Dean Smith has agreed terms with on a short-term deal until the end of the season with John Terry and Craig Shakespeare coming on board as part of the coaching staff; the Foxes are currently 19th in the Premier League and two points from safety. Leicester City have agreed a deal with Dean Smith to take over as manager until the end of the season – with Craig Shakespeare and John Terry as part of the coaching staff.
All three have agreed terms on a short-term deal until the conclusion of the current campaign when Leicester, currently 19th in the Premier League and two points from safety, will reassess their options. Contracts are expected to be signed shortly. Shakespeare was part of the coaching team under Claudio Ranieri when Leicester won the Premier League title in 2016, and then took over as boss when the Italian was sacked a year later.
Smith, who led Aston Villa to the Premier League in 2019, was sacked as Norwich boss in December after suffering a defeat to Luton in the Championship on Boxing Day. Jesse Marsch was in advanced talks with Leicester over a potential deal to take charge following Brendan Rodgers’ exit at the start of the month.
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.
“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,” Smith said.
“I know we’ll be well supported by our travelling fans. We have to connect with that and give them a performance they can be proud of. We go there positive, looking for points.”
Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha believes the 52-year-old Smith can save them from relegation despite their dismal form in 2023. The Foxes are without a win in their last nine games in all competitions, losing eight of those matches to plummet into the relegation zone.
“His leadership, coaching and motivational qualities will be vital assets for us in the coming eight games as we fight to secure our Premier League status,” he said. We’ve endured a challenging season, but I have no doubt that we have the quality in our squad to win this fight.
“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.
Rodgers spent four years at Leicester and led the club to their first ever FA Cup triumph in 2021. But despite finishing a respectable eighth last season, Leicester sold key defender Wesley Fofana to Chelsea, with Rodgers gradually falling out of favour after complaining publicly about a lack of backing from the board over new signings.
Now Smith has just a handful of games to arrest the slide and avoid relegation, something he was unable to do while in charge of Norwich last season.
Source: skysports
