Leicester City look increasingly likely to part ways with Ruud van Nistelrooy at the end of the season.
Van Nistelrooy refused to commit to the job after the Newcastle United defeat and reports have suggested that Liam Rosenior could become the new Foxes manager.
Another one of the names mentioned in the rumour mill for the Leicester job is Danny Rohl.
The Sheffield Wednesday boss has performed miracles in Yorkshire and whilst Rohl has said his ‘full energy’ is on the Owls, there’s a growing consensus he will leave in the summer, with Jurgen Klopp considering the Wednesday boss for the RB Leipzig role.
To get the full lowdown on what fans could expect from the German if he was to come to the King Power Stadium, Leicester City News spoke to Sheffield Wednesday expert and EFL Analysis writer Jakob Barnes on what to expect.
What can Leicester fans expect from Danny Rohl?
“On the pitch, you’d get a very passionate manager who wears his heart on his sleeve, and that energy certainly rubs off on his players, who look like they’d run through walls for Rohl. Sheffield Wednesday fans have fallen in love with him, too, and you get the feeling that would be the case wherever he goes.
“The bittersweet side to that passion is that Rohl can be a little too honest for his own good sometimes; he’s certainly guilty of antagonising Chansiri in return, especially this season, and that might not be what the Leicester owners are looking for as they look to repair the club.”
What sort of formation does Danny Rohl like to use?
“Rohl is very flexible with his formations and tactical shape, but his preferred starting block is a 5-4-1, employing wing-backs to give the team width and fluidity. That transitions into more of a 3-4-3 when Wednesday have the ball, with his wingers stepping up to support the central striker.”
What are Danny Rohl’s weaknesses?
“There have been a few things holding Sheffield Wednesday back on the pitch this season, and it all revolves around the defence. Whether you can squarely pin the blame on Danny Rohl or not is up for debate, but the Owls are officially the worst team in the division when it comes to defending set-pieces, and we know they’re working on that behind the scenes but it just doesn’t seem to be improving.
“The team also tend to concede goals early in the second half, which signals a distinct lack of discipline and focus. Again, it’s hard to know what’s going on in that dressing room at half-time, but it’s a frequent issue which could suggest something isn’t quite clicking when it comes to Rohl’s team talks.”
Do you think Danny Rohl would be a good fit for Leicester City?
“After what Leicester City fans have endured this season, the expansive, exciting football Rohl likes to bring to the pitch would be a breath of fresh air for the Foxes.
“Despite those struggles, there’s a good foundation of decent players there for Rohl to work with, and he’s great at getting the most out of players. One thing’s for sure, you’d see much more fight from Leicester with Rohl in charge, and definitely more goals, too.”
| Games in charge of Sheffield Wednesday | Wins | Draws | Losses |
| 84 | 33 | 17 | 34 |
Can Danny Rohl cope with the animosity from Leicester fans towards the owners?
“Honestly, Rohl could very well be deterred by the current situation at Leicester regarding the ownership. He’s endured two years of chaos at Hillsborough with Dejphon Chansiri making life very difficult, and judging by his body language and comments of late, he’s had enough of it.
“Moving to Leicester could be a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire, and Rohl is smart enough to avoid that kind of scenario now. He wants to be backed, and he clearly craves a harmonious working relationship, and I’m not sure Leicester can satisfy that need for Rohl.”
Would Danny Rohl be willing to use the youth academy at Leicester?
“This season at Sheffield Wednesday, we’ve seen Rohl drop his number one goalkeeper, James Beadle, to give Owls youngster Pierce Charles a chance, as well as bringing through young defender Gabriel Otegbayo.
“While I would say Rohl does have a penchant for leaning on more experienced heads like Barry Bannan, Josh Windass, and Callum Paterson, I’d argue there is simply less talent knocking on the door at Hillsborough. Simply put, if the players are good enough, he will play them regardless of age.”
If Danny Rohl could bring one Sheffield Wednesday player to Leicester, who would it be and why?
“Rohl has a few favourites at Wednesday, but I’d say the one player he would absolutely love to take with him would be Djeidi Gassama. The young winger is one of the brightest talents in the Championship, and I’ve a feeling he will explode in 2025/26.
“He’s an old school winger who loves to hug the touchline and stretch play, and he’s got all the skill and flair you’d want to get the fans off their seats. Essentially, he embodies everything Rohl wants from football; energy, excitement, intelligence, and the ability to produce a bit of magic”.