David Wagner is fighting to keep Huddersfield Town in the Premier League, but the former U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder is reportedly drawing interest from a recent Premier League champion.
According to the Times, Leicester City has tabbed Wagner as their top candidate to replace Claude Puel this summer. The Foxes are reportedly expected to part ways with Puel after the season as the club currently sits ninth in the league with two games remaining.
Wagner reportedly pushed back talks over a Huddersfield extension and is expected to re-engage this summer. The manager has one year left on his deal but, in addition to Leicester’s interest, drawn the attention of West Ham.
Wagner and Huddersfield face Chelsea and Arsenal to close the season and currently have a three-point lead on 18th-place Swansea City.
”former U.S. Men’s National Team midfielder’
Really? I thought he was a striker.
Not sure why he’d want to go to Leicester.
I suppose he would leave if HT would go down, but they probably will stay up on 36pts. And, they might be able to get something from Chelsea and Arsenal, if it comes down to that.
Is it even remotely possible that he would pass up coaching in the Premier League to come take the reigns of the USMNT? Pretty sure the answer to that is a resounding no, but maybe some has insights that I don’t have about what he wants to do.
Owen Coyle once won promotion to EPL only to get demoted, came here and stunk for Houston. He has stunk in every first or second division job since. To me being a second division success only proves you should get a chance to coach first division players and see if you can do the same with them. If he succeeded with Huddersfield or came here and dominated, sure. But he’s near bottom of the EPL. What advertisement is that?
Based on that Rob Stone list I am worried USSoccer is buying into this same sort of “beauty contest” sensibility where we are looking for a change agent rather than a proven first division winner or experienced national team coach. Is the idea “winning” or is it “change the team.” If we’re now bought into “change” then that may come at the expense of a few qualifications.
If Huddersfield stays up, he should stay there. Leicester has been a coach killer since they won the EPL.
money…..
I agree with you about Leicester City, but he may be on the move regardless. Huddersfield were almost a unanimous bookies choice to go down, and they still might, they have a murderers row ahead of them with just the slimmest of margins. If they go down, he will move on. if they stay up he will be in demand as he kept a team up in the EPL who most believe, would not stay there. HT have very little money, so they will be struggling again next year.
If we were two years closer to a World Cup, Wagner might be tempted, but there are too many opportunities on the club level for him to pass up. He will be coaching in the EPL next season though.