Leicester City has officially appointed Marti Cifuentes, the former head coach of Queens Park Rangers, as their new manager under a three-year contract. The 43-year-old Spaniard steps in to replace Ruud van Nistelrooy with the new season just weeks away.
This marks a challenging return for Cifuentes, as Leicester finds itself in the Championship for the second time in three years. The club was relegated from the Premier League following a swift downfall after winning the EFL Championship title under Enzo Maresca in 2024.
Cifuentes joins a list of six managers the Foxes have seen in little over two years, including Maresca, who left to take the managerial position at Chelsea after guiding Leicester to promotion. Expectations are high as Cifuentes is tasked with leading the team back to the Premier League, following the precedent set by his predecessor.
During his tenure at QPR, Cifuentes finished the season in 18th and then 15th place. Leicester City believes that his “modern, progressive footballing philosophy” will be key to the club’s aspirations for future success. Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha expressed confidence in Cifuentes, stating that he would be integral to the club’s plans moving forward.
Cifuentes took over at QPR in October 2023 when the team was struggling near the bottom of the Championship and was initially charged with avoiding relegation. His previous season ended unceremoniously with a 5-0 loss to the already-promoted Burnley in April, leading to him being placed on gardening leave. As he embarks on this new chapter with Leicester in the 2025 season, the pressure will be on to deliver results swiftly.