(Credit: Imago)
Tue 8 July 2025 14:34, UK
Leicester City have been advised on who to appoint as their next manager amid interest from the Foxes in both Chris Wilder and Gary O’Neil.
The East Midlands club are vying for an immediate top-flight return after suffering relegation from the Premier League last season.
After sacking Ruud Van Nistelrooy, the Foxes are set to appoint a new boss, while Leicester have eyed Sean Dyche and Danny Rohl.
Dyche is available without the need for a compensation fee, having been dismissed by Everton last January, whereas Rohl wants to leave Sheffield Wednesday amid the Owls’ financial struggles.
Leicester are seeking a Van Nistelrooy replacement (Credit: Imago)Leicester urged to appoint Wilder over O’Neil
The Foxes are vying to win their second Championship title in three years after enjoying a second-tier triumph under former boss Enzo Maresca in 2023.
Amid their search for a new manager, the King Power Stadium side have interviewed former Sheffield United boss Wilder, as reported by BBC Sport on Monday, 7 July.
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Ex-Bournemouth and Wolves manager O’Neil was also interviewed for the vacancy, as revealed by The Telegraph’s John Percy via X on 7 July.
Speaking live on talkSPORT [8 July], Simon Jordan said: “Chris Wilder took Sheffield United down with a side that was very poor, which he inherited. He got them together. Gave them a boot up the backside.
“He said it himself, I remember him saying it during the season about the attitude at Sheffield United, and he changed it. They’ve got to think that’s a valuable commodity because Leicester, despite their travails, will want to get out of the Championship as quickly as possible.
“Gary O’Neil obviously had two good seasons. One at Bournemouth when no one gave him much of a chance because Scott Parker had told everybody how useless Bournemouth were going to be, and ultimately proved him wrong by taking over the same squad, with a little bit of help in the January window.
“He did well at his first season with Wolves. It all fell apart. I think they both have equal merits. If I was leaning towards one, I like Gary a lot, I would potentially lean towards Wilder.
“Because I think that maybe at Leicester, there are players in there that need their minds concentrated. They need there to be a change-up.”
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha should favour O’Neil appointment
Football Insider verdict
Jordan is right to credit Wilder for steering Sheffield United to a largely successful campaign last term, even though they endured a woeful 2023/24 Premier League season.
Wilder could not get Sheffield United promoted
However, the former Middlesbrough and Watford boss was unable to get the Blades over the line last term, as the South Yorkshire club lost three consecutive matches in April at the hands of lesser opponents, Oxford United, Millwall, and Plymouth Argyle.
The Bramall Lane club then went on to lose 2-1 to Sunderland in the Championship playoff final, which caused Sheffield United to part company with Wilder.
Meanwhile, Leicester are vying for an immediate Premier League return, and should not be overly impressed by the 57-year-old’s recent exploits in the second tier.
On the other hand, O’Neil lacks managerial experience in the Championship, but the majority of his performances in the top-flight dugout suggest that he is ready for the Leicester job.
He successfully steered his former club Bournemouth clear of the Premier League relegation zone in 2023, just one season on from their automatic promotion.
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