an attractive brand of football in Glasgow, has less than 12 months remaining on his contract and it remains to be seen whether he would be tempted by a switch to the Premier League.

Celtic saw their 38-game unbeaten league run come to an end last weekend when they were condemned to a surprise 2-0 defeat away against St Mirren, just the third top-flight loss that Postecoglou has suffered since his appointment.

Meanwhile, The Sun claims that Mauricio Pochettino, Rafael Benitez, Sean Dyche, Marcelo Bielsa and former Foxes boss Claudio Ranieri could also be in the frame to replace Rodgers.