Leicester have confirmed Russell Martin’s appointment as manager, on the same day as Wolves unveiled César Peixoto as head coach, replacing Rob Edwards.
The two Midlands clubs were relegated from the Championship and the Premier League respectively last season and have moved quickly to restructure their setup, with Martin joining Leicester eight months after his nightmare 123-day stint in charge of Rangers came to an end.
The 40-year-old has signed a contract until 2029 and his remit will be to inspire an immediate return to the second tier after Leicester’s shock relegation to League One in 2025-26, amid a litany of off-field problems including a points deduction.
“I’m delighted to be here and excited to begin working with the players and staff,” said Martin, who previously had spells in charge of MK Dons, Swansea and Southampton. “This is a club with great history, strong support and high expectations. My immediate focus is on the team: building strong relationships, setting clear standards and creating performances that Leicester City supporters can connect with.”
Leicester’s chief football officer, Jon Rudkin, described Martin, who is known for his possession-based football, as “a strong leader, a clear decision-maker and someone with a defined way of working”. He insisted Martin “is well placed to help us move forward with purpose and direction”.
Peixoto, meanwhile, has joined Wolves from the Portuguese top-flight club Gil Vicente, with whom he finished sixth in the Primeira Liga in 2025-26. He will be tasked with restoring their Premier League status after they finished rock bottom with 20 points under Edwards, who replaced Vítor Pereira in November.
Edwards’ sacking last week came out of the blue after the former Middlesbrough coach had reportedly been a major factor in the recent signings of Raúl Jiménez and Kieran Trippier. Peixoto’s appointment means four of the past seven Wolves managers have been from Portugal.
“I’m proud to be here at this big, historic club in England,” he said. “It’s a big opportunity for me and I’m prepared to do everything to put Wolves where it belongs in the Premier League.”
The Wolves chair, Nathan Shi, said: “Throughout our discussions with [Peixoto], it became clear very quickly that he possesses many of the qualities we believe are important for the future of this club.”
