Leicester City’s dramatic fall from Premier League champions to the depths of League One has taken another painful turn, with Russell Martin now facing one of the biggest challenges of his managerial career.
The Foxes entered the 2026/27 campaign hoping that relegation could become the starting point for an immediate rebuild. Instead, their opening weeks have produced uncertainty, frustration and growing pressure. A club that once lifted the Premier League trophy and competed in the Champions League now finds itself sitting 17th in the third tier, its lowest position in the Football League era.
The latest setback was particularly damaging. Leicester were beaten 4-0 by Oxford United at the King Power Stadium, a result that exposed many of the weaknesses that have been present throughout the early stages of Martin’s reign. The defeat came just days after Leicester had finally recorded their first League One victory of the season against Plymouth Argyle.
That contrast tells the story of Leicester’s current situation. There have been flashes of promise, but they have been surrounded by performances that raise serious questions about whether Martin can find the answers quickly enough.
For a club expected to challenge for promotion, the current position is difficult to accept. For Martin, it represents a huge test of his tactical flexibility, leadership and ability to handle pressure.
A Fall That Once Seemed Impossible
Only a few years ago, Leicester were regarded as one of English football’s great modern success stories.
The 2015/16 Premier League title remains one of the most remarkable achievements in the history of the competition. Leicester followed that success with European football, Champions League nights and the FA Cup triumph in 2021.
Their story appeared to represent the ideal footballing model: smart recruitment, strong coaching, financial ambition and a clear identity.
Now, however, the club is attempting to rebuild from a position few supporters could have imagined.
Back-to-back relegations have transformed Leicester from a Premier League institution into a League One club. The financial consequences have been severe, while the squad has undergone major changes.
The scale of the rebuild has been significant. Leicester brought in 14 new players during the summer transfer window as Martin attempted to construct a squad capable of competing in the third tier.
But rebuilding a squad on paper is one thing. Creating a winning team is something entirely different.
That is where Martin’s biggest challenge begins.
Martin Has Little Room for Error
Russell Martin arrived with a clear footballing philosophy.
His teams have generally been associated with possession, building from the back, positional structure and an attempt to control matches through the ball. Those principles helped him guide Southampton to promotion to the Premier League before his tenure eventually deteriorated.
At Leicester, however, there are already questions about whether his approach is producing the desired results.
The League One environment can be unforgiving. Matches are often decided by physical battles, second balls, set pieces, transitions and moments of individual quality. A team cannot simply dominate possession and expect the result to follow.
Leicester experienced that problem against MK Dons, where they controlled much of the contest but could only draw 0-0. Martin remained encouraged by the performance, particularly after his side hit the woodwork twice, but the lack of three points highlighted a recurring issue.
The victory against Plymouth then offered hope.
Leicester won 2-0, with Will Alves and Harry Howell scoring quick-fire goals late in the first half. It was the club’s first League One win of the campaign, and the performance included back-to-back clean sheets.
For a brief moment, the mood changed.
Then Oxford arrived.
The Oxford Defeat Changed the Conversation
The 4-0 home defeat to Oxford United was more than another disappointing result.
It was the type of performance that changes the conversation around a manager.
Leicester had the advantage of playing at home and were expected to build on the confidence generated by their victory over Plymouth. Instead, they collapsed.
Mark Harris scored twice, while Mo Missanga and Jamie McDonnell also found the net for the visitors. Leicester were left facing their heaviest defeat in the English third tier.
For supporters, the result was difficult to tolerate.
There were chants calling for Martin to be dismissed, illustrating how quickly patience has disappeared.
That reaction should not be underestimated.
Managers at major clubs are often judged not simply by results but by whether supporters believe there is a convincing plan. When fans lose confidence in the direction of the team, every mistake becomes magnified.
Martin now has to convince Leicester supporters that the Oxford defeat was an unacceptable exception rather than evidence of deeper problems.
That will require results.
Defensive Problems Are Impossible to Ignore
The most obvious concern is Leicester’s defensive instability.
The Foxes conceded four times against Oxford at home, and the performance raised questions about the team’s ability to protect itself when possession is lost.
A possession-based approach requires excellent organisation. If defenders are exposed because midfielders and forwards are positioned too high, opponents can attack large spaces with very little resistance.
That appeared to happen against Oxford.
Leicester’s structure simply did not provide enough protection, allowing the visitors to exploit weaknesses repeatedly.
Martin acknowledged after the match that his side had to improve significantly.
The manager cannot afford for that message to become a repeated theme.
Players need clear defensive responsibilities. The midfield has to react immediately when possession changes hands. The full-backs must understand when to attack and when to remain cautious. Centre-backs need protection rather than being repeatedly exposed in open situations.
Until those problems are fixed, Leicester will struggle regardless of how much possession they enjoy.
The Attack Also Needs More Cutting Edge
It would be wrong to blame Leicester’s problems entirely on the defence.
The attacking unit also needs improvement.
Possession only becomes valuable when it leads to chances, pressure and goals. Leicester have had periods where they have controlled matches without converting that control into decisive moments.
That was visible in the goalless draw with MK Dons.
The Foxes had opportunities and hit the woodwork, but ultimately left the field without a goal.
A promotion campaign requires consistency in front of goal.
Leicester need players capable of turning half-chances into goals and attackers willing to make aggressive runs behind defensive lines. They also need midfielders who can arrive in dangerous areas rather than simply circulate possession.
The arrival of Emil Riis during the final stages of the transfer window was therefore significant, as Martin looked to strengthen his attacking options. John Lundstram, Kamari Doyle and Warren O’Hora were also brought in on deadline day.
Those additions give Martin more options.
But options only matter if the manager finds the correct combinations.
The Pressure of Promotion Expectations
One of Martin’s biggest problems is that Leicester cannot realistically approach this season like an ordinary League One rebuild.
The club’s size, infrastructure and recent history create enormous expectations.
Supporters are not demanding gradual progress over several years. They want Leicester back in the Championship and eventually challenging for a return to the Premier League.
That pressure makes every dropped point more significant.
A young squad might normally be given time to develop, but Leicester’s circumstances are different. The club has already experienced the shock of successive relegations, and another season of stagnation would create even more uncertainty.
Martin therefore has to balance long-term development with immediate results.
That is not easy.
He must develop young players without making the team too inexperienced. He must implement his tactical ideas without becoming stubborn. He must encourage possession without allowing the team to become vulnerable.
Most importantly, he must create a winning mentality.
The Squad Has Talent, But Talent Alone Is Not Enough
Leicester’s squad contains players capable of performing at a much higher level than the club’s current position suggests.
The difficulty is turning individual quality into collective consistency.
New signings need time to understand each other. Young players need confidence. Experienced figures must provide leadership.
The challenge is even greater because Leicester have undergone significant turnover.
A team cannot be rebuilt overnight.
Martin needs to establish a core group of players who understand precisely what is expected of them. Once that foundation is established, Leicester can begin to develop a recognizable style.
The danger is that results may not arrive quickly enough to allow that process to happen.
Football managers rarely receive unlimited time, particularly when supporters are already unhappy.
The Psychological Battle Could Be Crucial
Leicester’s situation is not simply tactical.
There is also a psychological challenge.
Players who have experienced relegation can carry fear into future matches. A team that concedes an early goal may immediately begin remembering previous failures.
That can create a damaging cycle.
One mistake leads to another. Confidence disappears. The opposition becomes more aggressive. Leicester start playing cautiously rather than positively.
Martin must break that cycle.
The 2-0 victory against Plymouth showed that Leicester are capable of producing a controlled and effective performance. The task now is to make that standard normal rather than occasional.
The players need to believe that one bad result does not define the season.
At the same time, they must understand that performances such as the Oxford defeat cannot become acceptable.
Martin’s Tactical Philosophy Will Be Tested
Perhaps the biggest question surrounding Martin is whether he is willing to adapt.
Every manager has principles.
Great managers, however, understand when circumstances require adjustment.
Martin does not necessarily need to abandon his possession-based football. Instead, he may need to make it more practical.
There is nothing wrong with controlling possession, but Leicester also need to attack space quickly, defend transitions more effectively and make better use of set pieces and direct situations.
League One is not simply a lower-quality version of the Premier League.
It has different rhythms and demands.
Martin must understand those differences quickly.
If he can combine his footballing philosophy with greater pragmatism, Leicester could still recover.
If he refuses to adjust when the evidence demands it, the pressure will become increasingly difficult to manage.
The Boardroom Situation Adds Another Layer
The uncertainty surrounding Leicester extends beyond the pitch.
The club is reportedly up for sale, with a valuation of around £200 million being discussed.
That creates another complicated backdrop for Martin.
A manager trying to rebuild a relegated club needs stability above him. Ownership uncertainty can create distractions, affect recruitment planning and make supporters even more restless.
Prospective buyers also have to consider the financial reality of League One football, where revenues are dramatically lower than they were during Leicester’s Premier League years.
The football team therefore carries responsibility far beyond winning matches.
Every victory can help restore confidence. Every defeat increases concern about the club’s broader direction.
Martin cannot control the ownership situation, but he can influence what happens on the pitch.
That is where his focus must remain.
Leicester Need a Response Now
The encouraging news for Martin is that the season is still young.
One win from the opening five league matches is a poor return, but it does not make promotion impossible. Leicester have plenty of fixtures remaining and enough quality to climb the table if they find consistency.
The danger is allowing the gap to grow.
A few more disappointing results could turn early-season frustration into a full-blown crisis.
The next fixtures will therefore carry enormous importance.
Leicester need to demonstrate that Oxford was an isolated disaster. They need to defend with greater discipline, attack with more purpose and show the intensity required to win League One matches.
Most importantly, they need to give supporters something to believe in.
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