Leicester City’s patience finally snapped after Saturday’s bruising home defeat to Oxford, a result that proved too much for the club’s hierarchy.
Marti Cifuentes was relieved of his duties just six months into the job, with the Foxes drifting uncomfortably in mid-table and momentum clearly heading the wrong way.
From Champions to Chasing the Pack
It’s a far cry from the fairy-tale Premier League title of a decade ago.
Leicester now sit 14th in the Championship, six points off the play-off places, and confidence has been leaking away fast.
One point from their last three matches has only sharpened the sense that something needed to change — and quickly.
A Familiar Face Steps In, For Now
In the short term, the club have turned to one of their own.
Andy King, a member of that famous title-winning squad and now part of the coaching staff, has been placed in interim charge.
He’ll be on the touchline this weekend when Charlton visit the King Power, tasked with steadying the ship and lifting the mood.
Why Gary Rowett Is on Leicester’s Radar
Behind the scenes, attention is already shifting to longer-term solutions.
Gary Rowett has emerged as one of the early names under discussion, and it’s not hard to see why.
He knows the club, understands the fanbase, and has lived the Leicester story from the inside, having played for the Foxes during their Premier League years.
A Manager Built for the Championship Grind
Rowett’s reputation has been forged in the hard realities of the Championship.
After finishing his playing career at Burton Albion, he made an immediate impact there as a manager before solid spells with Birmingham and Derby.
Stoke didn’t quite click, but his four-year run at Millwall — consistently keeping them in the top half on tight budgets — re-established him as a dependable second-tier operator.
Recent Oxford Chapter Adds Context
Most recently, Rowett was at Oxford, where he guided them clear of relegation last season.
His departure in December came a year later, but his work there only reinforced his image as someone who can organise, stabilise, and compete without lavish resources.
Currently occupied with media duties, he could yet be persuaded to step back into the dugout for a club that still means something to him.
Another Strong Candidate in the Mix
Rowett isn’t the only experienced name being looked at.
Daily Mail Sport understands Hearts manager Derek McInnes is also on Leicester’s shortlist.
McInnes has been turning heads in Scotland, with Hearts sitting four points clear at the top of the Premiership as they chase a historic title and threaten to break the Old Firm’s long-standing grip on domestic dominance.
Experience Is the Non-Negotiable
What’s clear is Leicester’s direction of travel.
The club want a manager who has been around the block, understands pressure, and knows how to climb a table rather than simply survive in it.
Youthful promise has taken a back seat to proven know-how.
What’s Next?
First comes Charlton, with Andy King trying to spark an immediate response.
Beyond that, Leicester’s decision-makers face a pivotal call.
Get the next appointment right, and the play-off conversation could still be alive.
Get it wrong, and the gap between past glory and present reality may only grow wider.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn