Leicester City has fired Nigel Pearson as its manager despite him leading the Foxes to one of the greatest escape acts the Premier League has ever seen during the 2014-15 season.
Pearson, 51, was “relieved of his duties” after three-and-a-half seasons in charge of Leicester, his second stint with the Midlands club, as he guided them from League One to the Premier League and fought off relegation in remarkable fashion.
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The often much-maligned Leicester boss -- mostly for his bizarre antics with the press and off the pitch as he was fined for verbally abusing Leicester’s fans, pinned an opposition player down to the ground in his technical area and then lost it with a journalist, calling him an “ostrich” -- turned things around at the King Power Stadium after a stunning finish to last season, but now the Foxes are without a manager as they head into the tenth Premier League season in their history.
It was widely reported back in February that Pearson had been fired as Leicester’s boss but after much confusion it was confirmed that he was still in charge and led the Foxes to seven wins in their last nine games of the campaign to survive the drop after being rock-bottom for much of the season. Recently Pearson’s son James and two other Leicester players were fired by the club after being involved in a racist sex tape which was filmed during a club trip to Thailand, the home of Leicester’s owners.
In a short statement on Leicester’s website, the Midlands club had the following to say on their decision to dismiss Pearson:Leicester City Football Club has today relieved its First Team Manager, Nigel Pearson, of his duties. The Board of Directors recognizes the success Nigel has helped to bring to Leicester City during his two spells in charge of the Club, particularly during the last three and a half years. However, it has become clear to the Club that fundamental differences in perspective exist between us. Regrettably, the Club believes that the working relationship between Nigel and the Board is no longer viable.
Leicester City’s owners, Vichai and Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, and the Board of Directors would like to place on record their thanks to Nigel for the considerable contribution he has made during his time with the Club and wish him well in the future. Khun Vichai and Khun Top remain wholly committed to the Club’s long-term development and to on going investment in a squad that will continue to be competitive in the Premier League. We trust that the Club’s supporters will recognize that the owners have always acted with the best interests of the Club at heart and with the Club’s long-term future as their greatest priority.