Gary Lineker reveals his bold recommendation for Leicester manager’s role but board rejected it as a ‘step too far’
GARY LINEKER has revealed that he recommended Emma Hayes to Leicester City’s board in the summer to become their new boss.
The Foxes parted ways with Dean Smith after they were relegated from the Premier League in May after his brief stint in charge.
They are now looking to make an immediate return to the top-flight with Enzo Maresca at the helm after he left Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City.
However, former Leicester striker and England legend Lineker has now admitted that he made his own suggestion to the club’s board to be manager before the Italian’s arrival.
And he also revealed the feedback that he received, telling The Rest is Football podcast: “I don’t know whether I told you before but in the summer, when Leicester were looking for a new manager I actually got in touch with the club with a little idea I had – which was for them to go for Emma Hayes from Chelsea.
“She’s great, absolutely legitimate but imagine being the first major football club to have a woman as a coach.
“It would have brought massive amounts of publicity, particularly at a time when the club had gone down into the Championship.
“You’d have sold all your season tickets. It’s not a stunt at all although it is in a way because it would be a massive PR opportunity.
“They did come back to me and say it’s probably a step too far at this stage.”
Hayes, 46, has guided Chelsea to six WSL title and was also named The Best Fifa football coach in 2021.
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She has previously been linked with both the Norwich City and AFC Wimbledon jobs and has even admitted her desire to coach in the men’s game.
Hayes said: “All coaches aspire to be at the best level they can get to, and I’m no different.
“If it happened for me that the next opportunity was in the men’s game, then I’d welcome that.
“But I also think there needs to be more female coaches at the top end of the women’s game before more are entering into the men’s game.”
She is not the only woman to be linked with a blockbuster and game-changing switch into the men’s game.
England Women’s boss Sarina Wiegman, who led the Lionesses to Euro success last year and the World Cup final last month, is being considered as a potential replacement for Gareth Southgate.