“Leicester City’s SHOCKING New Era Under Marti Cifuentes: 3 JAW-DROPPING Changes That Will BLOW YOUR MIND!”

Former Queens Park Rangers manager Martí Cifuentes, who parted ways with the club by mutual agreement earlier this summer, is now emerging as a serious contender for the vacant managerial post at Leicester City.

Several other names have previously been associated with the role, including ex-Burnley and Everton boss Sean Dyche, Sheffield Wednesday’s Danny Röhl, and former Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil.

However, Cifuentes now appears to be the frontrunner to take over at the King Power Stadium.

Should the Spaniard be appointed, fans may see notable tactical changes from the system employed during Ruud van Nistelrooy’s brief and unsuccessful tenure at the club.

Cifuentes Could Usher in a Maresca-Inspired System

According to The Independent, there has been no formal contact made with QPR yet, but TalkSPORT reports that the Catalonia-born coach is in pole position to become Leicester’s next manager.

If Cifuentes does take charge, a return to a more possession-based style—similar to what Enzo Maresca implemented during his spell in the East Midlands—would be anticipated.

At QPR, Cifuentes regularly employed a 4-2-3-1 formation with an emphasis on short, controlled passing and tempo management.

While that vision wasn’t always realized at Loftus Road due to squad limitations, the potential to implement it more effectively with Leicester’s stronger roster is clear.

His tactical preference leans toward a more modern, non-direct brand of football—an approach Leicester fans grew familiar with under Maresca.

A Return to Ball-Dominant Football at Leicester

Under van Nistelrooy, Leicester’s possession stats dipped notably, with the Foxes averaging just 45.3% possession across the season—ranking as the fifth lowest in the Premier League, according to Fotmob.

At QPR, Cifuentes’ team registered a marginally better 46.6% average possession, which placed them 17th overall in the Championship.

Despite these figures, expectations are that with a more talented squad, Cifuentes could restore Leicester’s dominance on the ball—mirroring the high-possession systems he had success with during previous managerial stints in continental Europe.

Tactical Flexibility Demonstrated at QPR

A defining trait of Cifuentes’ coaching style is his tactical adaptability.

At QPR, he showed a willingness to adjust his system based on the players available to him and the context of each match.

That flexibility would likely continue at Leicester, allowing him to shape his strategy around the specific strengths of his squad.

This mirrors van Nistelrooy’s own approach during difficult fixtures, where he sometimes prioritized a more defensive setup against top-tier opposition.

However, with Leicester now positioned as one of the stronger teams in the Championship, Cifuentes would have more freedom to instill a consistent identity rather than constantly adapting to opponents.

In this new role, he would be expected to implement a clear playing philosophy, guiding the team toward promotion with a blueprint that reflects his footballing beliefs.

With Leicester seen as a heavyweight in the second tier, the platform is set for Cifuentes to stamp his mark and lead a genuine push for a return to the Premier League.