Martin O'Neill in Leicester job frame as ex Celtic boss 'lined up' as surprise Brendan Rodgers replacement

Martin O’Neill is being lined up for a shock return to the dugout with former club Leicester City.

One former Celtic boss could replace another after Brendan Rodgers was sacked on Sunday. The Foxes slipped into the relegation zone after a 2-1 defeat at Crystal Palace and the Northern Irishman was axed before the weekend was out. Leicester made an approach to former Brighton and Chelsea boss Graham Potter just hours after he was shown the door at Stamford bridge, but he turned them down, preferring to take a break from management.

They are likely to try again in the summer, but need a new boss on a caretaker basis to help them beat the drop and preserve their top flight status. And they could turn to former Filbert Street favourite O’Neill, according to the Independent. In a move that would mirror survival rivals Palace in reappointing Roy Hodgson, which has seen the Eagles start climbing the table after results improved.

71-year-old O’Neill led Leicester to two League Cup triumphs in 1997 and 2000 respectively after guiding them to the Premier League via the playoffs in his first season in charge. He departed for Celtic, where he spent five trophy-laden years before an eventual return south with Aston Villa.

O”Neill last had a brief spell in charge of Nottingham Forest in 2019, where he enjoyed great success as a player. However, he could return to battle the side he won the European Cup with to avoid relegation. Former Liverpool and Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is also thought to be on Leicester's shortlist of candidates.

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