Leicester City on the Verge of Sacking Marti Cifuentes
Leicester City are expected to dismiss manager Marti Cifuentes in the wake of a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Oxford United on Saturday. The loss has left the Foxes languishing in 14th place in the Championship, a full six points adrift of the play-off positions, intensifying pressure on the Catalan coach.
Cifuentes, who took charge at the King Power Stadium on July 15 after a controversial exit from QPR, was tasked with securing an immediate return to the Premier League following last season's relegation. However, his tenure has been underwhelming, with just 11 wins from 31 matches, alongside nine draws and 11 losses. The team's form has notably dipped, managing only one victory in their last five league outings.
Boardroom Talks and Fan Discontent
According to reports from The Guardian, Leicester City are set to hold crucial boardroom discussions on Sunday to determine Cifuentes' future, with the club reportedly on the brink of sacking the manager. This follows chants from disgruntled fans during the Oxford United match, highlighting growing unrest among the supporters.
In a post-match interview, Cifuentes acknowledged the difficult situation, stating, "It's not a pleasant situation as a manager and as a person because you want to do well for them and it's sad that they feel this way. At the same time, I know football is about results. At the moment, there's a number of fans who are not happy with a lot of things. But as the manager you need to be accountable and responsible."
Early Frontrunners for the Leicester City Job
As speculation mounts over Cifuentes' departure, several names have surfaced as potential replacements. Russell Martin, the former Swansea City and Southampton manager, is an early frontrunner. Martin, who guided Southampton to Premier League promotion via the play-offs in 2024, has been out of work since his brief and tumultuous 123-day stint at Rangers ended in October.
However, other candidates may resonate more with London-based fans, including two notable figures with strong connections to the capital.
Tottenham Legend and Ex-Millwall Manager in the Frame
Robbie Keane, the iconic former Tottenham Hotspur striker, has emerged as a contender for the Leicester City role. Keane, who scored 122 goals in 306 appearances for Spurs, has garnered praise for his managerial work at Hungarian side Ferencváros and has previous experience at Maccabi Tel Aviv, as well as assistant roles at Leeds United and Middlesbrough. His name has also been linked with vacancies at Wolves and Celtic this season.
Another early candidate is Gary Rowett, the experienced Championship manager who last worked at Oxford United. Rowett enjoyed an impressive start at Oxford, earning the Championship Manager of the Month award in January 2025, but was dismissed in December. He is best known for his four-year spell at Millwall from 2019 to 2023, where he oversaw 196 matches, and has also managed Birmingham City, Stoke City, and Derby County.
Reflecting on his sacking at Oxford, Rowett commented, "Yeah, a little bit. But when you've been in this job for 14 years, you know that if you don't get results then at some point any club that's desperate to stay in the Championship – Oxford are no different. It's the reason why they brought me in in the first place – at some point maybe has to roll the dice."
With Leicester City's next match against Charlton Athletic looming, the club's hierarchy faces a pivotal decision that could shape their season. The search for a new manager is set to intensify, with Keane and Rowett among the early names in contention to revive the Foxes' promotion hopes.
