Leicester City are on the hunt for a new head coach after dismissing Marti Cifuentes just six months into his reign, with the Foxes currently sitting in the lower half of the Championship.
Amid the uncertainty at the King Power Stadium, the prospect of a sensational return for club legend Jamie Vardy as a player-manager was raised by his wife, Rebekah Vardy, who described the idea as “interesting”.
The 39-year-old striker departed Leicester last summer after 13 years of service, joining Italian outfit Cremonese.
Vardy’s legacy at Leicester is unmatched. He made 500 appearances, scored 200 goals and was the last remaining member of the club’s historic Premier League title-winning side from 2016. Since his move to Serie A, he has found the net five times.
Speaking during a Q&A session on Instagram on Saturday night, Rebekah answered several questions about Leicester City and confirmed that the couple still closely follow the club’s fortunes.
When asked whether Jamie could ever return to Leicester in a dual player-manager role, she responded: “I mean that would be interesting!”
However, she played down the idea of her husband pursuing a career in management after retirement. “Extremely unlikely,” she said, adding that she doubted he would have the patience, joking that life at home with her and their five children was challenging enough.
Rebekah also confirmed that Vardy continues to watch Leicester matches, despite the club’s struggles. “As painful as it is to watch… yes! Always,” she said. She was further questioned about the circumstances surrounding his departure from the club, following the expiry of his contract at the end of June after a one-year extension in 2024.
While declining to go into detail, she suggested there was more to the decision than had been made public. “It’s not my story to tell,” she explained. “Just know it wasn’t a decision taken lightly. He loves you guys.”
Just hours after her Instagram posts, Leicester announced a change in the dugout, parting company with Cifuentes after a 2-1 home defeat to Oxford United.
The result left the club in mid-table and marked their lowest points return at this stage of a Championship campaign since the 2007/08 season, which ended in relegation to League One.
Former Vardy teammate and current first-team coach Andy King will take temporary charge while the club searches for a permanent replacement.
Confirming the decision, chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha said the move was not taken lightly, thanking Cifuentes for his commitment and work ethic, but insisting a change was necessary to improve results and performances in the best interests of the club.
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