Leicester City are on the hunt for a new manager after the club sacked Marti Cifuentes.
The former QPR boss was appointed on a three-year deal back in the summer but has been axed after less than seven months into that contract.
The decision followed Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at home to struggling Oxford United, a result that left the Foxes 14th in the Championship table, six points adrift of the play-offs and nine points above the relegation zone.
Here’s a look at five potential candidates in the next Leicester manager odds.
Next Leicester City manager odds
| Manager | Sky Bet Odds |
|---|---|
| Andy King | 13/8 |
| Russell Martin | 4/1 |
| Gary Rowett | 9/2 |
| Gary O’Neill | 5/1 |
| Lee Carsley | 11/2 |
| Ralph Hasenhuttl | 17/2 |
| Robbie Keane | 9/1 |
| Steven Gerrard | 9/1 |
| Ange Postecoglou | 9/1 |
| Craig Bellamy | 9/1 |
| Odds correct as of 27/01/2026 |
Andy King: 13/8
Andy King won titles with Leicester City in three different divisions, and his successful 14-year playing stint with the Foxes, including his role in the fairytale that was 2015-16, makes him a popular figure with supporters, and potentially a unifying presence.
Unproven in management, it would be unwise for the club to commit to the 37-year-old in terms of anything long-term just yet, but there’s an opportunity for him to galvanise the club for a run of form they may need, with a points deduction looming, to secure their Championship status.
Russell Martin: 4/1
Russell Martin’s managerial career seems to have gone downhill since he stopped working with Luke Williams, which is what happened to Mark Cooper.
It’s possible that Martin is an authentic, charismatic figure, but when it comes to specific technical and tactical details, he can be found wanting.
True, he won promotion at Southampton without Williams, when they had good Premier League players in the Championship, but five points from 16 in the top flight, and eight points from seven combined with Europa League humiliation at Rangers, has people asking the big questions.
Martin has shown some potential in his managerial career so far, in that he always stamps a clear playing identity on his teams, and it’s looked great at certain moments, but he needs his next job to go well.
Lee Carsley: 11/2
Since retiring at Coventry in 2011, Lee Carsley has had 15 years to establish himself as a number one in club football, and he hasn’t done it.
Each of his stints have effectively been as caretaker, while his four years in the England setup suggests he enjoys the clarity provided by the international setup; with recruitment out of the picture, it’s more about working with the players.
Although a head coach role could, in theory, offer Carsley the streamlined remit he desires, that would make more sense at a structurally smooth club with no question marks over key figures in recruitment.
With the question marks hanging over DoF Jon Rudkin at Leicester, and the theory that he has too much power because of his relationship with an owner that was forced into the role and isn’t much of a football person, this wouldn’t be a great fit for Carsley.
Steven Gerrard: 9/1
After the initial promise of winning the Scottish Premiership with Rangers, Gerrard’s managerial career enters last chance saloon, following disappointing stints at Aston Villa and Al-Ettifaq.
The perception would be that Gerrard, with his leadership qualities, was a very good figurehead at Rangers, deferring on the grass to the coaching talents of Michael Beale (who then struggled in the hot-seat).
So, if the Liverpudlian can surround himself with top technical and tactical coaches, he could be the unifying force that brings it all together – but with four years since his last hit, the gamble would be big.
Brian Barry-Murphy: 12/1
Brian Barry-Murphy demonstrated excellent developmental qualities at Rochdale, keeping them up twice in League One on a bottom end budget with as many as 11 homegrown players in the squad, amid a set of off-field problems that ultimately saw the club drop two divisions after his exit for Manchester City EDS.
There, the Irishman nurtured some of the best young players in world football, building his reputation as an outstanding coach, before briefly working in the Premier League with Leicester.
Some questioned whether BBM could translate those developmental qualities into the competitive environment that is senior management, as a number one, but those doubters have been defied by his work at Cardiff.
The 47-year-old has the Bluebirds top of League One, 10 points clear in the automatic promotion race, despite the club not making a single senior signing before opening day, after they’d finished bottom of the Championship.
The only problem is availability and compensation: Cardiff won’t want to let their influential head coach leave in January very easily.
