Russell Martin in advanced talks to manage Leicester City

Leicester City are in advanced talks with Russell Martin to take over as manager. The club aims to appoint him before the new season begins. Martin has been out of work since his dismissal by Rangers last October, where he recorded five wins from 17 matches. He could return to the dugout at The King Power Stadium as the Foxes prepare for only their second season in the third tier of English football. Gary Rowett was appointed until the end of the 2025/26 campaign to keep Leicester City in the Championship. Rowett failed to save the club, which finished 23rd with 46 points, five points short of safety. Martin previously guided Southampton from the Championship to the Premier League, but his potential appointment was met with hostility when supporters chanted a derogatory slogan after Leicester’s relegation. Marti Cifuentes was hired instead, lasted half of the 2025/26 Championship season and was dismissed with the club sitting 14th. The final decision rests with Leicester chairman and owner Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, who wants a possession‑based identity on the field. He cited Enzo Maresca’s tenure, which delivered a Championship title, as the model for the style he desires. If appointed, it would be Martin’s fifth managerial role after spells at MK Dons, Swansea, Southampton and Rangers. He turned down a return to management with Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew and holds the record as Rangers’ shortest‑serving permanent manager, lasting 123 days with the club eighth in the Scottish Premiership.