Football
Exclusive: Leicester City Explore Shock Martin O’Neill Comeback as Pressure Mounts on Cifuentes
Leicester City representatives have approached Martin O'Neill about becoming their new manager amidst dissatisfaction with current boss Marti Cifuentes. O'Neill's successful caretaker stint at Celtic has made him a popular choice among fans and the board of directors. His ability to connect with young players and proven track record make him an appealing short-term solution if Cifuentes fails to turn the team's fortunes around.
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Representatives acting on behalf of Leicester City have sounded out Martin O’Neil about making what would be a sensational return to the club, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.
The news comes as Foxes boss Marti Cifuentes finds himself under increasing scrutiny only six months after being appointed, following a series of chequered results since taking charge.
Although The Foxes’ board of directors remains publicly supportive of the Spaniard, a number of well-placed sources last night claimed they are also seeking to identify a potential replacement should results fail to significantly improve.
And that is understood to have led them to O’Neil’s door, following his recent caretaker stint at another former employer Celtic.
The Irishman, who led City to promotion via the play-offs in 1996 as well as two League Cup successes before heading to Parkhead, won huge praise in Glasgow after overseeing eight Hoops’ games earlier this season after Brendan Rodgers’ controversial departure.
Having won seven of those, he stepped down when Wilfried Nancy was handed the reins of the 55-time Scottish champions.
Results have deteriorated dramatically since then, with the former Columbus Crew chief already fighting to save his job.
O’Neil’s ability to strike a chord with young players, even though he is approaching his 74th birthday, is believed to have alerted members of The Foxes hierarchy to the possibility of offering him another short-term role should Cifuentes fail to deliver.
Leicester, along with Watford, are understood to have been among the English clubs to miss out on Nigerian midfielder Adam Yakubu, who has instead opted for a move to Ukrainian side LNZ Cherkasy despite strong interest from England.
HUGELY POPULAR
He would be a hugely popular choice among City’s increasingly disillusioned support base too, who have also noted how Celtic’s squad improved markedly under his tutelage.
That, combined with the galvanising effect he would have both on and off the pitch following last season’s relegation, has convinced some of those tasked with overseeing The Foxes that he would be an ideal short-term solution to the team’s continued woes.
Cifuentes, who beat Chris Wilder to the City job over the summer before the latter’s reappointment by Sheffield United, previously managed Queens Park Rangers and several sides in Scandinavia.
However, his methods have so far failed to make a positive impact at the King Power Stadium, where The Foxes entered the latest round of Championship fixtures languishing in midtable.
O’Neil was famously a member of the Nottingham Forest squad that won eight trophies, including two European Cups, under the late, great and legendary Brian Clough during the late Seventies and early Eighties.
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.