Nigel Pearson: Ex-Leicester City boss named OH Leuven manager
Last updated on .From the section European Football
Former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson has been named head coach of Belgian second-tier side OH Leuven.
King Power International own both clubs so Pearson, 54, will again be working with the Srivaddhanaprabha family, who sacked him as Foxes boss in June 2015.
His Leicester exit came one month after he had guided them to unlikely Premier League safety in the 2014-15 season.
Since then, his only other job has been a 14-match spell in charge of Derby County between May and October in 2016.
OH Leuven sit fourth in the eight-team Belgian First Division B.
They have won only two of their six league matches this season and Pearson replaces Dennis van Wijk, who had been in charge since January.
Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, chief executive of King Power International, said: "Nigel is an incredibly good manager with a wealth of knowledge, good people skills and a strong winner's mentality. He will put OHL on track for the next few years."
Pearson added: "I know how to develop the club and I'm looking forward to contributing to it. The club has many good players and a good staff that guides them. I can not wait to work with them and achieve our goals."
During his career in England he also managed Carlisle United, Southampton, Hull and was in charge of Leicester for 289 matches over two spells.
In his second stint as Foxes boss, he guided the club to the Championship title in 2013-14 and Premier League survival the following season, but was then dismissed with a club statement saying "fundamental differences in perspective exist between us".
He was involved in several high-profile incidents, including calling a journalist an "ostrich" and clashing with Crystal Palace's James McArthur.
Pearson was replaced by Claudio Ranieri, who took the side Pearson had largely assembled to the Premier League title in his first season with the Midlands club.
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Without dismissing ranieri's influence It must have been hard to watch Leicester achieve what they did with the team he essentially built.
I also hope some of his temper issues are now a little more under control, as he was often let down by that.
Why a HYS on this but NOT the top football story?
This move could be his way back to the premier league, with Leicester just a thought
"Oh Leuven on a jet plane, don't know when I'll be home again"
I'll get my coat........:-P