logo
Leicester appoint Marti Cifuentes to replace Ruud van Nistelrooy

Leicester appoint Marti Cifuentes to replace Ruud van Nistelrooy

New York Times15-07-2025
Leicester City have appointed former Queens Park Rangers head coach Marti Cifuentes as Ruud van Nistelrooy's replacement.
Leicester parted ways with Van Nistelrooy in June, a month after the conclusion of the Premier League season.
Cifuentes was placed on gardening leave by QPR before the final game of the Championship season in April before leaving the club by mutual consent last month.
Advertisement
He joined QPR from Swedish club Hammarby in October 2023 and helped keep them up in both his seasons in charge, and has subsequently been replaced at Loftus Road by former Rennes head coach Julien Stephan.
Van Nistelrooy only replaced Steve Cooper in November but managed to win just four of his 24 matches in charge as Leicester were relegated in April with five games to spare.
The Leicester job was the Dutchman's first permanent managerial position since he left PSV Eindhoven at the end of the 2022-23 season.
He had taken charge of former club Manchester United on an interim basis following the sacking of Erik ten Hag in October, winning three of four games, including twice against Leicester.
Cooper took over last summer following Enzo Maresca's move to Chelsea but was sacked in November after just 12 Premier League games.
Leicester begin the new Championship season at home to Sheffield Wednesday on August 10.
Analysis by Jordan Halford
Marti Cifuentes joins Leicester City just over 12 weeks since their relegation back to the Championship was confirmed and with the club amidst one of, if not, the most tumultuous period in their 141-year history.
The 43-year-old arrives at the King Power with the club facing a potential points deduction and/or transfer embargo from the Football League (EFL) and the likelihood of having to offload several high earners if he is to make additions to his squad.
Leicester are still reeling from their second relegation in three years, with plenty still needing to be sorted out just 31 days out from the start of the season against Sheffield Wednesday. The club still haven't released any of this season's kits.
Leicester will begin life after Jamie Vardy, widely regarded as the club's greatest ever player, this season but the Spanish coach will, however, inherit a large bulk of the squad that won the Championship title in 2022-23 under Enzo Maresca.
Advertisement
Exciting young winger Abdul Fatawu is likely to return from his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury that kept him out of the majority of his debut Premier League campaign, while the club have a sizeable crop of academy prospects such as Ben Nelson, Olabade Aluko, Will Alves, Jeremy Monga, Louis Page and Jake Evans who will be pushing for first-team football.
()
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Could Jacory Croskey-Merritt earn the Commanders' starting RB spot in 2025?
Could Jacory Croskey-Merritt earn the Commanders' starting RB spot in 2025?

Yahoo

time20 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Could Jacory Croskey-Merritt earn the Commanders' starting RB spot in 2025?

The Washington Commanders may have a new starting running back working his way up the depth chart to begin training camp. Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been getting reps with the starters during his first week of camp, making the most of each opportunity. Croskey-Merritt was a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft out of Arizona, appearing in just one game during his final year of college. The rookie's legs look fresh, showcasing his explosiveness with every carry so far. Brian Robinson projects to be the starter in Washington to begin the regular season, but if Croskey-Merritt continues to impress, things could change very quickly. Before his year with the Wildcats, Croskey-Merritt showcased his ability to handle a large workload on the ground. In 12 games with the New Mexico Lobos in 2023, he ran for 1,190 yards and 17 touchdowns on 189 attempts. Despite Robinson currently controlling the starting spot in the backfield, the Commanders haven't been afraid to utilize a running back by committee in the past. Austin Ekeler projects to see the field in passing situations, where Croskey-Merritt could supplement Robinson's earlier-down work. Fans in Washington are quickly falling in love with how the rookie has begun his first training camp, garnering a lot of attention both on the field and in the media. Jayden Daniels' ability to keep defenses honest in the run game does wonders for any running back lined up beside him, and Croskey-Merritt is looking to take advantage of seeing less attention than ever. As a former zero-star recruit out of high school who had to begin his college career in the FCS, Croskey-Merritt has always been an underdog with the mentality to prove his doubters wrong. So far, to start training camp, he's been doing just that.

AI Predicts 2025 Ballon d'Or Winner: Shock Favorite Emerges
AI Predicts 2025 Ballon d'Or Winner: Shock Favorite Emerges

Yahoo

time20 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

AI Predicts 2025 Ballon d'Or Winner: Shock Favorite Emerges

Dembélé leads the race, Lamine Yamal second — rest ruled out AI Predicts 2025 Ballon d'Or Winner: Shock Favorite Emerges A new AI powered forecast's revealed the latest projections for the 2025 Ballon d'or and the results are nothing short of surprising. Who'll Win the Golden Ball? According to football analytics platform Score 90, the battle for this year's Ballon d'or awarded annually by France Football is now down to two names only: Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint Germain) Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) The AI model gave Dembele dominant 63% chance of lifting the prestigious trophy, far ahead of rising Spanish star Yamal who holds just 13%. All other top contenders have reportedly been eliminated from the statistical race. Ballon d'Or Ceremony Details France Football's officially announced that the 2025 Ballon d'Or gala will take place on Monday 22 Sep, in Paris. The event will be attended by global football icons, celebrities and international media.

Galatasaray SK officially announces the return of Victor Osimhen
Galatasaray SK officially announces the return of Victor Osimhen

Yahoo

time20 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Galatasaray SK officially announces the return of Victor Osimhen

The Nigerian striker joins the Turkish club on a permanent long-term deal. Victor Osimhen / Credit photo : @GalatasaraySK Victor Osimhen makes his return to Galatasaray SK on the evening of Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Nigerian forward leaves Napoli for good, signing a new contract with the Istanbul club after several long weeks of negotiations. Through images shared on social media, Galatasaray SK has officially confirmed Victor Osimhen's comeback. Loaned from Napoli during the 2024-2025 season, the Nigerian international striker convinced the Istanbul management to secure him on a permanent basis. Despite fierce competition from several European giants and Saudi Arabian clubs willing to break the bank for the 2023 African Ballon d'Or winner, Galatasaray and its fans managed to persuade the 26-year-old star to stay. The successful negotiations with SSC Napoli resulted in a deal estimated at €75 million, including €5 million in performance-related bonuses. An initial payment of €40 million is set to be made this summer, followed by a second installment of €35 million scheduled by 2026. According to sources, Napoli also included a clause prohibiting Galatasaray from selling Victor Osimhen to an Italian club before 2027, under penalty of a financial sanction. The Nigerian star will sign a three-year contract, with an optional additional season, and will reportedly earn an annual salary of €15 million excluding bonuses.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store