Brendan Rodgers leaves Leicester City by mutual agreement

Brendan Rodgers became the record 12th Premier League manager to depart this season after crisis talks with Leicester on Sunday morning.

Rodgers’ four-year tenure was ended by mutual agreement with Leicester taking drastic action in a bid to halt their alarming slide into the relegation zone.

Leicester have slipped into the bottom three after six league games without a win and chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha admitted they were left with no choice but to make a change.

The former Liverpool and Celtic manager has been under scrutiny from supporters for over 12 months, but the situation has reached a critical point in recent weeks.

During and at the end of Leicester’s defeat by Crystal Palace on Saturday, a large section of the travelling fans called for Rodgers to go.

Telegraph Sport understands there are no immediate replacements lined up, and the prospect of coaches Mike Stowell and Adam Sadler taking this week's games against Aston Villa and Bournemouth has not been ruled out.

West Ham’s victory over Southampton on Sunday dropped Leicester down to second-bottom and their manager David Moyes expressed his sadness at seeing Rodgers’ demise.

"I'm really disappointed for Brendan,” Moyes said. “I think Brendan's a super manager, I don't think he'll be out of work for long. He's a really good coach.

"I think the expectations can be greater from the clubs. I'm really fortunate that the owners I've got, who I've grown to know in the last two and half years have been really, really good. But I also think if I was protecting myself I'd say we've had two or three really good years, which has probably helped. But so has Brendan, he's been a really super coach and manager for Leicester City and it's probably pretty tough on him.

“I think it's happening more now. There's a lot of money at stake to be a Premier League club and it's a lot of money for clubs to go down."

It means 11 managers have lost their job for the first time in the Premier League, eclipsing the five previous seasons - 2008-09, 2013-14, 2017-18, 2021-22 and 2022-23 - when 10 coaches have been sacked.

Though the past two seasons have proved a struggle, Rodgers became the first Leicester manager to lift the FA Cup while leading the club to two successive fifth-placed finishes.

Leicester were challenging for a Champions League place in those campaigns until dropping out of the top-four on the final day.

Though some observers pointed to further evidence of Rodgers’ teams falling at the final hurdle, the fact Leicester were in that position was an impressive achievement.

Leicester lifted the FA Cup in May 2021 and then reached a semi-final of the inaugural Uefa Europa Conference League last season, but this campaign has proved excruciating.

With funds restricted amid concerns over Financial Fair Play breaches, Leicester did not sign an outfield player until the final day of the window.

In January they spent over £30 million to back Rodgers with three players - Harry Souttar, Victor Kristiansen and Tete - and despite an initial uplift in form, results have nosedived.

Rodgers completed four years in charge in late February and was looking to rebuild the squad this summer, but will now be considering his next career move.

With Leicester in danger of losing their Premier League status, the final 10 games are crucial to the club's future.

Leicester’s chairman Srivaddhanaprabha said: "The achievements of the team under Brendan’s management speak for themselves – we’ve experienced some of our finest footballing moments under his guidance and will always be grateful to him and his staff for the heights they helped us to reach on the pitch.

“His place in Leicester City history is assured. However, performances and results during the current season have been below our shared expectations.

“It had been our belief that continuity and stability would be key to correcting our course, particularly given our previous achievements under Brendan’s management.

“Regrettably, the desired improvement has not been forthcoming and, with 10 games of the season remaining, the Board is compelled to take alternative action to protect our Premier League status.

“The task ahead of us in our final 10 games is clear. We now need to come together – fans, players and staff – and show the poise, quality and fight to secure our position as a Premier League club.”