JibrinLeicester City remain deep in the process of finding a new permanent manager as their 2025‑26 campaign continues in turmoil. The Foxes are yet to finalise their next boss following the departure of Marti Cifuentes at the end of January, leaving the club in need of fresh leadership to steady a squad battling to avoid successive relegations.
With Cifuentes now out of the picture, Leicester have no confirmed direction yet on who will take over at the King Power Stadium. There are several names surfacing as possibilities, and it may well be that delaying a decision by a few days to assess top candidates is to the club’s advantage.
Among those frequently mentioned is Thomas Frank, who has recently become available after leaving Tottenham Hotspur, though many pundits see this as an outside‑the‑box option given Leicester’s current context.
Ralph Hasenhüttl: The Early Front‑Runner
At the moment, Ralph Hasenhüttl stands as a leading favourite for the role according to betting markets. The former Southampton and Wolfsburg boss has shortened odds in recent weeks, with bookmakers placing him at the top of the Leicester managerial market. His high‑intensity, aggressive style and experience in both the Premier League and abroad make him an appealing choice for a club in need of freshness and direction.
Hasenhüttl’s track record includes guiding Southampton to respectable performances in the Premier League, and his experience managing at both elite and challenging levels could offer Leicester a new tactical identity.
Sean Dyche and Other Contenders
Sean Dyche is also being linked with the job and has become one of the notable options, especially since his recent availability after exiting Nottingham Forest earlier in the season. Bookmakers have cut his odds, reflecting a growing belief that he could be in the mix — though he is currently not the outright favourite.
Dyche’s managerial history — including promotions from the Championship and Premier League survival campaigns — suggests he understands the demands of English football’s second tier. He knows how to build hard‑working units and has experience keeping teams in higher divisions against the odds.
Other names also in contention include Gary Rowett, who has a reputation for organising teams effectively and has a solid record in the Championship. Rowett’s experience across several second‑tier clubs gives him the know‑how Leicester might value in such a critical period.
In addition to these candidates, Russell Martin, Dean Smith, and even Gareth Southgate have been mentioned in odds markets as possibilities, though the likelihood of some of these higher‑profile figures taking the job remains debated among fans and analysts.
Andy King Not in Permanent Contention
Leicester’s interim boss Andy King — a club legend — has ruled himself out of the permanent manager discussion. Despite his deep connection with the Foxes and his leadership during the interim period, his three games in temporary charge were uneven, and he has publicly stated he is not pursuing the full‑time role.
King’s stance leaves Leicester free to pursue experienced candidates from outside the club, which many supporters see as a necessary step given the scale of the task at hand.
Jibrin
