Latest news with #Cifuentes
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Rangers get clear Conor Coady message from new Leicester City boss as transfer 'obligation' boils over
The centre-back is currently in Austria as part of the Foxes' pre-season programme Rangers target Conor Coady has started the first game of Leicester City's pre-season training camp in Austria. New Foxes' boss Marti Cifuentes sent a clear message to the Scottish Premiership side as he showed his faith in the England cap amid lingering speculation over his future. Record Sport revealed on Tuesday that Coady had hoped to be given the green light to travel to Glasgow to conclude a much anticipated move to Ibrox rather than lead his team mates on a ten day summer tour. But Coady remains under contract and the 32-year-old was not given permission to push forward his move to the Scottish Premiership. With talks now at a standstill, despite the cash strapped King Power outfit have now also earmarked the 32-year-old's replacement - Cifuentes kept Coady as his captain for the clash with Hungarian side Zalaegerszegi. The experienced defender was in from the start in Cifuentes first game in charge after being appointed as Ruud van Nistelrooy's replacement early this week. Rangers' boss Russell Martin is set to go into next week's crucial qualification first leg against Panathinaikos without the former England defender in his Euro ranks. But a deal is not off the table, with Leicester keen to offload players who have entered the final year of their contract - including Coady. The Leicester Mercury report City could be "obliged to accept any bids" for players who become free agents next summer "rather than lose them for nothing" at the end of the English Championship campaign. The report notes there has been "no advancements" in talks between Rangers and Leicester in the last week - leaving Martin with Wolves loanee Nasser Djiga and Peterborough recruit Manny Fernandez as his two additions at the heart of his defence he talks into the clash with the Greek side next Tuesday. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
🎧 Are Leicester lagging behind?
"It would have been nice to get Cifuentes here [earlier] but am I worried? Not really." Former Leicester City defender Michael Morrison joins Adam Whitty and Tom Hoegger as they discuss whether the Foxes are trailing their promotion rivals before the season has even begun. Listen to the full episode of When You're Smiling and more on BBC Sounds.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
🎧 Are Leicester lagging behind?
"It would have been nice to get Cifuentes here [earlier] but am I worried? Not really."Former Leicester City defender Michael Morrison joins Adam Whitty and Tom Hoegger as they discuss whether the Foxes are trailing their promotion rivals before the season has even to the full episode of When You're Smiling and more on BBC Sounds.
ITV News
6 days ago
- Sport
- ITV News
Marti Cifuentes is the new Leicester boss - is he the man for the moment or the man for the future?
There's little doubt that last season was a watershed moment for L eicester City and their fans. After much fanfare, a miserable return to the Premier League ended with relegation and with very little to celebrate. The Foxes have had five managers since 2023. Two relegations and one promotion and that tells you all you need to know about a club who will not want to yo-yo between the top two divisions in the country. So where are Leicester City now? Well as decent a man as Ruud Van Nistelrooy is and as eloquent as he was with the media, him being in charge did not work. When Ruud first came to Leicester, many were immediately sceptical, thinking that Steve Cooper should have been given more time. After all, he did get better results. But Cooper's tenure was perhaps more complicated than results show, and it's been reported that all was not well behind the scenes when he was at the King Power Stadium. The threat of a points deduction remains for Leicester and they now find themselves in the Championship, but without key players Jamie Vardy and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall who were instrumental in getting them promoted last time around. That promotion of course was masterminded by Enzo Maresca who left for Chelsea shortly after. With all of this in mind, Leicester have turned to former Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes. The Spaniard left Loftus Road in June and he and Leicester will pay back some of the compensation he got when he left. The appointment may not have excited fans, but Leicester City believe that for the squad they have right now and for the situation they are in, Cifuentes is the ideal man for the job. Foxes fans at their most cynical will point towards Cifuentes being relatively cheap and willing to take on a huge project, but if we dig a little deeper, we can see the club's thinking behind the move. Cifuentes came into QPR with the club second bottom of the Championship but managed to steer them clear of relegation amidst difficult times at Loftus Road. Last season was even more difficult though and although he kept them up again, a decision was made to part ways. I understand Leicester liked both what they saw and his vision for the Foxes. For example, his style of play which is possession and positional based play is reminiscent of Maresca. He likes to attack with depth, width and pace. He filmed a tactical masterclass on YouTube about how to attack a mid block (a condensed group of defensive tactics and players in the middle of the pitch) that give us hints of his vision for the 'new' Leicester City. He also impressed with his man management skills and personable approach - at a time when the dressing room seemed at odds and fractured, this will surely be welcomed. The fact he's willing and able to work with a squad who are a range of ages and talents is also a big plus. Leicester City very much see Cifuentes as someone who can inspire and unify, bringing people together in what has been and could still be a really difficult period for the club. It's also understood that his coaching style is very hands-on when it comes to the training pitch, another key point for players, who in the last few years have had to pick up varying styles from different managers quickly with little success. That all being said, this season won't be easy. If you add in a points deduction, Leicester won't be automatically be the favourites to go straight back up. And yet there will still be that expectation from fans and within the club. As a past Premier League Champion with lofty ambitions, Leicester City simply cannot afford to linger in the Championship. There is talent in the squad, of that there is no doubt, and players like Jeremy Monga give hope for the future. The question is whether Cifuentes has what it takes to get everyone on board and believing in his vision. Leicester City have given him a two year deal, which could lead to three depending on performance, so they certainly think so. The man for the moment or the man for the future? We will find out.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Cifuentes will need a magic wand'
[Getty Images] We asked you what you thought of Marti Cifuentes' appointment as the new manager of Leicester City, as well as the timing of his arrival and what you expect to see from the Spaniard at the King Power Stadium as the Foxes aim to make an immediate return to the Premier League. Advertisement Here is what you had to say: Jonathan: Even Harry Potter would struggle to get things sorted at the KP in the time left before the season starts! All catastrophically slow this summer. Who's staying? Who's coming in? Who's the best player in each position? What's our best starting eleven? And many more questions to be asked and answered. Is anyone at the top (pardon the pun) going to take responsibility for the glacial pace of change this summer? Steve: After the worst performing season in my club's history, mismanagement and indecision from the board, and no explanation why it's taken so long, I'm expecting nothing from Cifuentes. Little success as a manager, working now for peanuts, and zero evidence of past loyalty. He'll be gone before the end of 2025. Hope he's got a magic wand! Martyn: Most Foxes fans seem to be moaning about it. I'm actually quite optimistic. He did well at QPR under difficult circumstances, trying to play attractive football. A year to rebuild and I think he could do well for us. Advertisement Steve: The last time we belatedly appointed a new manager was Claudio Ranieri... we all know what happened then. Simon: I'm actually fairly optimistic about this appointment. He offers the flexibility to deal with any of the situations we might face - from promotion races to points deductions and relegation fights! My only gripe, like for many fans, is why it took so long and why no change at the top of the club. Ross: Cifuentes got Leicester promoted without being our manager back in 2024 when QPR beat Leeds to secure Leicester's promotion, and now he will do the same again but this time as our gaffer. That's not a prediction, that's a spoiler. Maddie: I would say that he looks a good manger, but also I want him to bring some new players into the team to strengthen at the back. Advertisement Kevin: Time for a dose of realism for us City fans, the club's in a mess. A few seasons back the job attracted the best, now it's become a bit of a poisoned chalice, financial and points deduction uncertainty etc. At least he wants the job, need to get behind him and hope for a good start. John: One word. Uninspiring. David: The last time City appointed an ex-QPR manager, we ended up in League One. History does have a habit of repeating itself! Lindsay: Promotion, no. Stability, yes. He needs to turn this team around and prepare them for a challenging season ahead. Bring through the youth and give them the game time, and build the confidence and experience to maintain their position in the Championship at a high level. Then push for promotion in future seasons. Advertisement Tim: I'm OK with this. I wasn't excited about the other names floating around and he does like to play attacking football and has some experience in the Championship. May as well get behind him. Why not? Carl: A fan since 1969 through thick and thin but no longer. Lack of communication and respect with fans. This is not Leicester City as I remember it. Get the owners out. My respect for them has gone! James: Let's not get carried away. Let him have a chance before everyone shoots him down. Hopefully, he'll get the basics right, keep us up and build from there. Anyone thinking we're bouncing straight back up needs to wake up. Let's take whatever points deduction comes our way, use our youth and build again. Stay up, that is the goal. Lyn: I'm just so glad we didn't appoint Chris Wilder. The club now needs to back the manager with some funds to buy key players. I'd be happy with a season of consolidation - let's not put too much pressure on the team!
