Gary Lineker has disclosed that he once recommended Emma Hayes to his beloved Leicester City for the club's vacant managerial role, but his suggestion was ignored. The former Match of the Day host and England icon revealed the story on the Netflix show The Rest is Football, where Hayes appeared as a guest.
Lineker's Recommendation and Club's Response
Leicester City, who will play in League One in the 2026/27 season after relegation from the Championship, appointed Russell Martin as their new manager on a three-year contract. However, three years ago, when Leicester were relegated from the Premier League in 2023, Lineker contacted then-CEO Susan Whelan to suggest Hayes for the job.
"When Leicester got relegated for the first time about four years ago, I called Susan Whelan, who was the then-CEO of Leicester - no longer there, sadly, one of the many mistakes Leicester have made. And I called her to say, 'I think you should go for Emma [Hayes] as the Leicester City coach,'" Lineker said.
He added: "I was going for many reasons. Obviously, a) I think she's a brilliant coach, so it's not like it's some kind of PR stunt, although PR-wise I think it would have been brilliant: the first female manager of a professional men's team in our country. And I think we had the players that you'd have done really well with."
Whelan reportedly responded: "I think it's a really good idea, but I'm not quite sure the owners are ready to make that step yet." Ultimately, Leicester appointed Enzo Maresca, who took over from Dean Smith.
Hayes' Response and Current Role
Hayes, who currently manages the United States Women's National Team and previously led Chelsea women, is working as a pundit for ITV's coverage of the World Cup, alongside Gary Neville, Roy Keane, Ian Wright, and host Mark Pougatch. Responding to Lineker's remarks, she said: "I appreciate you saying that, but I say this - managers get asked this question, we're the ones who have to sit through that in a press conference, and I always say - 'You're asking the wrong person'. You have to ask those who own football clubs why they don't do those things."
She added: "I can totally appreciate that there are so few female coaches at the top end, and maybe there's not the same opportunity or experiences. But I've always said to people, many times over: I actually have a staff of 65 people, 50% of them are men. So you do get used to coaching males all of the time. I recognise it could be a challenge in England, but I'm very, very happy in the women's game."
Impact and Context
Lineker's revelation highlights the ongoing lack of female managers in men's professional football in England. Hayes, one of the most successful women's football coaches, has repeatedly been linked to men's roles but has yet to be appointed. Leicester's decision to pass on her candidacy reflects broader hesitancy among club owners, as noted by Hayes herself.
