Gary Lineker reveals pitch for Emma Hayes as Leicester manager
Gary Lineker has shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes story about his attempt to bring Emma Hayes to Leicester City following their Premier League relegation in 2023, reports BritPanorama.
Lineker disclosed the revelation during an appearance on The Rest is Football Netflix show, where Hayes joined him as a guest. He contacted the club directly to propose the idea of appointing the highly-regarded coach to take charge at the King Power Stadium.
At the time, Hayes was managing Chelsea’s women’s side and has since taken the helm of the United States Women’s National Team while also working as an ITV pundit during the World Cup.
Lineker revealed he reached out to Susan Whelan, who was Leicester’s chief executive at the time, stating, “I called her to say, ‘I think you should go for Emma [Hayes] as the Leicester City coach.'” Whelan replied, “I think it’s a really good idea, but I’m not quite sure the owners are ready to make that step yet.”
Ultimately, Leicester opted for Enzo Maresca to replace Dean Smith in the dugout. Since then, Whelan has departed the club, a move Lineker described as “one of the many mistakes Leicester have made.”
Lineker clarified his motivations for suggesting Hayes, insisting it wasn’t merely a publicity exercise. He remarked, “I think she’s a brilliant coach, so it’s not like it’s some kind of PR stunt,” recognizing that her appointment would have been groundbreaking.
Hayes could have made history as the first female manager of a professional men’s team in England, a prospect Lineker regarded as “brilliant” from a public relations perspective. He believed Leicester had the right squad for Hayes to succeed, stating, “I think we had the players that you’d have done really well with.”
In response to Lineker’s revelation, Hayes was gracious but shifted the focus away from herself. “I appreciate you saying that, but I say this – managers get asked this question, we’re the ones who have to sit through that in a press conference, and I always say – ‘You’re asking the wrong person’,” she noted.
Hayes emphasized that inquiries regarding such appointments should be directed towards football club owners. She acknowledged the limited number of female coaches at elite levels, but pointed out her experience working with men, revealing that half of her 65-strong staff are male.
“I recognise it could be a challenge in England, but I’m very, very happy in the women’s game,” Hayes concluded.
