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New Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers believes he is taking over a squad with \u201chuge potential\u201d.<\/p>\nNew Leicester manager Brendan Rodgers believes he is taking over a squad with \u201chuge potential\u201d.<\/p>\n
The 46-year-old has signed a deal until June 2022 after compensation was agreed with Celtic.<\/p>\n
And Rodgers, who replaces Claude Puel after the Frenchman was sacked on Sunday with the 2016 champions 12th in the Premier League, is relishing the chance to work with the Foxes players.<\/p>\n
The Northern Irishman, who received a warm reception from the fans at the King Power Stadium as he watched his new side\u2019s Premier League match with Brighton from the stands on Tuesday night, told LCFC TV: \u201cOf course, the big attraction for me is working with the players.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a young squad, a very dynamic squad, it\u2019s got huge potential and you\u2019ve got some of the players with good experience also.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels great. I know I\u2019m joining a fantastic club that has grown so quickly over these last few years.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just delighted to be here. I think there was a number of reasons (why I joined). I was certainly in no hurry to leave Celtic. Celtic is a club that\u2019s a huge club worldwide, a renowned club, and I loved working with the players there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were on a journey of great success over these last years, but, when the opportunity came to talk to Leicester and I was able to analyse it, it allowed me to think that I\u2019d probably achieved and taken the club maybe at Celtic as far as I could at this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodgers admits he is taking over at an awkward time of the season, one that has seen Leicester have to come to terms with the death of their owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha in a helicopter crash in October.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cComing into the club at this point of the season, it\u2019s never normally ideal, but it gives me the chance to observe and analyse the players over this last period of games.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know it\u2019s been a really difficult season for the club on and off the pitch. It\u2019s been really emotional in many ways.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me it\u2019s the case of just trying to stabilize the emotion of everything that\u2019s happened this season and looking to inspire the players so that they can then inspire the supporters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rodgers will take charge of the Foxes for the first time when they face Watford on Sunday, with caretaker Mike Stowell in the dugout for the Brighton clash.<\/p>\n
Rodgers ends his stay at Celtic after nearly three years, having won seven trophies.<\/p>\n
He won successive Scottish Premiership titles in 2017 and 2018 and also won the Scottish Cup twice and the Betfred Cup three times.<\/p>\n
His appointment at Leicester sees the Northern Irishman return to England for the first time since being sacked by Liverpool in 2015.<\/p>\n
He guided the Reds to a second-placed finish in 2014, losing a five-point lead with three matches remaining to finish behind Manchester City.<\/p>\n
Rodgers has also been in charge at Watford, Reading and Swansea, taking the Swans into the Premier League in 2011.<\/p>\n
Puel was sacked after seven winless games, including being knocked out of the FA Cup by Newport, with club chiefs concerned about being dragged into a relegation battle.<\/p>\n
The Frenchman was well respected by the hierarchy, but vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha acted over concerns with results and the atmosphere following Saturday\u2019s 4-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace.<\/p>\n
Srivaddhanaprabha said: \u201cI\u2019m absolutely delighted to bring a manager of Brendan\u2019s caliber to Leicester City and I look forward to seeing what he, our talented, young squad and our dedicated, skilled team of staff can achieve together.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs projects, including the development of our new training ground and the proposed expansion of King Power Stadium continue to take shape, and as a young squad of great potential begins to mature, Brendan and his colleagues arrive at an exciting time for Leicester City. We\u2019re continuing to grow as a club and I am anticipating that Brendan\u2019s coaching methods, knowledge and experience can enhance our journey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Leicester also confirmed the appointment of Chris Davies as assistant manager, Kolo Toure as first-team coach and Glen Driscoll as first-team fitness coach.<\/p>\n