Leicester City have to be more patient and relaxed before making such reactionary decisions.
Patience is the name of the game in ever sport except European soccer. Managers are routinely sacked only a year or sometimes less removed from winning a title or over-achieving for a season. Leicester City stunned the world when they won the title in 2015-2016, but since then their expectations and lack of patience is derailing the club.
Claudio Ranieri, who led the club to the improbable title a year ago, was shown the door just a couple of months after the magical title run. Ranieri drew criticism after he said that expectations to win a title the following year were unrealistic given the fact that rival teams were now privy to the team’s break tactics.
After being let go in unprofessional fashion, Ranieri was replaced by Craig Shakespeare. Shakespeare began his managing career at West Bromwich Albion as a caretaker manager, before being hired by Leicester City as an assistant. He then continued on to Hull City as an assistant before being given the head job after Ranieri’s firing.
Over twenty-seven matches, Ranieri won twelve matches, drew six, and lost nine. Sure, many points were dropped and the success from the championship year wasn’t anywhere near replicated.
Shakespeare eventually signed a three-year contract to be the full-time manager of Leicester City. The club however plummeted into the bottom three of the standings and faced dangers of relegation.
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While the desperation is clearly there, and changes had to be made. Leicester City have not been nearly as patient and relaxed with their decisions as they need to be. Such reactionary decisions may stop the bleeding momentarily, but they are not making the team any better prepared to make another run into the top of the standings.
Leicester City are reportedly considering Thomas Tuchel as a replacement for Shakespeare, according to ESPN FC. http://www.espnfc.com/leicester-city/story/3232064/leicester-sack-craig-shakespeare-after-poor-start-to-season-reports
The former German player began his managerial career at FC Augsberg II, a Bavarian club. He then managed Mainz 05 for five seasons before being hired by Borussia Dortmund. Now that Leicester City have an opening, they are throwing a Hail Mary trying to hire Tuchel.
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Leicester City have to be more patient with their decisions. While falling into a dangerous spot in the standings is concerning, the team simply has to be less reactionary and trust their decisions more. The team must admit its faults in being to quick and desperate for decisions that didn’t need to be made. Leicester City are losing their championship touch fast.