Taylor was a highly-rated player, playing for Southend, Crystal Palace and Tottenham, and played four times for England, scoring once.

Peter Taylor fact file

1970: Makes his league debut for Southend 1973: Joins Crystal Palace, turning out 122 times and scoring 33 goals 1976: Gets his first England cap 1976: Makes his Tottenham debut, eventually scores 46 goals 1982: Retires from playing football 1993-1995: Starts managerial career at Southend 1996: Appointed England Under-21 coach 1999: Becomes Gillingham managers. Promoted to the First Division June 2000: Unveiled as the new manager of Leicester City

He retired from playing in 1982 and began his managerial career with Southend in 1993, where he stayed for two years which were unsuccessful.

Taylor built his coaching reputation during three years in charge of the England under-21 side from 1996 to 1999.

Where, under his guidance, the England team qualified in style for successive European under-21 championships, topping the group both times.

He was controversially replaced by Howard Wilkinson last year.

Taylor joined Gillingham and quickly showed he could transfer his success to club level.

He inspired the Gills to a successful FA Cup run and promotion to the First Division via their play-off victory over Wigan at Wembley.

Gillingham rated their man highly and offered him £150,000-a-year to stay.

But the lure of a top-flight club, plus a pay packet believed to be around £450,000-a-year, proved too much.

However, taking on Leicester will be a totally different challenge and Martin O'Neill will be a hard act to follow.

O'Neill steered Leicester to four successive top-10 finishes in the Premiership and two League Cup triumphs before accepting the managerial post at Celtic.

Taylor firmly believes it is time to prove himself on the big stage.

And only time will tell if he has what it takes to build on the success O'Neill brought to Leicester City.