‘Embrace The Challenge’ – Rowett’s First Words

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‘Embrace The Challenge’ – Rowett’s First Words

Gary Rowett says he is looking forward to meeting the challenge head on after taking charge of Leicester City for the remainder of the campaign.

2026-02-18T19:05+00:00

by Sam Jones

Published

18 Feb, 2026

‘Embrace The Challenge’ – Rowett’s First Words

Gary Rowett says he is looking forward to meeting the challenge head on after taking charge of Leicester City for the remainder of the campaign.

Sam Jones

2026-02-18T19:05+00:00

‘Embrace The Challenge’ – Rowett’s First Words

Gary Rowett says he is looking forward to meeting the challenge head on after taking charge of Leicester City for the remainder of the campaign.

Sam Jones

2026-02-18T19:05+00:00

‘Embrace The Challenge’ – Rowett’s First Words

Gary Rowett says he is looking forward to meeting the challenge head on after taking charge of Leicester City for the remainder of the campaign.

Sam Jones

2026-02-18T19:05+00:00

‘Embrace The Challenge’ – Rowett’s First Words

Gary Rowett says he is looking forward to meeting the challenge head on after taking charge of Leicester City for the remainder of the campaign.

Sam Jones

2026-02-18T19:05+00:00

The 51-year-old arrives in Seagrave with 14 games left of this Sky Bet Championship season, with the Foxes currently placed 22nd in the standings, two points adrift.

His experience of dragging teams out of similar positions could prove vital, having steered Oxford United to safety last season, in what was their first season in the second tier since 1998/99.

Also leading the likes of Birmingham City, Millwall, Stoke City and Derby County in this division, Rowett was quick to address the current situation when sitting down for his first interview since taking the job.

“I’m really excited to be at a club that has certainly got the structure to push on, kick on and start to improve results,” the Bromsgrove-born manager began, speaking in the King Power Centre. “Everyone knows the situation that the team are in and why they are there as well.

“It’s important that we tackle that, we take that on board, but I’ve been in the Championship for a long time, I know the division and I’ve been in these positions before.

“It’s also giving the players a clear and direct route out of it and what we need to do to improve results and try and start climbing the table and all feel better about where we are. It’s wanting to tackle these 14 games really positively and try and find a few of the missing pieces.

“Hopefully we can give everyone, including the fans, a really strong end to the season, with a team you are proud of and want to see on the football pitch, a team that gives everything and wants to dig in and hurt when it needs to and suffer when it needs to.

“Also, we know we can play some good football and control games as well. It’s finding the balance of what we need to do and it’s meeting that challenge head on.”

City’s new Manager, who played for Leicester between 2000 and 2002, is keen to get down to business quickly and learn more about the team, with some familiar faces within the squad already.

“The place has certainly changed since I was here, many moons again,” the former defender explained. “I’ve just seen a few faces that I know already and a few faces that are new.

“It’s an exciting challenge and nice to get in the building and be able to get to work. I think that’s the most important thing, to be able to get my hands dirty and start the work with the players.

“It was windy, it was cold, but the facilities are fantastic. It’s all about the people who bring the facilities to life: the players, the staff, the coaches, there’s an enthusiasm there.

“When there’s some new ideas, the players buy into that quickly. We’ll see how that manifests itself on the pitch. But certainly, so far, everyone feels a little bit disappointed and frustrated with where they are, so it’s up to me to give them the tools to manifest that in a positive way and put that on the pitch on Saturday.

“We can talk all we want during the week, but ultimately, it’s about what we do at the weekend and in the midweek games. I’m looking forward to the games starting, but also it’s nice to get out there on day one, work with the players and get to know some of them and build those relationships as well.

“Some of those players, I’ve worked with young Ben [Nelson] before, of course, at Oxford. I worked with JJ (Jordan James) at Birmingham. There’s some players I know a little bit better than the others. I’ll soon get to know the personalities.

“The main message really is, how do you want to finish the season? I think it’s a great opportunity. You can look at these positions with a little bit of trepidation, a little bit of fear, or you can tackle it positively and almost embrace the challenge.

“This morning was really about what we’ll give the players but also being really clear on what we need back in return. That’s the discipline, the willingness to want to be the best player you can be, whether you’re 36 or 16, it makes no difference to me. I want to see hungry players that want to fight for the shirt in different ways and show their qualities in different ways.

“Sometimes the first day is about getting across the messages in terms of the culture and how you need that to look. There’s a little bit around the principles that we’ve spoken to the players around, trying to simplify the game a little bit for them, but also giving them a real clear basis and a consistent message of how we want to try and do it.

“I think the players have to bring that to life. That’s the part where they have to feel a little bit of freedom, particularly in those attacking positions.”

Outlining his philosophy and what the Blue Army can expect, Rowett referenced his playing days as a marker of the type of manager he is and what he will bring to the side.

He continued: “I felt I was always the type of player who would try and give everything I could. Perhaps there were more talented players than me, but I tried to make the best of what I was.

“As a manager, I suppose it’s still the same. I want to really structure the team well, organise the team well. I also appreciate some of the talents I have in the team and it’s trying to give them that base to go and flourish as well.

“There’s different ways to do it but first and foremost, it’s a team that we need to find that right balance, the right connection with the defensive side of the game and what’s required in the Championship.

“We also want to get on the front foot, attack games and win games. That’s what this division is all about and the games come thick and fast. You’ve got to move on quickly from game to game but we’ll try and create a real excitement, particularly in the home games.

“You’ve got to show a little bit of resilience; you’ve got to show toughness and a real determination to go and do what it takes to win a game of football. But there’s lots of ways you can do that.

“You can do it by having a lot of the ball and attacking well, but in order to attack well consistently, you need to have the right defensive structure and balance.”

With Rowett’s first game in charge, away at former club Stoke City, coming up on Saturday, preparations for that fixture will begin to intensify, though focus remains on his own team.

The former Oxford manager added: “As the week progresses, we’ll start to build towards the opponents, Stoke, and what we might need to try and do to give ourselves the best opportunity of winning a game of football.

“I’m a big believer in that you play all these types of opponents and games, but you have to really focus on yourselves as well. It’s about doing what you do consistently well.

“Sometimes you can change [your approach] every week to opposition coaches and managers and while you respect the opponent, it’s about what we really want to do well and what defines us as a team and the behaviours around that.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the team. It’s a few days away yet and we’ve got plenty of work to do, but we want to a see a team that is galvanised and ready to go out and do everything they can to try and get a result.”

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