Marti Cifuentes already gave verdict on 'quality' Leicester City while at QPR

Former QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes is set to land the vacant role at Championship outfit Leicester City following the sacking of Ruud van Nistelrooy.

It will be a return to the dugout for the Catalan coach, less than a month after his departure from Loftus Road was confirmed. Cifuentes saw his contract with the London outfit mutually terminated after an extended period of gardening leave, which came about as a result of links with a job at West Ham.

It will only be Cifuentes’ second post in the UK, having previously worked in Denmark, Norway and Catalunya. The 42-year-old’s tenure at QPR was largely positive, saving the club from relegation and bringing through young talent.

Marti Cifuentes set for Leicester City job

Cifuentes faced the Foxes two times while in charge at QPR. The first was an impressive 2-1 win at the King Power Stadium in a Championship fixture of March 2024. More recently, the two teams met in FA Cup action in January.

Leicester City ran out 6-2 winners in that match with Jonathan Varane and Rayan Kolli on the scoresheet for the R’s. Leicester City supporters will remember Cifuentes from those clashes and the coach’s pre-season press conference highlighted his respect for the Foxes, long before being courted by the team.

Cifuentes on ‘quality’ Foxes ahead of FA Cup clash

Cifuentes demonstrated a clear respect of the team’s mission to establish themselves as a Premier League side once again, something he will be immediately tasked with should he be appointed for the 2025/26 campaign. Cifuentes said: “We’ve got the reference of the game away last season, which was a very good performance and great result. We know they are a very good side that has changed because they went through different changes of manager since we met them. They had the quality to go up, in a very deserved way, with a lot of points after a fantastic season in the Championship.

“I guess that for all the clubs that are recently promoted, it is not easy. What you see at Ipswich and Southampton, it is not easy to make that step because the Premier League is probably the league with the highest quality in the world. At the same time, I think they are a team that wants to build confidence and results with a new manager. It’s going to be a very demanding challenge for us, we need to be ready for it. The guys want to play this game having huge respect for the opposition and knowing that it’s a very good side.”

QPR will be due a compensation fee should Leicester City appoint Cifuentes, as per terms set out in the head coach’s termination agreement with the R’s. QPR are set to face Leicester City at Loftus Road on December 20 before travelling to the King Power Stadium on March 14.

In other news, QPR given 'forgotten' Chelsea transfer gift by Marti Cifuentes - opinion.