Marti Cifuentes, Ex-Barcelona Coach, Joins Leicester as Foxes Named League’s Best

Leicester City have quietly made an intriguing addition to Marti Cifuentes backroom staff, bringing in Carlos Martínez, a respected Spanish analyst who has previously worked at several top European clubs — including Barcelona.

The appointment, made last week, sees Martínez link up with fellow Catalan Cifuentes at the Foxes’ Seagrave training complex, where he is expected to play a key role in refining Leicester’s tactical and analytical processes. The experienced coach was spotted travelling with the squad to Hull City’s MKM Stadium and Millwall’s The Den, underlining how quickly he’s been integrated into first-team operations.

Martínez’s arrival represents another sign of Marti Cifuentes’ determination to modernise the club’s footballing structure since taking charge. The pair share similar footballing values, rooted in positional play and technical precision — principles Marti Cifuentes absorbed during his own development in Spain.

An accomplished analyst with a distinguished background

Martínez has an impressive resume. He has contributed to clubs like Girona, Sevilla, Espanyol, Monaco, Granada, and Elche after working as a video analyst for Luis Enrique at Barcelona. Their attempt to return to the Premier League may depend on their ability to defend dead-ball situations and convert opportunities into goals.

Leicester’s Unsung Hero: Jakub Stolarczyk

While Martínez settles in, one current player has quietly emerged as one of the Championship’s standout performers — goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk.

According to data cited by the Leicester Mercury, the Polish shot-stopper has statistically been the best in the league at preventing goals, leading the division in post-shot expected goals (PSxG) metrics. Stolarczyk has conceded 4.3 fewer goals than expected, placing him ahead of former City keeper Viktor Johansson, now at Stoke City.

Though not flawless — a few wobbles have crept in recently — Stolarczyk remains a steady presence and a key reason Leicester’s defensive record remains strong. Some fans have called for Fran Vieites to be handed a chance, but Leicester’s early Carabao Cup exit curtailed rotation opportunities.

Looking Ahead

With Marti Cifuentes and Martínez working closely at Seagrave, Leicester supporters can expect a sharper, more tactically tuned side in the coming months.