Latest news with #MartiCifuentes
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cifuentes wants 'fearless' football from Leicester
New boss Marti Cifuentes says he wants Leicester City playing "fearless" football once more as he tries to return the club to the Premier League at the first attempt. The 43-year-old Spaniard has spent much of his first week at the helm of the Foxes bunkered down with his players in Austria on their pre-season camp. The former Queens Park Rangers head coach described it as "intense but useful days" together as he attempts to quickly get the Foxes up to speed with his philosophy and approach to the game with less than three weeks remaining until the Championship season kicks off. With Leicester winning promotion in 2024 under Enzo Maresca with a high-press and heavy-possession approach, Cifuentes says many of his ideas are already well known at the club. And it goes beyond that, with Cifuentes quick to play on Leicester's reputation for the swashbuckling way they overcame the odds to win the Premier League title in 2016. "There is this foundation from some years ago about the way of playing that feeds very well into my ideas," Cifuentes told BBC Radio Leicester from their training base in the town of Stegersbach, Austria. "There is a talented squad, a lot of quality players that feed well into how I see and understand football. "I really want them to enjoy how we play to this fearless style that I read a lot about this club. "I do believe in a certain way of playing football, and we need to be very strong on those areas to build an identity that is aligned with the history of the club." Listen to the full Cifuentes interview Ex-QPR boss Cifuentes appointed Leicester manager 'Cifuentes will need a magic wand' Cifuentes says it is "very clear" that getting to the Premier League "as soon as possible" is the job he has been brought in to do at the King Power Stadium. But as a manager whose work at youth level and insistence on promoting young talent brought him to the attention of Leicester's hierarchy, the Spaniard has spoken of an eagerness to find a balance of short-term and long-term success. "I'm aware of the expectations and I think that's the way it should be," he said. "I'm also very aware that it's not going to be easy, so we need to build a foundation and an identity that can sustain that over time. "I know how tough sometimes it can be after relegation, but I want to bring them this love of the game that they enjoy." Cifuentes came in as Ruud van Nistelrooy's replacement, with the Dutchman in charge as Leicester finished third from bottom and 13 points from safety in the Premier League last season. The drop consigned the 2021 FA Cup winners to a second season in the Championship in three years. Leicester's previous success of 2024, when they went up as second-tier title winners, is not something that Cifuentes will be "taking for granted" in what he calls "a beast" of a league. "This team did really well under Enzo and a lot of players that are still here, and obviously that sets a reference point," he said. "But the reality is that in football every season and every game is different, so we have to approach the season in a very humble way. We cannot expect that it will be a walk in the park and that it will be easy to reach 97 or 100 points." What points tally Leicester manage under Cifuentes also depends of what comes from the charges the club faces over allegedly breaching the English Football League's financial rules when they won the Championship just over a year ago. That charge, as well as the club's need to try and balance the books in an effort to avoid profit and sustainability rule breaches, is expected to impact how Cifuentes shapes his squad in the coming weeks. He would not comment on what business might need to be done during the summer transfer window, but he said he wants to work with a smaller squad and that it would be "trimmed" before the campaign begins. "What is clear is that I will not speculate much about things that are not 100% clear," Cifuentes said. "What is sure is that me, the club, with Jon [director or football Jon Rudkin] and the ownership, we have good conversations about possible scenarios and I'm fully aware of the situation." Latest Leicester news, analysis and fan views
BBC News
18 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Cifuentes wants 'fearless' football from Leicester
New boss Marti Cifuentes says he wants Leicester City playing "fearless" football once more as he tries to return the club to the Premier League at the first 43-year-old Spaniard has spent much of his first week at the helm of the Foxes bunkered down with his players in Austria on their pre-season former Queens Park Rangers head coach described it as "intense but useful days" together as he attempts to quickly get the Foxes up to speed with his philosophy and approach to the game with less than three weeks remaining until the Championship season kicks Leicester winning promotion in 2024 under Enzo Maresca with a high-press and heavy-possession approach, Cifuentes says many of his ideas are already well known at the it goes beyond that, with Cifuentes quick to play on Leicester's reputation for the swashbuckling way they overcame the odds to win the Premier League title in 2016."There is this foundation from some years ago about the way of playing that feeds very well into my ideas," Cifuentes told BBC Radio Leicester in an exclusive interview from their training base in the town of Stegersbach, Austria."There is a talented squad, a lot of quality players that feed well into how I see and understand football."I really want them to enjoy how we play to this fearless style that I read a lot about this club."I do believe in a certain way of playing football, and we need to be very strong on those areas to build an identity that is aligned with the history of the club." Cifuentes says it is "very clear" that getting to the Premier League "as soon as possible" is the job he has been brought in to do at the King Power as a manager whose work at youth level and insistence on promoting young talent brought him to the attention of Leicester's hierarchy, the Spaniard has spoken of an eagerness to find a balance of short-term and long-term success."I'm aware of the expectations and I think that's the way it should be," he said."I'm also very aware that it's not going to be easy, so we need to build a foundation and an identity that can sustain that over time."I know how tough sometimes it can be after relegation, but I want to bring them this love of the game that they enjoy."Cifuentes came in as Ruud van Nistelrooy's replacement, with the Dutchman in charge as Leicester finished third from bottom and 13 points from safety in the Premier League last drop consigned the 2021 FA Cup winners to a second season in the Championship in three previous success of 2024, when they went up as second-tier title winners, is not something that Cifuentes will be "taking for granted" in what he calls "a beast" of a league."This team did really well under Enzo and a lot of players that are still here, and obviously that sets a reference point," he said."But the reality is that in football every season and every game is different, so we have to approach the season in a very humble way. We cannot expect that it will be a walk in the park and that it will be easy to reach 97 or 100 points."What points tally Leicester manage under Cifuentes also depends of what comes from the charges the club faces over allegedly breaching the English Football League's financial rules when they won the Championship just over a year charge, as well as the club's need to try and balance the books in an effort to avoid profit and sustainability rule breaches, is expected to impact how Cifuentes shapes his squad in the coming would not comment on what business might need to be done during the summer transfer window, but he said he wants to work with a smaller squad and that it would be "trimmed" before the campaign begins."What is clear is that I will not speculate much about things that are not 100% clear," Cifuentes said."What is sure is that me, the club, with Jon [director or football Jon Rudkin] and the ownership, we have good conversations about possible scenarios and I'm fully aware of the situation."
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Leicester City transfer briefing: The truth about compensation paid for Marti Cifuentes, the two first-team regulars allowed to leave and the latest on Bilal El Khannouss' future
And breathe. Finally, Leicester City have a manager – though sadly for the Foxes, that is just the first piece of the jigsaw. Marti Cifuentes joins a club who must reduce their high wage bill dramatically and who will almost certainly suffer a points deduction. When, they do not know, although Leicester would love to have the answer before the Championship campaign starts in less than a month.
Glasgow Times
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Rangers get good news and bad in Conor Coady pursuit
The Ibrox club have been working on a deal to bring the central defender, 32, in from Leicester but it has been dragging on. The England cap is believed to want the move and had been keen to sit out his club's pre-season training camp in Austria to be able to accelerate it. However, the Daily Record is reporting that Leicester have failed to grant him his wish and he has had to travel. The English Championship are said to have opened talks with a potential replacement for Coady but the former Everton loanee remains under contract so has been obligated to travel with new manager Marti Cifuentes and his squad. Read more: Russell Martin must register his squad for the Champions League qualifiers today, with the first leg against the Greeks on Tuesday. That means it is looking highly unlikely things will start moving fast enough with Coady for him to be included in that initial list. One saving grace could be the fact that a loophole allows for two additional players to be added until 24 hours before kick-off. However, if the Englishman cant be registered before that, he would also miss the second leg. Rangers have already signed central defenders Nasser Djiga, on loan from Wolves, and Emmanual Fernandez, permanently from Peterborough, in this window and want Coady as part of a revamped backline. Full-back Max Aarons has also come in on loan from Bournemouth. Robin Propper is on the verge of departing for his old club FC Twente, if financial differences can be resolved.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Cifuentes will need a magic wand'
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 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 The last time we belatedly appointed a new manager was Claudio Ranieri... we all know what happened 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 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 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 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 One word. 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 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 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!
