BREAKING: Leicester City confirm Claude Puel as new manager

Claude Puel has been named new Leicester City manager

Leicester City have appointed Claude Puel as successor of Craig Shakespeare who guided them to safety last season.

According to the club, Michael Appleton who took interim charge of the team when Shakespeare was sacked will continue as assistant manager.

Puel, 56, arrives at King Power Stadium with a wealth of experience at elite levels of the game, having managed teams in France’s Ligue 1, the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League.

He has signed a contract to June 2020.

“It’s a great privilege to become the new manager of Leicester City – a club whose values and ambitions are closely aligned to my own,” Puel said after signing.

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He added that, “The opportunity to help the Club build on its remarkable recent achievements is a truly exciting one and I’m looking forward to working with the owners, players, staff and supporters to deliver further lasting success.

The former AS Monaco, Lyon and Southampton manager will take charge of his first Leicester City fixture this coming Sunday as the Foxes host to Everton at King Power Stadium in the Premier League.

Leicester City Vice Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said of Puel’s announcement: “When we began the process of identifying a new manager, the Board quickly established the profile of candidate we needed to take the Club forward and Claude Puel was a perfect fit.

“Upon meeting Claude, his attention to detail, knowledge of our squad, understanding of our potential and his vision to help us realise it were extremely impressive.

“He quickly emerged as the outstanding candidate and I am delighted we will have the opportunity to reinforce our long-term vision, aided significantly by his expertise.”

Claude is familiar with the challenges of Premier League football, having led Southampton to an eighth-placed finish during the 2016/17 season, while managing both a UEFA Europa League campaign and a run to the EFL Cup Final against Manchester United.