Martin O’Neill returned to Nottingham Forest, some say never go back, and for MON it all ended after just five months in charge at City Ground. Often you see former greats coming back and we believe it’s not “the best of ideas” but it can also work out as others have shown.

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MON is past his best, some say, and this is the end of an era with “old fashion” management styles, but why will a manager not renew himself and not just work as he did 25 years ago, we believe he does and that he can still be a good alternative.

The problem with MON is that he can be stubborn and probably not as easy as you would like, but he is a 100% committed guy who will try to do his best wherever he goes. At the age of 67, you might be a bit in the end of a career, but still there are managers around doing their trade.

Whenever Leicester City needed a new manager, Martin O’Neill was always in the picture right up until the appointment of Claudio Ranieri. His work around in football has been up there with the best. His work at Wycombe Wanderers and later at Leicester City spending five years at both clubs, were rides of greatness and showing how a football club can rise with the right tools and people in charge.

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When MON came in at Leicester City he got a bit of a difficult start and he remembered that all the way, getting a bit of stick from the crowd and then turning them over, but he knew that Leicester City fans doesn’t really care about him, but about the club and results and are demanding, when you can’t reach the ultimate goal, being in the top flight with the best teams.

MON managed to take Leicester City back to the Premier League and how he managed to get far above expectations in that 1996/97 season, winning the league cup and at the same time ending 9th in the Premier League, with a group of players that all in all were either misfits at other clubs, young prospects and some old guys who had, by many described, seen their best days.

I love to watch managers who can rotate a squad, who can see how you manage a generation change and how you are able to develop players, making them better and better by gradually introducing them to the next level at the right time. This in a great mix with a nose for a good transfer, made MON the real deal of football management.

MON did some fantastic signings during his time at Leicester City. Steve Guppy and Matt Elliott comes to mind. Both being released by top clubs at an early age and making their way back, playing in lower league clubs. Muzzy Izzet, Neil Lennon, Robbie Savage, Gerry Taggart and Kasey Keller were others that stepped up and became top class players under the time Martin was in charge.

When MON left for Celtic he came back for Neil Lennon, who in a way was the most important player at Leicester City, ruling the center of midfield with clever passes and great positioning. Peter Taylor decided to sell him, mostly because Lennon himself wanted another challenge and really enjoyed working under MON.

Celtic and MON were a perfect match, he really enjoyed his time at Parkhead, but after that challenged in his own mind was fulfilled he decided to take a year of and then joining Aston Villa.

MON also quit Aston Villa and later took the job at Sunderland, probably getting tired of sitting on the fence waiting and he had to see “the sack” for the first time in his career when he struggled at Sunderland, not able to attract the right of players.

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After a while out of football he came back taking over as coach of Ireland, and also taking with him Roy Keane as his assistant. The team worked well and they managed to get Ireland into the Euro’s. A good job done, as there were no big stars in the team. Why Ireland and MON separated after not getting to the World Cup, losing in the play-off’s to Denmark is a bit of a riddle, but as MON stepped down, he got new opportunities.

His former club as a player, Nottingham Forest, came in for him and MON was appointed manager at City Ground in January this year. He did a relatively good job also this time assisted by Roy Keane, also a former Forest man. Keane left a few weeks ago and this week MON also packed his bags.

To be fair, a bit surprised that MON left, since ending 9th in the Championship wasn’t that bad. Unrest among senior players might have been a reason, but of course it will be unrest in a football club who needs a bit of fresh faces to get on with a promotion push.

Sven Goran Eriksson and Jose Mourinho were the managers when Leicester City played Real Madrid in a friendly back in 2011. Jose Mourinho managed to secure a 2-1 win in the only clash between the two clubs.

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The match report is one to read, going back eight years, when this happened. Cristiano Ronaldo came on in the 2nd half in front of a full crowd, 32,188. Real Madrid were 2-0 up, goals from Callejon and Benzema, Lloyd Dyer netted for Leicester City close to the end as the game ended in a 2-1 win to the visitors.

Andy King and Kasper Schmeichel both played, and are still with Leicester City. Ramos and Benzema are still players at Real Madrid.

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Looking at previous players who have both played for Real Madrid and Leicester City, you will of course not forget Esteban Cambiasso and Laurie Cunningham.  Both players had great influence at Leicester City despite being at the club for a very short period.

Laurie Cunningham joined Real Madrid back in 1979, for a fee of £950,000. Two years on from his £100,000 move from Leyton Orient. Laurie struggled with injuries something that disrupted his England career, playing just six games for his country.

Despite his injuries, Real Madrid fans loved their talented winger, seen as one of Englands brightest prospects in his time. After just 44 league games and five years with Real Madrid he moved on and signed for Marseille.

Leicester City struggled in the league and were threatened by relegation as Gordon Milne made his move and secured Laurie’s services. He did well while at Filbert Street, but new injuries made it difficult to stay on and a move back to Spain after only half a season. Laurie played 15 league games and never scored, but his influence in escaping relegation was important. Tragically Laurie Cunningham died in a car accident just 33 year old.

When Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson, more than 30 years later, decided to bring Esteban Cambiasso to Leicester City for that first season back in the Premier League, he really made a shrewd signing that worked out well.

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Esteban had previously in his career played for Real Madrid. The Argentinian made great impact at Leicester City and especially in that home game against Manchester United, winning 5-3, he showed what quality he possessed.

Cambiasso moved on to Olympiakos and paved way for N’Golo Kantè, so hopefully his short “adventure” in English football had it’s purpose.  The fact that Leicester City never have fielded a Spanish or Brazilian player might be a reason why so few have been in both camps.

To see Ben Chilwell linked with Real Madrid as a possible transfer target this summer, might just be a lose rumor, but in a way shows that Leicester City are climbing in football and that players of the club can attract the major clubs in World football.

Brendan Rodgers first signing was Luton Town defender James Justin. TCF predicted this move a long time ago, placing it as “hot” over the last weeks. Youri Tielemans is said to be “very close” to a deal and hopefully everyhting will be in place next week.

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We have also had Tielemans in our hot section for a while and he will stay there until the move is confirmed, but of course, no one has signed on the dotted line yet. To get Youri Tielemans would be perfect, and confirm the story of a club that aim to set their goals high.

Today another player starts to circulate a lot and a number of serious sources describes Genk flank midfielder Mbwana Samatta as a player chased by Leicester City. He has been on our “hot, cool and cold” list for a while, but today we will be bold and place him in the “hot” zone.

This is a rumor that makes sense but Leicester City are in the chase with a number of other clubs. Samatta is a player that fits the description of what has been said are one of the destined targets this summer.

Leicester City flank or wide men alternatives, struggled last season to score goals. A young Harvey Barnes had a lot chances but couldn’t convert his attempts as much as we would have liked. Marc Albrighton, Rachid Ghezzal and Demarai Gray are other flank players who have struggled to score, despite creating their opportunities.

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Goals are surely no problem for Mbwana Samatta who scored 32 last season. He is an experienced player available for a fair price, said to be in the region of £11million. The 26 year old Tanzania international will be an exciting addition if he joins, and we believe that interest is there for the former teammate of Wilfred Ndidi.

Ali Reghba, first and for all a player for the future, looks certain to build on his trial in January and sign a permanent deal with Leicester City. He is surely a prospect to look out for and often described as a younger version of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

We have a fresh and newly updated hot, cool and cold list for you to look at.