3 Marti Cifuentes replacements Leicester City could consider if Foxes make sack decision ft. ex-Middlesbrough boss | OneFootball

Leicester City boss Marti Cifuentes is coming under pressure from some supporters as their poor form continued in the week.

Leicester City’s inconsistent start to their 2025-26 Championship season under Marti Cifuentes continued on Tuesday night as they were comfortably beaten 3-0 by Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.

The result leaves the Foxes in the bottom half of the Championship table, and whilst the gap to the play-offs is not insurmountable, the reality is that many feel the Midlands outfit are underachieving right now.

Naturally, the fans are becoming increasingly impatient, and it’s not just the results that have prompted questions about Cifuentes, as Leicester haven’t always convinced with their performances.

So, whilst there’s no suggestion that Cifuentes could lose his job imminently, he is experienced enough to know how this works, and failure to improve means he will be under serious scrutiny.

With a potential points deduction looming, promotion is looking like a long shot, and the recent restructuring at the club could signal a new era for Leicester.

Despite their situation, Leicester would still be an attractive job, and here we look at THREE candidates they should consider if they do make a call to dismiss the ex-QPR chief...

Michael Carrick

As mentioned, Leicester have recently made changes to the top of the club, which shows they are planning for the long-term, so the next appointment could be made with that in mind.

If that’s the case, Michael Carrick would be a sensible choice, as he built a stylish Middlesbrough team that reached the play-offs in his first season.

Obviously, they didn’t kick-on in the way many expected, and he was sacked by the Teessiders after failing to make last season's top six, but Carrick still proved himself to be a capable coach, and there would be a case to say that he could do more with what is a talented Leicester squad.

Finally, his profile in the game means he would command the respect of the dressing room, and the chance to lead a new project at Leicester will appeal to the ex-Man United man.

Gary O’Neil

Gary O’Neil has been linked with a host of jobs in recent weeks, with the ex-Wolves chief admitting he is looking to get back involved in the game.

The 42-year-old has a decent CV, as he did very well to keep Bournemouth in the Premier League against all odds after he was thrown in at the deep end. Then, he enjoyed a great first year at Wolves before things quickly unravelled in his second campaign.

Nevertheless, O’Neil is still seen as a bright, young manager, and time in the Championship could be what he needs at this stage of his coaching career.

From Leicester’s perspective, O’Neil would appear to be a good fit, and he would also encourage a fast, attacking style of play that the supporters want to see.

Ralph Hasenhuttl

All clubs should have a long-term vision in place, but the reality is that every year you spend outside the Premier League, the harder it is to win promotion.

We know that Leicester have ambitions of going up, so it may make sense to go for a short-term appointment, and Ralph Hasenhuttl would fit the bill.

The Austrian may not have Championship experience, but he has won promotions in Germany. Plus, his top-flight experience in Southampton means he knows all about English football.

Hasenhuttl would relish the chance to work with the group at Leicester, and he could be the sort of manager to get an immediate response as they look to reach the Premier League. He's also a free agent, having left Wolfsburg earlier this year, and he could be a good fit for a City side who may need a change sooner rather than later.