Russell Martin Hints at Possibility of Replacing Ruud van Nistelrooy at Leicester City.

Leicester City are now 15 points adrift of safety with just seven games left in the season, making relegation to the Championship all but certain.

Ruud van Nistelrooy is expected to depart the club after a disastrous run of form, with Leicester losing 14 of their last 15 matches.

As the Foxes prepare for life in the second tier, attention has already turned to potential managerial replacements.

Journalist Graeme Bailey recently reported that Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior could be in line to take over.

However, another name in the mix is Danny Rohl, although his links with RB Leipzig make that move unlikely.

Former Southampton boss Russell Martin has now emerged as a frontrunner to replace Van Nistelrooy, and he has dropped a subtle hint suggesting he may be ready for a return to management.

The Leicester board are said to be big admirers of Martin, particularly because his tactical philosophy is similar to that of Enzo Maresca, whose approach led Leicester to promotion in the 2023/24 season.

Martin’s style and experience could make him a strong fit for a squad that needs rebuilding in the Championship.

Adding fuel to the speculation, Martin recently appeared on Gary Lineker’s Rest Is Football podcast, a move often seen as a prelude to a managerial return.

During the show, he openly discussed his readiness to get back into coaching.

When Lineker asked if he was preparing for a comeback, Martin responded: “Oh yeah, it’s at the point now where I’m really starting to feel excited about what’s next.

I’ve turned down a few jobs in the last few months.

One or two abroad and a couple here, but just because it didn’t feel right. And genuinely, I just didn’t feel ready to go back in.

I felt a little bit hurt about being sacked for the first time, like being really honest.”

From a financial standpoint, Martin would be a cost-effective choice.

Both Rosenior and Rohl are under contract with their respective clubs, which would make their appointments expensive.

With Leicester needing to cut costs after relegation, hiring a free-agent manager like Martin would make practical sense.

Martin, still just 39, already boasts a promotion on his résumé and has experience with many of Leicester’s current players—making him a strong candidate to lead the rebuild.