Gary Lineker was ignored after tipping Emma Hayes for role before ITV punditry job

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Gary Lineker has revealed that he previously put forward Emma Hayes to Leicester City for the club's vacant managerial role. City are gearing up for the new season, during which they will play in League One after dropping down from the Championship last term.

Leicester have brought in Russell Martin as their new manager for the 2026/27 campaign, with the former Southampton boss arriving at the King Power Stadium on a three-year contract.

Hayes, who currently manages the United States Women's National Team, was leading the Chelsea women's side at the time when Leicester were relegated from the Premier League in 2023.

City subsequently appointed Enzo Maresca as the club's new manager, taking over from Dean Smith in the dugout.

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Lineker was accompanied by Hayes on the latest instalment of the Rest is Football on Netflix . It was during the latest episode that he disclosed he had suggested Hayes to the Foxes after their drop from the top flight three years ago.

"I'm going to tell you something now that I've never really told many people," Lineker began. "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.'".

"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. And she said, 'I think it's a really good idea, but I'm not quite sure the owners are ready to make that step yet.'".

"I just wonder if you'd have been interested in that at all? But that is honestly the truth."

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Hayes has been working as a regular pundit for ITV's coverage of the World Cup, where she has joined the likes of Gary Neville , Roy Keane , Ian Wright and host Mark Pougatch.

In response to Lineker's remarks, Hayes 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.

"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."