West Brom promotion winner in ‘discussions’ over Leicester City managerial role

Former West Brom defender Carl Hoefkens is being linked with a move to Leicester City as manager. The 44-year-old has emerged as a contender for the top job at the King Power Stadium.

Ex-Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is facing an uncertain future with the Foxes and it remains to been seen whether he will stay in charge for next season. They were relegated from the Premier League last term and are now preparing for life in the Championship.

Hoefkens, who made 22 caps for Belgium during his playing days, has ‘held discussions’ with Leicester as they weigh up their managerial options. That’s according to journalist Sacha Tavolieri on Twitter (see tweet below), who claims he is now a ‘potential candidate’ for the position.

West Brom signed the former centre-back in 2007 from Stoke City. He spent two years with the Potters after they brought him to England from Beerschot in his native country.

He went on to have two campaigns with the Baggies and made 62 appearances in all competitions, helping the Midlands outfit gain promotion from the second tier in his first year at the club under Tony Mowbray. He then left in 2010 and went on to have spells at Club Brugge, Lierse and Oostende.

Hoefkens hung up his boots in 2015 and has since delved into the coaching world. Club Brugge appointed him as a youth coach and he worked his way up to becoming their first-team head coach.

He spent five months in charge at the Jan Breydel Stadium and won the Belgian Super Cup. His win percentage with the Pro League side was 55.56%.

Leicester could now swoop for the former West Brom man as they look to gain promotion. They lost Youri Tielemans to Aston Villa over the weekend and James Maddison could soon follow him out the exit door, with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur mentioned as suitors.