Leicester City icon Andy King takes new role as Nigel Pearson backs him to be 'future manager'

Leicester City icon Andy King has been backed by Nigel Pearson to strike up a managerial career after the midfielder took his first step into coaching.

King has signed a one-year contract extension at Bristol City, where Pearson is in charge, but his role is not just as a player, but as a coach too. The Wales international will split his duties on the pitch by working with the Robins’ young professionals to help develop their game.

While at City, Pearson allowed Chris Powell to double up on playing and coaching duties, and he has gone on to have a solid managerial career, the former left-back now a coach in Gareth Southgate’s England set-up. Pearson sees King following a similar path.

“It’s important that when we have talented football people in the building, we invest time in young players that we can see a future in, and it’s also important that we invest time in talented football people towards the end of their career,” Pearson said. “So what do I mean by that? I think he’s got a future in the game as a coach and probably a manager.

“He’s here, he’s very keen to stay and, you never know, he might manage the club one day. Why not invest time in him? And he’s still got a lot to offer as a player as well. He’s bright enough, he’s got the game understanding, he’s still ambitious – I think he’ll make a good manager.

“He’s remaining very much a player. He’s not getting changed into black kit. He wants to still play and that’s very important, and I still want him to play.

“I’ve done it before at other clubs. Chris Powell at Leicester, we made him a player-coach and Chris has had a really good career so far.

“I see it as being an opportunity to at least let talented players who we think can be talented coaches and managers