We take a look at the contenders to be the next manager of Leicester City as the club prepares for life in League One.
Leicester have suffered the embarrassment of back-to-back relegations just a decade on from their miraculous Premier League title-winning campaign.
Interim boss Gary Rowett was unable to keep the club in the Championship and the club's hierarchy are now pursuing other options in an attempt to bounce back next season.
Here are our top five contenders to be the next Leicester manager as they bid to secure promotion from League One.
Next Leicester Manager Contenders
Russell Martin
Reports have sugegsted that Leicester are exploring a move to bring Russell Martin to the club.
Martin has a Championship promotion on his CV following his time at Southampton but his time on the south coast ended in disappointment.
The former Scotland international is attempting to rebuild his reputation following his disastrous tenure as Rangers manager.
Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson has been out of work since being relieved of his duties at Peterborough United in October.
As well as having four different spells at Peterborough, Ferguson has previously managed Preston North End and Doncaster Rovers and would provide plenty of League One experience.
The opportunity to manage a club the size of Leicester is one that Ferguson would relish as he looks to return to the dugout.
Dick Schreuder
NEC manager Dick Schreuder has impressed Leicester's hierarchy following his excellent work in the Eredivisie.
Schreuder led the club to a third-placed finish in the 2025/26 season ahead of the likes of Ajax and FC Twente.
The 54-year-old is believed to be open to a move to England and a promotion challenge at Leicester would be a great move for him.
Neil Lennon
Former Foxes player Neil Lennon is currently in charge of Scottish Championship side Dunfermline Athletic.
He led the club to the Scottish Cup final last season but they suffered defeat to Lennon's former club Celtic.
Lennon won the Scottish Premiership five times as Celtic manager but his only experience of managing in England was a two-year spell at Bolton Wanderers over a decade ago.
Dean Smith
Dean Smith had eight matches in charge of Leicester at the end of the 2022/23 season but he was unable to steer the club to safety before leaving in the summer.
He has been the head coach of Charlotte FC in the MLS since December 2023 despite being linked with various roles.
Smith may feel that he has unfinished business at Leicester and he has plenty of nous when it comes to the EFL.
