Leicester ‘turned my head’ - Michael Cheika appointed new Tigers head coach following Dan McKellar exit
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Published 27/06/2024 at 08:37 GMT
New Leicester Tigers head coach Michael Chieka says he did not have a "desire" to work in the Gallagher Premiership - but the club “turned his head”, following the former Australia and Argentina boss’ appointment. Chieka succeeds Dan McKellar, who left by mutual consent at the weekend. Cheika will begin his new role straight away, ahead of pre-season training starting on Monday.
Michael Cheika has been appointed the new head coach of Leicester Tigers
Image credit: Getty Images
Michael Cheika has vowed to bring his “best coaching yet” to Leicester Tigers, following his appointment as head coach.
The former Australia and Argentina boss will begin his new role immediately, before pre-season training starts on Monday, following the departure of fellow Australian Dan McKellar by mutual consent at the weekend.
Chieka takes over a side which was largely seen as having underperformed during the 2023/24 Gallagher Premiership season, finishing eighth in the table.
In the past few years, the 57-year-old has been working across codes, leading Argentina at the rugby union World Cup and Lebanon in rugby league’s equivalent.
Cheika is a former World Rugby Coach of the Year who guided Leinster to victory in the previous iteration of the European Champions Cup back in 2009, and New South Wales to the Super Rugby title in 2014. A year later, his Australia side were beaten by New Zealand in the Rugby World Cup final.
“Honestly, I wasn’t looking at the Premiership and didn’t have the desire to coach in it until Leicester Tigers came to me. But, the opportunity to coach at Tigers and lead this group of players turned my head,” said Cheika.
“I want this to be my best coaching yet. I want the preparation and the way we lead the team, to be at my best level. If I can bring my best level, other people will bring their best level and good things will start to happen around us.
“Everybody can see that it is a top-quality roster the club has. I am not going to lie and say I know every single one of them down to their bones but that’s what I will do over the next few months, to learn how to get the best out of them.
“But, the roster is only paper. It’s now about how the team gels, how to put these really good players and characters together and get them playing in a way that they love it and a way they love going out there, together, and representing Leicester Tigers.”
In his one season in charge, McKellar was unable to replicate the successful era under Steve Borthwick, who guided Leicester to the Premiership title in 2022 before leaving to take over England.
“He [Cheika] has, over more than two decades, achieved great success in winning trophies but also developing players, developing coaches and galvanising groups to be the best they can be,” said Leicester CEO Andrea Pinchen.
“We want that, we need that and believe Michael is the right person to take this team, this club back to where we know we should be.
“I also accept that the past week is not what fans expected, and nor did we, but the decisions we have made are for the long-term benefit of Leicester Tigers and after lengthy, detailed and very honest conversations with Michael in recent days, we are on the same page about what is now necessary to see this club back on top.”
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