Leicester City Women have sacked their manager, Amandine Miquel, just 11 days before their Women's Super League (WSL) season opener. The club informed the squad of the decision on Wednesday evening.
Miquel's tenure at Leicester City Women began in July 2024, when she signed a three-year contract. She replaced Willie Kirk, who was sacked after an internal investigation. Miquel, a Frenchwoman, had previously managed Reims for seven years, leading them to a fourth-place finish in the French top flight in the 2023-24 season.
During her time with Leicester, Miquel oversaw the team's 10th-place finish in the WSL last season, successfully avoiding relegation. In her 22 WSL matches, she secured five wins and five draws. This finish marked a two-point improvement over the previous campaign and equaled the team's highest-ever finish. Miquel had expressed her philosophy of playing "offensive football" and fostering a "fighting spirit" within the team.
The timing of Miquel's dismissal has raised eyebrows, occurring so close to the start of the new WSL season. Leicester City is scheduled to begin their campaign with a match against Manchester United on September 7. This abrupt change leaves the team in a precarious position as they scramble to find a replacement before the season begins.
This managerial change marks the fourth one in the WSL this summer. Tottenham appointed Martin Ho to replace Robert Vilahamn, Manchester City appointed Andrée Jeglertz to replace Gareth Taylor, and Liverpool appointed Taylor. Half of the WSL clubs have changed their manager during the past 12 months, with Arsenal and Aston Villa also making changes. Leicester City will be seeking their fifth permanent manager since December 2021 after Jonathan Morgan, Lydia Bedford, Willie Kirk and Miquel.
The club had recently appointed Lee Billiard as the new director of women's and girls' football, 41 days prior to Miquel's sacking. Billiard previously held a similar role at Aston Villa for four years.
The reasons behind Miquel's dismissal remain unclear. Some speculate that it may be related to a disagreement over player transfers, while others suggest that the club may have another manager in mind.
