Leicester City have confirmed the appointment of Russell Martin as manager, on the same day Wolverhampton Wanderers unveiled César Peixoto as head coach, replacing Rob Edwards. Both Midlands clubs suffered relegation last season and have swiftly restructured their coaching setups.
Russell Martin joins Leicester
Martin, 40, joins Leicester eight months after his short 123-day stint at Rangers ended. He has signed a contract until 2029 and is tasked with securing an immediate return to the Championship after Leicester's shock relegation to League One in the 2025-26 season, which was compounded by off-field issues including a points deduction.
“I’m delighted to be here and excited to begin working with the players and staff,” said Martin, who previously managed 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, known for his possession-based football, as “a strong leader, a clear decision-maker and someone with a defined way of working”. He added that Martin “is well placed to help us move forward with purpose and direction”.
César Peixoto takes over at Wolves
Peixoto joins Wolves from Portuguese top-flight club Gil Vicente, where he finished sixth in the Primeira Liga in 2025-26. He will be responsible for restoring Wolves' Premier League status after they finished bottom with 20 points under Edwards, who replaced Vítor Pereira in November.
Edwards’ sacking last week came as a surprise, given his reported influence on recent signings Raúl Jiménez and Kieran Trippier. Peixoto’s appointment means four of the last seven Wolves managers have been Portuguese.
“I’m proud to be here at this big, historic club in England,” said Peixoto. “It’s a big opportunity for me and I’m prepared to do everything to put Wolves where it belongs in the Premier League.”
Wolves chair Nathan Shi commented: “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.”
