Is Martin a more extreme version of Maresca?

Russell Martin has emerged as a potential candidate for the vacant managerial seat at Leicester City but while it is not a done deal, many have been quick to compare him to former head coach Enzo Maresca.

The Italian led the Foxes to the Championship title in 2024 with possession-based football but left after a season in charge to join Chelsea.

However, not everyone is convinced Martin would bring ‘Marescaball’ back to Leicester if he is appointed.

“I don’t necessarily buy into the fact that Russell Martin and Enzo Maresca – because they get aligned and compared so much – are that similar managers,” BBC Radio Leicester’s Owynn Palmer-Atkin said.

“I would say that Russell Martin is a more extreme version of Enzo Maresca in terms of the way that he wants to play.

“Do Leicester City have the squad to be able to play that style of football? Possibly.”

The Foxes have seen a huge turnover already with 10 players being released this summer, including captain Ricardo Pereira and the two main forwards, Jordan Ayew and Patson Daka.

“They still have an awful lot of players who will not want to play in League One this season and therefore there is going to be a lot more movement than we’ve already seen,” Palmer-Atkin added.

“There’s going to be a huge rebuild this summer for Leicester City and they have to get it right and part of the parcel of that is getting the right manager, with the right style, to build that around.

“This is not something that if they get wrong they can come back the following year and go again. They have to get it right this summer if they want to be the club that returns to the Championship and then very quickly returns to the Premier League.”

Listen to Owynn Palmer-Atkin’s full thoughts on the links with Martin on BBC Sounds

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