Though nobody at King Power Stadium will complain about how things turned out, former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson deserves significant credit for both the club’s promotion to the Premier League and their subsequent survival in the 2014-15 season. After a year out of the job though, the former Foxes’ manager has found a new club.
Derby County have hired Pearson as their new manager for the 2016-17 season on a three-year deal. The Rams parted ways with former manager Darren Wassall after his contract expired following a bitter loss to Hull City that cost them a shot at Premier League promotion.
On the Derby County official website, Pearson confirmed his hiring:
“I am honoured to be named as the Manager of Derby County, which is one of the biggest clubs in the country, a club in excellent shape and one with strong ambitions. It is firmly focused on achieving Premier League football.
“I will give absolutely everything I have to this role and do all I can to bring exciting, entertaining and winning football which our supporters can be proud of.”
Pearson was sacked by Leicester City despite leading the club safely out of the relegation zone at the end of the 2014-15 season, due in part to his inappropriate behaviour and inability to keep his emotions in check at times. The Foxes won seven of their last nine games to escape the bottom-three. Pearson was responsible for giving key playing time to Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, Danny Drinkwater and others during those fateful seasons prior to his June 2015 sacking.
The following season, under his replacement Claudio Ranieri, the Foxes went on to win the Premier League title.
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