Leicester have appointed Gary Rowett as manager until the end of the season, with the club chairman saying the Foxes are “in a fight for survival” in the Championship.
Former Foxes midfielder Rowett, who has been out of work since leaving Oxford United in December, joins Leicester, who are mired in the relegation zone of the Championship after receiving a six-point deduction for breaching PSR regulations.
The former Premier League champions have had a disastrous run of just two wins from their last 11 games in the Championship, including eight consecutive defeats, leaving them two points from the bottom of the table in third place.
Leicester sacked Marti Sifuentes in January and Andy King has been interim manager for their last four games, including Saturday’s FA Cup defeat to Southampton and last week’s incredible 4-3 comeback defeat to the same side.
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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Leicester City and Southampton.
Rowett will be joined by Callum Davidson as assistant manager.
Rowett aims to build connections with players and fans
Rowett said at the inauguration: “I’m really proud to be the new manager of Leicester City and have the opportunity to work with and lead a really talented team over the coming months.
“It is very clear to all of us what we need to achieve between now and the end of the season, and work will begin immediately. I am looking forward to building connections with our players, club staff and fans, all of which will be essential to securing the results we need.”
Leicester City Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha added: “Gary is a manager with deep knowledge of the Championship and experience of the situation we face in the final 14 games of the season, the battle for survival in the division. This is an issue on which the whole club is focused and we will give Gary all our support to find the necessary solutions.”
“We would like to thank Andy King for his professionalism and dedication in preparing the team for recent matches under difficult circumstances. Along with the current first-team staff, he will continue to be a valuable part of our coaching team and will provide important continuity to help Gary and Callum build from there.”
Rowett’s transfer highlights Leicester’s current situation
Sky Sports EFL Editor Simeon Gollum:
“The fact that Leicester City are relying on Gary Rowett to prevent them falling back into League One shows how things have changed for Leicester City.
“And the fact that it took almost four weeks to make this appointment after firing Marti Cifuentes shows the Foxes’ position.
“Things are tough. Rowett knows his way around the Championship, but naysayers will focus on the fact that his last two jobs saw Birmingham relegated from the Second Division in 2024 (albeit provisionally after just eight games) and Oxford dropping into the drop zone in December.”
“Perhaps that’s the reinforcement Leicester need. Rowett is rarely praised for his team’s style, but rarely for his lack of effort. That’s what the Foxes have been sorely lacking this season.”
“Even if they were deducted six points, this is a team that should never come close to the relegation zone. If Rowett can get them going again and put an end to this miserable run, they should still be fine.”
