Sven-Goran Eriksson has left his post as Leicester manager following the club's mediocre start to the season.
Cote d'Ivoire's national soccer team coach Sven Goran Eriksson (L) gestures during a conversation with an assistant during a training session at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth June 14, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
Although they are only five points adrift of the automatic promotion places in the npower Championship, a 3-0 defeat at home to lowly Millwall on Saturday left Leicester in 13th place.
That was the final straw for the club's Thailand-based owners Asia Football Investments, who held a meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss ending the Swede's one-year stay at the King Power Stadium.
And Eriksson's departure was confirmed in a statement on Leicester's official website on Monday evening.
"Leicester City Football Club has confirmed today that, by mutual agreement, Sven-Goran Eriksson has ceased to be the first team manager, with immediate effect," it read.
"First team coach Dereck Fazackerley has also left the club.
"The club and its board of directors would like to thank Sven and Derek for the contribution they have made to Leicester City during their 13 months at King Power Stadium."
Leicester were in the relegation places when Eriksson, having just finished a stint with the Ivory Coast national team, replaced Paulo Sousa as manager in October 2010.
He guided them to a respectable 10th place last season and among his summer acquisitions was defender Matt Mills, who was signed from Reading for a fee that could rise to 5.5 million pounds.
The Foxes were heavily tipped for promotion this season, but a record of just five wins from 13 league games led to Eriksson's demise.
Leicester have now turned their attention to find a successor for the Swede.
"Academy director Jon Rudkin and coach Mike Stowell will jointly assume the role of acting manager of the first team, with assistance from development coach Steve Beaglehole," the statement added.
"This will begin with training on Tuesday morning ahead of Saturday's npower Championship trip to West Ham United.
"The process of recruiting a new permanent manager will begin in the coming days.
"There will be no further comments from the club or any comment on the recruitment process until an appointment is made."
Martin O'Neill, who managed Leicester for five years and led them to the Premier League as well as two League Cup triumphs, has emerged as the early favourite to succeed Eriksson.
Mark Hughes and Alan Shearer have also been touted as potential replacements.
VietNamNet/Xinhuanet