Leicester City sack manager Claude Puel

Claude Puel: Leicester City sack manager after 16 months in charge

Claude Puel took over at Leicester following Craig Shakespeare's dismissal in October

Leicester City have sacked manager Claude Puel after 16 months in charge.

City were beaten 4-1 at home by Crystal Palace on Saturday in what proved to be Puel's final game.

Puel, 57, leaves the club 12th in the Premier League having lost five of their last six league games.

The Frenchman guided Leicester to a ninth-place finish in the Premier League in his first season but the club are now looking for their fourth permanent manager in 23 months.

Saturday's defeat meant Leicester have lost four consecutive home Premier League games for the first time since January 2000 and conceded the first goal in 19 Premier League matches this season - more than any other side.

Assistant manager Jacky Bonnevay will also leave the club, with first-team coaches Mike Stowell and Adam Sadler set to take temporary charge of the squad.

Leicester's next game is at home in the Premier League against Brighton on Tuesday.

Puel was appointed on a three-year deal in October 2017, succeeding Craig Shakespeare who in turn followed 2015-16 Premier League winning manager Claudio Ranieri in managing the club.

The former Lyon boss had been dismissed by Southampton in June 2017 and arrived at Leicester four months later with the club third from bottom of the league.


Did style cost Puel his job?
Leicester have won 12 points from losing positions this season, a joint league high with Arsenal

This season, Leicester have won nine of their 27 league matches, including back-to-back victories over Manchester City and Chelsea over the festive period.

But Puel's style of play and recent team selections have been met with hesitation from Foxes fans.

Puel incensed some fans by fielding a weakened side against Manchester City in a Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat, with James Maddison and Marc Albrighton starting on the bench, while Jamie Vardy did not feature at all.

The Foxes' 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Newport came after Puel made seven changes to his side - with Maddison and Vardy named on the bench - despite choosing five Premier League winners in the starting XI.

Striker Vardy, who has scored eight Premier League goals this season and is the club's highest goal scorer this campaign, recently admitted that Puel's tactical approach did not suit his style of play.


Managing at a devastating time
'We are all numb with sadness and shock' - Leicester manager

Speculation about the Frenchman's future halted following the devastating helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium in October, which killed Foxes owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others.

"Playing football has not been at the front of our minds this week," Puel said at his first news conference after the crash.

"But for this weekend, and all the matches thereafter, we play to honour a man who did so much for our club."


Leicester City managerial timeline
30 June 2015: Leicester City sack promotion-winning manager Nigel Pearson despite ensuring Premier League survival
13 July 2015: Former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri takes over as manager.
02 May 2016: Ranieri guides Leicester to a shock Premier League title
23 Feb 2017: Ranieri is sacked with Leicester a point above the relegation zone with 13 games left.
21 May 2017: Craig Shakespeare guides Leicester to 14th in the Premier League and reaches the Champions League quarter-finals
08 June 2017: Shakespeare is named permanent manager on a three-year deal
17 Oct 2017: Shakespeare is sacked after only one win in his first nine matches
25 Oct 2017: Former Southampton manager Claude Puel is appointed manager on a three-year deal
27 Oct 2018: Leicester owner and four others killed in helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium