FORMER Leicester City captain Ian Wilson reckons Brendan Rodgers is the perfect choice to steady the ship at his old club.
The Foxes sacked Claude Puel after going seven games without a win and moved quickly to name Rodgers as his successor.
Wilson, who spent eight years as a Leicester player, believes luring the Northern Irishman back south is a real coup for his old club and expects Rodgers will quickly become a fans’ favourite.
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The ex-Scotland internationalist said: “I knew that Brendan was the one they wanted in but I’m still surprised that it’s all happened so quickly. But I think he’s just what Leicester need right now. He’s a fantastic coach and you can tells that he deals with players brilliantly.
“It’s been a bit of an up-and-down season for them and they just need a bit of stability to see them through to the summer. There’s something just not right at the club at the moment, something missing. They’re just lacking in a spark and a bit of desire, and hopefully Brendan can bring that back.
“It’s a good time for him to take over. They’re not going to qualify for Europe and I can’t see them being relegated so it’s just about settling things down for a few months. And then in the summer he’ll get the chance to rebuild the squad for next season.
“I can see this being a very popular appointment. The fans saw what he did at Liverpool and will be aware of his success at Celtic, too. I think the Leicester crowd will take to him very quickly. I'm heading down to the Fulham game in a few weeks and I'm expecting it will be a brilliant atmosphere."
Rodgers grew frustrated with the lack of activity in the transfer market at Celtic last summer but Wilson says that won’t be a concern at Leicester, with Thai chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha expected to back the new manager in the same vein as his late father, Vichai.
The former Peterhead boss added: “Money won’t be an issue for Brendan and he’ll get all the backing he wants in the summer. The former owner always gave his managers what they needed and I’m sure his son will do the same for Brendan.
“Looking at the squad I think he’ll look to add a defender or two, and they could do with a battler in midfield – they never really properly replaced N’Golo Kante. But Brendan now has a few months to assess all his players and then go into the transfer market in the summer to buy what he feels they need.
“It’s changed night and day from when I was at Leicester with the money involved now but the owners have shown a genuine love for the club and backed it in the right way. And they’re an established Premier League club now, not the yo-yo team they were in the past.”
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Leicester shocked the football world by winning the Premier League title in 2016 before reaching the Champions League quarter-finals the following season. Wilson, though, revealed there would be no pressure on Rodgers to deliver the same – with a decent cup run and a top eight finish the height of Leicester’s ambition these days.
Wilson, who runs soccer schools in his native Aberdeenshire, added: “It’s very difficult for any other club to compete with the likes of Man City, Man United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs. And there’s no expectation among the Leicester fans to see a repeat of that miracle a few years back when they won the title. A good run in the cup and a top-eight finish would be considered a brilliant achievement.”
Meanwhile, current Leicester City winger Demarai Gray insists the Foxes are in for an exciting future with Rodgers at the helm.
The Northern Irishman watched on from the stands as Gray and Jamie Vardy scored in a 2-1 victory over Brighton as Leicester racked up their first win in eight matches.
And Gray believes with Rodgers at the helm that vast improvements can be made both individually and collectively.
He said: “If you see over the years the players he’s worked with and what he’s done with Celtic over the last few years, I think it’s very exciting for the players and just the club in general.
“He’s an ambitious manager and his ideas that he’s going to bring into the team and the club are good.
“He’s said he’s going to improve us, make our football even better than it is and it’s promising for all the lads.
“We know we’re a very good group, we need work in areas, but we’re a willing team, so like I said, I think the future’s exciting.”
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