Championship: Why did Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Southampton suffer?

After being placed on gardening leave by former club Queens Park Rangers, Cifuentes took over as coach of Leicester City in July following the departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy.

The Spaniard had less than four weeks of pre-season to work with his new team before the start of the season, and was limited to adding to his squad through free transfers and loan deals.

Longtime strikers also faltered.

While the popular Jamie Vardy left for Italy, Patson Daka failed to progress. He has not scored for the club this calendar year, and has scored just once in 45 league appearances since February 2024.

Daka, Jordan Ayew and loaned Argentine Julian Carranza scored one goal in 27 league matches between them this season.

“Life for Leicester City in the Championship did not start the way they would have liked,” said Owen Palmer-Atkin, BBC Radio Leicester correspondent.

“Firstly, it is important to realize that this is a very different scenario than at the start of the 2023-24 season.

“The Foxes had a better squad, a successful transfer window and a manager [Enzo Maresca] Who had a full pre-season to work with his players on his very detailed style of play.

“This time, there was a delay before the proceedings began. Ruud van Nistelrooy may have known that his time was up at the end of May, but he remained in his position until days before the start of the new pre-season.

“A few weeks later, Marty Cifuentes arrived. I think that had a big impact on his ability to work with the players enough to instil the game plan, tactics and philosophy ready for the start of the season.

“Along with the manager, the Foxes started the season without any new signings and had to wait until late in the window for the new faces to arrive. Put that together with the first-team players, at the time, pushing for a move away – it created a feeling of uncertainty.

“On the pitch, this season, is the season Foxes fans never wanted to see – a Leicester team without Jamie Vardy.

“For a long time, even when things weren’t going well, he was the guy to count on. The guy who got Leicester out of trouble, scored goals, captained the team, was the all-around legend.

“There is no doubt that the hole he left can never be filled.”