Christian Fuchs Fighting to Save Newport County from Relegation

Remember Christian Fuchs from Leicester City's miraculous Premier League triumph? The Austrian left-back who helped pull off one of football's greatest underdog stories is now facing another uphill battle at Newport County, where he's literally setting up training cones alongside his coaching staff in an effort to orchestrate another miracle.

Fuchs assumed control of Newport 11 weeks ago when the club sat at the bottom of League Two. Now he's in a desperate fight to maintain their Football League status in what he describes as "probably the toughest" first managerial appointment imaginable.

His first order of business? He reached out to former Leicester teammate Jamie Vardy to gauge his interest in a potential transfer from Italy. "I asked Jamie if he wants to pack his bags," Fuchs confesses with a smile. "Of course I did, even though I knew what the answer would be!"

The circumstances are challenging. Newport have secured just two victories in Fuchs' opening 12 league matches. They remain three points adrift of safety following last weekend's defeat to fellow strugglers Bristol Rovers. That loss represented a crucial missed chance to escape the bottom two positions.

Bookmakers have Newport listed at approximately 9/4 to avoid relegation. While those aren't disastrous odds, results are urgently needed. It's a stark contrast to the 5,000/1 long-shot odds Leicester carried when they captured the title a decade ago.

Drawing on Past Experiences

Fuchs is leveraging his extensive football knowledge. He regularly consults with Thomas Tuchel, Claudio Ranieri, Brendan Rodgers, and Dean Smith. He's unafraid to seek guidance either - he was engaged in two phone conversations requesting advice earlier this morning.

He's even incorporated Ranieri's practice of greeting everyone in the room with a handshake. That Italian warmth clearly made an impression during that unforgettable 2015-16 campaign.

The opportunity arose unexpectedly. Fuchs was organizing a Disney World vacation with his family when assistant Mark Smith invited him to observe Newport's match at Accrington. Someone recognized him, word spread quickly, and owner Huw Jenkins contacted his agent. The family holiday was immediately postponed.

Leicester Forever in His Thoughts

This Friday commemorates 10 years since Leicester defeated Manchester City 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium. That victory transformed the 5,000/1 underdogs into title favourites. Incredible memories.

However, Leicester are currently experiencing their own turmoil. Following two relegations, facing a potential points deduction, and searching for their fifth permanent manager in 20 months after dismissing Marti Cifuentes, the situation pains Fuchs deeply.

"I'll always be a Leicester supporter," he states. "I have watched almost every single game since I left. It hurts a lot." Former teammate Andy King is now serving as interim manager, and Fuchs sent him a straightforward message: "You got this."

Would Fuchs consider managing Leicester someday? "Yes," he responds without hesitation. "I'm not making secrets." He jokes about checking his mobile to see if Leicester's leadership has reached out.

But priorities come first. Fuchs has arranged for a magician to entertain his Newport squad. He's organized spa retreats featuring obstacle courses in the swimming pool. He's implementing every possible strategy to strengthen team unity.

"We are a small team, but we are big enough," Fuchs maintains. "We were always underestimated with Leicester and given the table it is happening to us right now as well."

If he accomplishes this survival mission, would it rival Leicester's miracle? "I think that would be a stretch," Fuchs acknowledges. "But it would be very close." At 9/4 odds, it's certainly achievable. However, Newport must begin collecting points immediately.