Leicester City

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Russell Martin has emerged as a potential candidate for the vacant managerial seat at Leicester City but while it is not a done deal, many have been quick to compare him to former head coach Enzo Maresca.

The Italian led the Foxes to the Championship title in 2024 with possession-based football but left after a season in charge to join Chelsea.

However, not everyone is convinced Martin would bring 'Marescaball' back to Leicester if he is appointed.

"I don't necessarily buy into the fact that Russell Martin and Enzo Maresca - because they get aligned and compared so much - are that similar managers," BBC Radio Leicester's Owynn Palmer-Atkin said.

"I would say that Russell Martin is a more extreme version of Enzo Maresca in terms of the way that he wants to play.

"Do Leicester City have the squad to be able to play that style of football? Possibly."

The Foxes have seen a huge turnover already with 10 players being released this summer, including captain Ricardo Pereira and the two main forwards, Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka.

"They still have an awful lot of players who will not want to play in League One this season and therefore there is going to be a lot more movement than we've already seen," Palmer-Atkin added.

"There's going to be a huge rebuild this summer for Leicester City and they have to get it right and part of the parcel of that is getting the right manager, with the right style, to build that around.

"This is not something that if they get wrong they can come back the following year and go again. They have to get it right this summer if they want to be the club that returns to the Championship and then very quickly returns to the Premier League."

Listen to Owynn Palmer-Atkin's full thoughts on the links with Martin on BBC Sounds

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We asked you for your opinion on the links between former Southampton and Rangers boss Russell Martin and the vacant managerial seat at Leicester City.

It's certainly got tongues wagging, that's for sure.

Here is a selection of what you had to say:

Enzo: Unfortunately we are now in the market for a manager with a blotted copybook. We just have to hope he's learnt from his mistakes and 'has a point to prove.' Specifically, there is more than one way to win a football match; respond to the conditions.

Pete: What an own goal. We've wasted weeks in appointing a manager when it was vital to get that done ASAP in May given the sheer amount of transfer business we need to do (10-20 players out and replaced).

Martin represents the opposite of what we need: a return to the ponderous, time wasting passing of Maresca that falls flat when you play someone as good as you. Should have sounded out Scott Parker and, if not, get Rowett in early doors as he knows the players already and could have been getting on with things weeks ago.

The club need to wake up and realise our true identity is about fearless positivity, urgency, passion and a never-say-die attitude, NOT an obsession with pass completion rates. We'll get behind whoever the manager is but Martin is a big disappointment.

Philip: A thought. What would be wrong with appointing Christian Fuchs as manager supported by a returning Jamie Vardy?

Think about it, Vardy wants to continue playing. So, supporting his former team in need of some serious inspiration, then go for a one-year player contract for Vardy working alongside his former team-mate Fuchs.

Robert: Russell Martin would be a sound appointment. He has an impressive background and he knows the style he wants to play.

More important, it indicates the board are aiming for a period of stability instead of quick-fix poor decisions, with the aim of getting back into the Premier League with one manager.

Alex: I have mixed opinions on Russell Martin, based on what other clubs' supporters think of him. If he has learnt from his time at Southampton and Rangers and is willing to change tactics, then I think he will succeed.

If he hasn't, then I think he'll struggle like at Rangers.

However, whoever it is needs backing strongly by the board. No more time wasting. Get the backroom staff sorted pronto and build a squad to compete for first place as soon as possible.

HJ: Russell would be an exciting choice. His style of play is far more positive than Gary, a defensive specialist. Avoiding financial mishaps, would a double promotion be too much to ask for?

Richard: The most important thing for the board right now is to rebuild trust across the club, fanbase and community and recreate the unity lost over the last three to four years.

Russell Martin is known to be unpopular among fans, regardless of any perceived technical merits, and so, for the board to ignore that and choose him, comes across as arrogant, threatening to fuel further division. Someone like Christian Fuchs or Richie Wellens would at least start with the fans onside.

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Former Rangers, Southampton and Swansea City boss Russell Martin has been strongly linked with the vacant manager's position at Leicester City.

The 40-year-old has been interviewed by the club's hierarchy, BBC Radio Leicester reports.

Martin won promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs with Southampton in 2023-24 but was sacked the following season after one win in 16 games left Saints bottom of the table.

He was then fired after just 123 days in charge of Scottish Premiership giants Rangers in October 2025 with the club in eighth position after one win from their opening seven league games.

• Foxes fans, would you be happy with Martin coming in?

• If not, who would you prefer?

• If Martin does join, what are your expectations for the 2026-27 League One campaign?

Let us know your thoughts here and we will publish a selection of your responses later on.

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Leicester City defender Harry Souttar was in action at the weekend as preparations for the World Cup ramp up.

The Australia international captained the Socceroos for 82 minutes during their 1-1 draw with Switzerland on Saturday.

The 27-year-old missed most of the Championship season for the Foxes due to an Achilles injury but could feature for Australia once the World Cup begins on 11 June.

The centre-back was part of the 2022 squad, which equalled their best World Cup performance by reaching the last 16.

Australia are in Group D and will face Turkey, hosts USA and Paraguay.

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Leicester City duo Jordan Ayew and Abdul Fatawu have been named in Ghana's squad for the World Cup, which starts next week.

Ayew, 34, will leave Leicester at the end of his contract this summer but will captain the Black Stars, who are in Group L along with England, Croatia and Panama.

The forward has made 119 appearances for Ghana, scoring 34 goals and played at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Fatawu, 22, is expected to feature as a winger at the tournament which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

He has scored three senior international goals for Ghana in 27 appearances.

They start their campaign against Panama on Thursday, 18 June.

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Leicester City defender Harry Souttar has been named in the Australia squad for the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico which starts next week.

He managed only two games for Leicester last season because of a ruptured Achilles tendon which he sustained while on loan at Sheffield United in 2024.

The 27-year-old has already made 37 appearances for the Socceroos, scoring 11 goals, and featured for them at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar where he started all four games as they were beaten in the last 16 by eventual tournament winners Argentina.

Souttar was born in Aberdeen but despite featuring for Scotland's under-17 team, he switched his allegiance to Australia in 2019.

Australia are in Group D for the tournament alongside Paraguay, Turkey and co-hosts, the USA. They start their campaign against Turkey on Sunday, 14 June.

"The club was together; the fans, the board, the directors. Everyone was pulling in the right direction and it's just a shame to see how the club has done a 180 now where it's completely disjointed.

"Sport sometimes has these crazy stories - Leicester is unfortunately one of those now."

From their Premier League title win to their relegation to League One, Kelly Cates is joined by Wes Morgan, Robert Huth, Marc Albrighton and BBC Sport's Midlands reporter Nick Mashiter to reflect on the past 10 years at Leicester City in a two-part series.

Listen to Part One on BBC Sounds

Listen to Part Two on BBC Sounds

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BBC Sport asked Leicester City supporters to have their say on who should be put in charge of the Foxes in League One next season.

Premier League-winning former Leicester City defender Christian Fuchs, who has just overseen Newport's League Two relegation escape, is by far the most popular among the fans who have responded.

Gary Rowett, who has come to the end of his short-term contract as Leicester boss, is also seen by some as right person to continue on in the job.

Former Foxes boss Nigel Pearson gets a mention among an eclectic group that also includes Motherwell's Jens Berthel Askou, Burton Albion's Gary Bowyer and former Burnley, Everton and Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche.

Here is a selection of what Foxes fans had to say.

Liz: I think Christian Fuchs would be a rather exciting appointment. He knows the set up at the King Power, probably knows some of the junior stars and would be a good move for him one league up. Let's face it, he's done wonders to keep Newport up.

Brian: Leicester City need a complete rebuild and I would choose Christian Fuchs to be the man to do the job, supported by someone like Robert Huth, both I'm sure would command respect from players and staff.

Dave: I'd have Nigel Pearson back. He basically put the 2016 squad together, but I'm not sure the owners would have him back. Christian Fuchs would be a nice story as a club legend, but Andy King didn't do such a good job when he had a go.

Colt: Has to be title-winning Christian Fuchs, he could build a new young team and be an inspiring in-house leader like Michael Carrick at Manchester United. None of the other names are exciting enough or connected to LCFC.

Chris: Recognising there is risk, there seem to be lots of reasons to opt for Fuchs, we need to restore spirit and fan connectivity, and he has achieved his goals at Newport. Darren Ferguson had four stints at Peterborough.

Liam: Personally I'd stick with Rowett. I don't put any blame on him for our relegation from the Championship, he walked into a toxic environment and inherited a squad lacking confidence, desire and motivation. He has the knowhow and is one of the most experienced coaches in EFL football. As long as the player recruitment is right I think Rowett could get as play-offs as an absolute minimum.

Nick: Let's stick with Rowett. The team played with far more structure and impetus than we've seen for a while. He was prepared to drop players on loan when it was clear we need to look to the future, although I'd love to see Jordan James back next season. He knows the league and has some time to continue what he's started and build momentum.

Simon: Why would even a dysfunctional leadership team consider extending Rowetts stay? Answer me that riddle...

Dave: In reality we have run out of options. Rowett has a good track record in the Championship. Swapping him now for someone who's CV is League One oriented is the wrong signal. He has worked with small budgets before. It's the Championship we want to be back in ASAP!

Paul: The Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou is a perfect candidate - he has built a good team [that is] young and exciting [and] play good football. But I fear we are just going to do the same old route with the people at the top. Darren Ferguson, really? Come on, what's he done? Nothing.

Malcolm: Ex-City player Tom Cleverley has done well at Watford and Plymouth.

Ian: Why not go for Sean Dyche? I know it would be a drop for him to. But he'd give us stability, desire to win and he could build a team for the future.

Sam: Go and get Gary Bowyer from Burton Albion. He's proven at this level and brings the stability that is desperately needed.

Philip: Scott Parker would be the ideal candidate - very good record in getting teams promotion, attractive style of football with a solid defence, he would have the chance to mould the team in his own way to take us back to the Premier League.

James: It would obviously be nice to have someone with a connection to the club but what we really need is a change of playing style. No more trying to trying to be the next Barcelona - it only leads to limp, passive displays where we make 500 passes at the back but have zero shots.

There's no need to be too clever in League One - get the ball forwards and try to score goals quickly. Anyone who understands this and thinks that anything less than promotion next season would be unacceptable please.

Lindsay: The Leicester City board need to get this next managerial appointment right and do it soon.

On the appointment of Rowett they should have been actively working towards that deal.

We need somebody dynamic, good at man management and a disciplinarian to knock this sorry squad into a state that will challenge for promotion. Whoever it is good luck to them as they will need it #keepthefaith

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Leicester City are a League One side in desperate need of stability after suffering back-to-back relegations.

Manager Gary Rowett has come to the end of his short-term contract as boss, but has indicated that he is open to staying on to attempt to rebuild the former Premier League champions in the third tier.

But whenever he has spoken about his future, he has also admitted that the club might desire a "fresh start" in League One.

There have been plenty of names linked with the job. Former Peterborough boss Darren Ferguson, who oversaw three League One promotions as manager of the Cambridgeshire club, is seen as a potential candidate.

Dutch manager Dick Schreuder, who is in charge of Eredivisie side NEC Nijmegen, as well as Premier League-winning former Fox Christian Fuchs, who has kept Newport in League Two this season, have been linked with the gig at the King Power Stadium.

But who do Leicester fans want? Stick with Rowett, who will have a running start after being in the job for a few months already, or go in a new direction?

Get in touch and tell us what you think by clicking here.

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Leicester manager Gary Rowett told BBC Radio Leicester: "It was really important in the last two games to ensure we stayed professional and did the job for the fans, if nothing else. They came in great numbers again, were outstanding for us, stayed behind the team and at least showed their appreciation.

"The club will rise again and we'll come back stronger with that togetherness.

"In the first half we were really good on the ball, got in some excellent areas, created some good chances. A couple of times they transitioned on us and we got away with it with good defending - Jannik [Vestergaard] was excellent.

"The second half was different. They injected a little bit more of a higher press and higher energy into the game but we managed it well, and it was nice to score at the end.

"The number of games where we have played well and not got anything out of the game has been frustrating, but this was one where in the second half we didn't play as well but get a winner through Stephy."