Wikipedia

Leicester City F.C.

(Redirected from Leicester City football club)
This article is about the men's football club. For the women's team, see Leicester City W.F.C.
"Leicester City" redirects here. For the city itself, see Leicester.

Leicester City Football Club is a professional football club based in the city of Leicester, East Midlands, England. The club competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football, following promotion from the 2023–24 EFL Championship as league champions.

Leicester City
Full nameLeicester City Football Club
Nickname(s)The Foxes
Founded1884; 140 years ago (as Leicester Fosse F.C.)
StadiumKing Power Stadium
Capacity32,259
OwnerKing Power
ChairmanAiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha
ManagerSteve Cooper
LeaguePremier League
2023–24EFL Championship, 1st of 24 (promoted)
Websitelcfc.com
Current season

The club was founded in 1884 as Leicester Fosse F.C, and became known as Leicester City in 1919.[1] They moved to Filbert Street in 1891, were elected to the Football League in 1894 and moved to the nearby King Power Stadium in 2002.[2][3]

Leicester City have won five major honours, including one Premier League, one FA Cup and three League Cups. They have also won the FA Community Shield twice, in 1971 and 2021. The club's 2015–16 Premier League title win attracted global attention, and they became one of seven clubs to have won the Premier League since its inception in 1992.[4] Prior to this, Leicester's highest league finish was second place in the top flight in 1928–29.

The club have competed in seven European campaigns to date, reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals in 2016–17 and UEFA Europa Conference League semi-finals in 2021–22. They have played in the FA Cup final five times, winning their first title in 2021. Leicester won the League Cup in 1964, 1997 and 2000 respectively, and were finalists in 1964–65 and 1998–99.

History

edit
Main article: History of Leicester City F.C.
 
The Leicester Fosse team of 1892

Founding and early years (1884–1949)

edit

Formed in 1884 by a group of old boys of Wyggeston School as "Leicester Fosse", the club joined The Football Association (FA) in 1890.[5] Before moving to Filbert Street in 1891, the club played at five different grounds, including Victoria Park south-east of the city centre and the Belgrave Road Cycle and Cricket Ground.[6] The club also joined the Midland League in 1891, and were elected to Division Two of the Football League in 1894 after finishing second. Leicester's first Football League game was a 4–3 defeat at Grimsby Town, with a first League win the following week, against Rotherham United at Filbert Street. The same season also saw the team's largest win to date, a 13–0 victory over Notts Olympic in an FA Cup qualifying game.[1] In 1907–08 the club finished as Second Division runners-up, gaining promotion to the First Division, the highest level of English football. However, the club was relegated after a single season which included the team's record defeat, a 12–0 loss against Nottingham Forest.[1][7]

In 1919, when league football resumed after World War I, Leicester Fosse ceased trading due to financial difficulties. The club was reformed as "Leicester City Football Club", particularly appropriate as the borough of Leicester had recently been given city status. Following the name change, the club enjoyed moderate success in the 1920s; under the management of Peter Hodge, who left in May 1926 to be replaced two months later by Willie Orr, and with record goalscorer Arthur Chandler in the side,[8] they won the Division Two title in 1924–25[9] and recorded their second-highest league finish in 1928–29 as runners-up by a single point to The Wednesday.[5] However, the 1930s saw a downturn in fortunes, with the club relegated in 1934–35[10] and, after promotion in 1936–37,[11] another relegation in 1938–39 would see them finish the decade in Division Two.[1][12]

Post-World War II (1949–2000)

edit

Leicester reached the FA Cup final for the first time in their history in 1949,[1][13] losing 3–1 to Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club, however, was celebrating a week later when a draw on the last day of the season ensured survival in Division Two.[14][15] Leicester won the Division Two championship in 1954,[16] with the help of Arthur Rowley, one of the club's most prolific strikers. Although they were relegated from Division One the next season, under Dave Halliday they returned in 1957,[17] with Rowley scoring a club record 44 goals in one season.[8] Leicester remained in Division One until 1969,[18] their longest period in the top flight.

Under the management of Matt Gillies and his assistant Bert Johnson, Leicester reached the FA Cup final on another two occasions, but lost in both 1961 and 1963.[1] As they lost to double winners Tottenham Hotspur in 1961, they were England's representatives in the 1961–62 European Cup Winners' Cup. In the 1962–63 season, the club led the First Division during the winter. Thanks to a sensational run of form on icy and frozen pitches, the team became nicknamed the "Ice Kings" and eventually finished fourth, the club's best post-war finish. Gillies guided Leicester to their first piece of silverware in 1964, when Leicester beat Stoke City 4–3 on aggregate to win the League Cup for the first time.[1] Leicester also reached the League Cup final the following year but lost 3–2 on aggregate to Chelsea. Gillies and Johnson received praise for their version of the "whirl" and the "switch" system, a system that had previously been used by the Austrian and Hungarian national teams.[19] After a bad start to the season, Matt Gillies resigned in November 1968. His successor Frank O'Farrell was unable to prevent relegation, but the club reached the FA Cup final in 1969, losing to Manchester City 1–0.

 
Robbie Savage in action against Barnsley during the 1997–98 season

In 1971, Leicester were promoted back to the First Division, and won the Charity Shield for the first time.[1] Due to double winners Arsenal's commitments in European competition, Second Division winners Leicester were invited to play FA Cup runners-up Liverpool, beating them 1–0[1] thanks to a goal by Steve Whitworth.[20] Jimmy Bloomfield was appointed for the new season, and his team remained in the First Division for his tenure. Leicester reached the FA Cup semi-final in 1973–74.[21]

Frank McLintock, a noted player for seven years for Leicester in a successful period from the late 1950s to the mid-1960s, succeeded Bloomfield in 1977. On 19 March 1977, Winston White became Leicester's first black player in an away game at Stoke City.[22] The club was relegated at the end of that season and McLintock resigned. Jock Wallace resumed the tradition of successful Scottish managers (after Peter Hodge and Matt Gillies) by steering Leicester to the Second Division championship in 1980.[23] Wallace was unable to keep Leicester in the First Division, but they reached the FA Cup semi-final in 1982. Under Wallace, one of City's most famous home-grown players, Gary Lineker, emerged into the first-team squad. Leicester's next manager was Gordon Milne, who achieved promotion in 1983. Lineker helped Leicester maintain their place in the First Division, but was sold to Everton in 1985; two years later Leicester were relegated, having failed to find a suitable replacement to partner Alan Smith, who was sold to Arsenal after Leicester went down.

Milne left in 1986 and was replaced in 1987 by David Pleat, who was sacked in January 1991 with Leicester in danger of relegation to the Third Division. Gordon Lee was put in charge of the club until the end of the season. Leicester won their final game of the season, which guided them clear of relegation to the third tier of the Football League.[1]

Brian Little took over in 1991 and by the end of the 1991–92 season Leicester had reached the playoff final for a place in the new Premier League, but lost to Blackburn Rovers by way of a penalty from former Leicester striker Mike Newell. The club also reached the playoff final the following year, losing 4–3 to Swindon Town, having come back from 3–0 down. In 1993–94, Leicester were promoted from the playoffs, beating Derby County 2–1 in the final.[1] Little quit as Leicester manager the following November to take charge at Aston Villa, and his successor Mark McGhee was unable to save Leicester from finishing second-from-bottom in the 1994–95 season.

McGhee left the club unexpectedly in December 1995, while Leicester were top of the First Division, to take charge of Wolverhampton Wanderers.[24] McGhee was replaced by Martin O'Neill.[1] Under O'Neill, Leicester qualified for the 1996 Football League play-offs and beat Crystal Palace 2–1 in the final through a 120th-minute Steve Claridge goal to gain promotion to the Premier League. Following promotion, Leicester established themselves in the Premier League with four successive top ten finishes. O'Neill ended Leicester's 33-year wait for a major trophy, winning the League Cup twice, in 1997 and 2000, and Leicester were runners-up in 1999. Thus, the club qualified for the UEFA Cup in 1997–98 and 2000–01, the club's first European competition since 1961. In June 2000, O'Neill left Leicester City to take over as manager of Celtic.

Decline in the early 21st century (2000–2008)

edit

Martin O'Neill was replaced by former England under-21 coach Peter Taylor. During this time, one of Leicester's European appearances ended in a 3–1 defeat to Red Star Belgrade on 28 September 2000 in the UEFA Cup.[25] Leicester began well under Taylor's management, topping the Premier League for two weeks in the autumn and remaining in contention for a European place for most of the campaign, before a late-season collapse dragged them down to a 13th-place finish.

Taylor was sacked after a poor start to the 2001–02 season, and his successor Dave Bassett lasted just six months before being succeeded by his assistant Micky Adams, the change of management being announced just before relegation was confirmed. Leicester won just five league matches all season.

 
The East Stand, King Power Stadium

Leicester moved into the new 32,314-seat Walkers Stadium at the start of the 2002–03 season, ending 111 years at Filbert Street. Walkers, the Leicester-based crisp manufacturers, acquired the naming rights for a ten-year period.[26] In October 2002, the club went into administration with debts of £30 million. Some of the reasons were the loss of TV money (ITV Digital, itself in administration, had promised money to First Division clubs for TV rights), the large wage bill, lower-than-expected fees for players transferred to other clubs and the cost of the new stadium.[27] Adams was banned from the transfer market for most of the season, even after the club was rescued with a takeover by a consortium led by Gary Lineker.[1] Adams guided Leicester to the runners-up spot in Division One and automatic promotion back to the Premier League with more than 90 points. However, Leicester lasted only one season in the top flight and were relegated to the newly labelled Championship, previously known as Division One.

When Adams resigned as manager in October 2004, Craig Levein was appointed boss. This would prove to be an unsuccessful period and after 15 months in charge, Levein was sacked, having failed to get The Foxes anywhere near the promotion places. Assistant manager Rob Kelly took over as caretaker manager, and after winning three out of four matches, was appointed to see out the rest of the season. Kelly steered Leicester to safety and in April 2006 was given the manager's job on a permanent basis.[1]

In October 2006, ex-Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandarić was quoted as saying he was interested in buying the club, reportedly at a price of around £6 million, with the current playing squad valued at roughly £4.2 million. The takeover was formally announced on 13 February 2007.[28] On 11 April 2007, Rob Kelly was sacked as manager and Nigel Worthington appointed as caretaker manager until the end of the season. Worthington saved the club from relegation, but was not offered the job on a permanent basis. On 25 May 2007, the club announced former Milton Keynes Dons manager Martin Allen as their new manager with a three-year contract. Allen's relationship with Mandarić became tense and after only four matches, Allen left by mutual consent on 29 August 2007. On 13 September 2007, Mandarić announced Gary Megson as the new manager of the club, citing Megson's "wealth of experience" as a deciding factor in the appointment. However, Megson left on 24 October 2007 after only six weeks in charge, following an approach made for his services by Bolton Wanderers. Mandarić placed Frank Burrows and Gerry Taggart in the shared position as caretaker managers until a professional manager was appointed.

 
Pearson and Mandarić after winning the Football League One title.

On 22 November, Ian Holloway was appointed manager, and he became the first Leicester manager in over 50 years to win his first league match in charge, beating Bristol City 2–0.[29] However, this success did not last, and Leicester were relegated from the Championship at the end of the 2007–08 season. Holloway left by mutual consent after less than a season at the club, being replaced by Nigel Pearson.

Rise back to Premier League and change of ownership (2008–2015)

edit

The 2008–09 campaign was Leicester's first season outside the top two levels of English football, but they hit this nadir only seven years before becoming the 2015–16 Premier League champions – one of the fastest rises to the top of the English football league system.[30] Following relegation to the third tier the previous season, Leicester returned to the Championship at the first attempt in 2008–09, finishing as champions of League One after a 2–0 win at Southend United, with two matches in hand. The 2009–10 season saw Leicester's revival under manager Nigel Pearson continue, as the club finished fifth and reached the Championship play-offs in their first season back in the second tier. Though coming from 2–0 down on aggregate, away to Cardiff City, to briefly lead 3–2, they eventually lost to a penalty shoot-out in the play-off semi-final. At the end of the season, Pearson left Leicester to become the manager of Hull City, claiming he felt the club seemed reluctant to keep him, and that Paulo Sousa had been the club's guest at both play-off games, hinting at a possible replacement. On 7 July 2010, Sousa was confirmed as Pearson's replacement.[31]

In August 2010, following agreement on a three-year shirt sponsorship deal with duty-free retailers the King Power Group, Mandarić sold the club to Thai-led consortium Asian Football Investments (AFI), fronted by King Power Group's Vichai and his son Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha.[32] Mandarić, an investor in AFI,[33] was retained as club chairman.[34] On 1 October 2010, after a poor start that saw Leicester bottom of the Championship with only one win out of the first nine league matches, Paulo Sousa was sacked by the club with immediate effect.[35] Two days later, Sven-Göran Eriksson, who had been approached by the club after the 6–1 loss to then bottom-of-the-table Portsmouth two weeks earlier, was appointed as his replacement, signing a two-year contract with the club.[36][37] On 10 February 2011, Vichai, part of the Thai-based Asia Football Investments consortium, was appointed new chairman of the club after Mandarić left in November to take over Sheffield Wednesday.[38]

Leicester were viewed as one of the favourites for promotion in the 2011–12 season, but on 24 October 2011, following an inconsistent start with the Foxes winning just 5 out of their first 13 matches, Eriksson left the club by mutual consent.[39] Three weeks later, Nigel Pearson returned to the club as Eriksson's successor. Pearson would go on to lead The Foxes to a sixth-place finish in the 2012–13 season, ensuring Leicester were in the Championship play-offs. However, Leicester lost the playoff semi-final 3–2 on aggregate to Watford after Manuel Almunia made a double save from an Anthony Knockaert late penalty and Troy Deeney scored at the other end following a swift counterattack.[40]

In 2014, Leicester's march up the league system hit a breakthrough. Their 2–1 home win over Sheffield Wednesday, combined with losses by Queens Park Rangers and Derby County, allowed Leicester City to clinch promotion to the Premier League after a ten-year absence. Later that month, a win at Bolton Wanderers saw Leicester become champions of the 2013–14 Championship, a joint record 7th second-tier title.

Leicester started their first season in the Premier League since 2004 with a good run of results in their first five league matches, starting with a 2–2 draw on the opening day against Everton.[41] The Foxes then claimed their first Premier League win since May 2004, with a 1–0 win at Stoke City.[42] On 21 September 2014, Leicester went on to produce one of the greatest comebacks in Premier League history, beating Manchester United 5–3 at King Power Stadium. They made Premier League history by becoming the first team to beat Manchester United from a two-goal deficit since the league's launch in 1992.[43]

During the 2014–15 season, a dismal run of form saw the team slip to the bottom of the league table with only 19 points from 29 matches. By 3 April 2015, they were seven points adrift from safety. This could have brought a sudden end to Leicester's seven-year rise, but seven wins from their final nine league matches meant The Foxes finished the season in 14th place with 41 points. They finished the season with a 5–1 thrashing of relegated Queens Park Rangers, and Leicester's upturn in results was described as one of the Premier League's greatest escapes from relegation.[44][45] They also became only the third team in Premier League history to survive after being bottom at Christmas (the other two being West Bromwich Albion in 2005 and Sunderland in 2014), and no team with fewer than 20 points from 29 matches had previously stayed up.

Premier League champions, FA Cup winners, relegation and promotion (2015–present)

edit
The usual starting line-up of the Premier League winning team[46]

On 30 June 2015, Nigel Pearson was sacked, with the club stating "the working relationship is no longer viable." The sacking was linked to a number of public relations issues involving Pearson throughout the season, with the final straw involving his son James' role in a "racist sex tape" made by three Leicester reserve players in Thailand during a post-season goodwill tour.[47][48][49] Leicester reacted by appointing former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri as their new manager for the new 2015–16 Premier League season.[50] Despite an initially sceptical reaction to Ranieri's appointment, the club made an exceptional start to the season.[51] Striker Jamie Vardy scored 13 goals over 11 consecutive matches from August to November, breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy's Premier League record of scoring in 10 consecutive matches.[52] On 19 December, Leicester defeated Everton 3–2 at Goodison Park to top the Premier League on Christmas Day, having been bottom exactly 12 months earlier.[53] A 2–0 victory at Sunderland on 10 April, coupled with Tottenham Hotspur's 3–0 win over Manchester United, ensured Leicester's qualification for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.[54]

Leicester won the Premier League on 2 May 2016 after Tottenham lost a 2–0 lead against Chelsea, drawing 2–2 at the "Battle of Stamford Bridge".[55][56] Bookmakers thought Leicester's victory was so unlikely that Ladbrokes and William Hill offered odds of 5,000–1 for it at the start of the season, which subsequently resulted in the largest payout in British sporting history with total winnings of £25 million.[57][58][59] A number of newspapers described Leicester's title win as the greatest sporting shock; multiple bookmakers including Ladbrokes and William Hill had never paid out at such long odds for any sport.[60][61][62] One book was titled "The Unbelievables", a spin-off harking back to Arsenal's undefeated team "The Invincibles".[63] The scale of the surprise title victory attracted global attention for the club and the city of Leicester.[64] The Economist declared it would be "pored over for management lessons."[65] Several commentators viewed it as an inspiration to other clubs and fundamentally transforming expectations.[66]

Leicester became known for their counterattacking style of play, "incredible pace in the areas it is most essential" and defensive solidarity.[67] Former boss Nigel Pearson was credited by pundits and fans as having laid the foundations for Leicester's title winning season.[68] Reacting to the title win, then executive chairman of the Premier League Richard Scudamore said:

If this was a once in every 5,000-year event, then we've effectively got another 5,000 years of hope ahead of us.

Leicester, while performing well in the UEFA Champions League, struggled domestically during 2016–17, spending much of the first few months in the bottom half of the Premier League table. In December 2016, Ranieri was awarded coach of the year and Leicester team of the year at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year.[69] However, on 23 February 2017, Ranieri was dismissed due to the club's continuing poor form, resulting in them being only one point above the relegation zone. The sacking was met with significant upset and anger from sections of the media, with Gary Lineker calling the sacking "very sad" and "inexplicable",[70] while Manchester United manager José Mourinho blamed it on "selfish players".[70] Rumours began emerging some days later that players had been meeting with the owners to discuss Ranieri's sacking without Ranieri knowing, which sparked widespread outrage over social media, but these were never proven.[71] Craig Shakespeare took over as caretaker manager, and in his first match in charge, Leicester won 3–1 against 5th placed Liverpool.[72] In his second match as caretaker, Shakespeare led Leicester to another 3–1 victory over Hull City.[73] Following those two results, it was decided on 12 March 2017 that Shakespeare would become manager until the end of the season.[74]

The 2016–17 campaign was also the first season in 15 years that Leicester qualified for European football. Leicester were placed in Group G of the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League, alongside Porto, Copenhagen and Club Brugge. In their inaugural Champions League campaign, they went undefeated in their first five matches to progress to the knockout stages as group winners.[75] The Foxes then faced La Liga club Sevilla in the round of 16 and defeated the Spanish side 2–0 on the night, and 3–2 on aggregate to advance to the quarter-finals.[76] There they faced Atlético Madrid, and drew 1–1 in the second leg, but lost 2–1 on aggregate after losing 1–0 in the first leg. This put an end to Leicester's 2016–17 European campaign, and they finished as Champions League quarter-finalists.[77] Despite the loss, Leicester remained unbeaten at home in the 2016–17 Champions League.

Craig Shakespeare, having impressed during his caretaker spell, was appointed full-time on a three-year contract.[78] However, following a poor start to the season he was sacked in October 2017 after four months officially in charge, with Leicester in 18th place in the table.[79] He was replaced by former Southampton boss Claude Puel on 25 October 2017. By Christmas, Leicester were in 8th place in the Premier League and finished 9th at the end of the season.

On 27 October 2018, a Leonardo AW169 helicopter carrying chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and four others malfunctioned and crashed outside the club's stadium, shortly after taking off from the pitch. This followed a home match against West Ham United, and all five people on board the helicopter died. One year later, The Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Memorial Garden officially opened on 27 October 2019, before The Khun Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha Statue was unveiled on 4 April 2022, which would have been Srivaddhanaprabha's 64th birthday.[80][81][82]

 
Brendan Rodgers

Leicester suffered a poor run of results in 2019 which included four successive home defeats, and following a 4–1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, manager Claude Puel was sacked on 24 February 2019 with the club in 12th place.[83] Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was appointed as his replacement,[84] and the club finished the season again in 9th place.

The 2019–20 season started with the team picking up 38 points from their first 16 matches, which included a record eight-game winning streak from 19 October to 8 December. On 25 October 2019, Leicester recorded a 0–9 away win at Southampton, the joint-largest win in Premier League history and the largest away win in English top-flight history.[85] In the same season, the club reached the semi-final stage of the League Cup but lost out to Aston Villa over two legs.[86] Despite being in the top four for most of the season, Leicester suffered a drop-off in form at the end of the season, winning only two of their nine games following the resumption of league play due to the coronavirus pandemic. Three defeats in their last four matches saw them slide into fifth, the second-highest Premier League finish in their history, securing a place in the UEFA Europa League for the following season.[87]

On 15 May 2021, Leicester City won the FA Cup for the first time, having lost all of their previous four finals, in the process securing a second major trophy in the space of five years; Youri Tielemans scored the only goal against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium.[88] The club also went on to win the 2021 FA Community Shield on 7 August 2021, the second in their history.[89] After finishing 5th again in the 2020–21 Premier League, Leicester qualified for the Europa League for the second consecutive year. In their 2021–22 UEFA Europa League campaign, Leicester came third in their group and were transferred to the newly established UEFA Europa Conference League. They went on to reach their first European semi-final, losing to eventual winners A.S. Roma over two legs.[90] In the Premier League, the club finished in 8th place.[91]

The club's finances were heavily impacted by the COVID pandemic, with the parent company King Power International Group being in the travel retail (DF&TR) sector.[92][93] During the 2022 summer transfer window, Leicester were restricted in their spending amid concerns over breaching Financial Fair Play regulations. In addition to this, the previous summer saw the club spent more than £50 million on new players without selling a key player for profit. This dramatically increased their wages-to-turnover ratio, and failure to qualify for European football in the proceeding season (2021–22) was also a factor in reduced spending during the summer of 2022.[94] At the same time, the club were also continuing to balance investment in infrastructure, to better compete with the Premier League's 'big six' in the long term.[95][96][97]

Brendan Rodgers left the club after four years in charge on 2 April 2023, with ten games remaining and the team in the relegation zone.[98] Dean Smith was appointed as his replacement until the end of the season.[99] On 28 May, despite a 2–1 home win over West Ham United, Leicester City were relegated as a consequence of Everton's 1–0 home victory over AFC Bournemouth.[100] This ended the club's nine-year stint in the Premier League, making them only the second former Premier League champions to be relegated from the league since it began in 1992–93, following Blackburn Rovers in 1998–99.[101]

 
Leicester were promoted back to the top flight in 2024

On 16 June 2023, Enzo Maresca was appointed as the club's new manager ahead of the 2023–24 EFL Championship season.[102] Leicester went on to make their best start to a league season, and the best since the league became known as the Championship in 2004–05.[103] They were promoted back to the Premier League as champions at the first attempt.[104] This was also their eighth second tier title which is a record for the division.[105]

Club identity

edit
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leicester City F.C. kits.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Leicester City's first home colours worn from 1884 to 1886.
 
This shirt, worn in 1948, was the first to bear the club's badge.

The club's traditional home colours of royal blue shirts, white shorts and either white or blue socks have been used for the team's kits throughout most of its history. In more recent times, the club have alternated between either white or blue shorts.

An image of a fox was first incorporated into the club crest in 1948. Since 1992, the club's badge has featured a fox's head overlaid onto a Cinquefoil; the Cinquefoil is similar to the one used on the coat of arms of Leicester.[106][107]

 
Leicester City's badge for the 2009–10 season to commemorate 125 years as a football club

The club's stadium move in 2002 prompted some changes to the crest, and the design has since evolved further.[108] For the 2009–10 season, the club's 125th anniversary year, a special edition crest was worn on the home and away kits.[109] For this season's away kit, there was also a return to the first colours worn by the club (originally Leicester Fosse), albeit with black shorts as opposed to the original white.[110][108] This kit returned once again for the 2023–24 season, having also featured during the 2004–05 season.[111]

In 1941, the club adopted the playing of the "Post Horn Galop" at home matches, to signal both teams entering the pitch.[112] To the present day, the tune is usually played live on the pitch for the first half, while a modern version of the tune is played over the PA system for the second half.[113] The club also play a modern version of their anthem "When You're Smiling" before kick-off on home matchdays, with the connection to the song believed to have originated in the late 1970s.[114] Foxes Never Quit is the club's motto, with these words placed above the tunnel inside the stadium.

Kit suppliers and shirt sponsors

edit

Source:[115]

Year Kit Manufacturer Primary Shirt Sponsor Sleeve Sponsor
1962–1964 Bukta None None
1976–1979 Admiral
1979–1983 Umbro
1983–1986 Admiral Ind Coope
1986–1987 John Bull
1987–1988 Walkers Crisps
1988–1990 Scoreline
1990–1992 Bukta
1992–2000 Fox Leisure
2000–2001 Le Coq Sportif
2001–2003 LG
2003–2005 Alliance & Leicester
2005–2007 JJB Sports
2007–2009 Jako Topps Tiles
2009–2010 Joma LOROS Hospice Care
2010–2012 Burrda King Power
2012–2016 Puma
2017–2018 Siam Commercial Bank
2018–2020 Adidas Bia Saigon
2020–2021 Tourism Authority of Thailand/King Power
2021–2023 FBS (international brokerage company)
2023–2024 King Power
2024– BC.GAME

Since 2018, Leicester City's kit has been manufactured by German sportswear company Adidas.[116] Previous manufacturers have included Bukta (1962–64, 1990–92), Admiral (1976–79, 1983–88), Umbro (1979–83), Scoreline (1988–90), Fox Leisure (1992–2000), Le Coq Sportif (2000–05), JJB (2005–07), Jako (2007–09), Joma (2009–10), Burrda (2010–12)[117] and Puma (2012–18).[118]

The club's current main shirt sponsor is BC.GAME.[119] The first sponsorship logo to appear on a Leicester shirt was that of Ind Coope in 1983.[107] British snack food manufacturer Walkers Crisps are the club's official snack partner.[120] Walkers Crisps have held a long association with the club, sponsoring their shirts from 1987 to 2001 and the stadium from 2002 to 2011.[107][3] Other sponsors have included John Bull (1986–87),[107] LG (2001–03),[107] Alliance & Leicester (2003–07),[107] Topps Tiles (2007–09),[107] Loros (2009–10), King Power (2010–21, 2023–24), Tourism Authority of Thailand (2020–21) and FBS (2021–23).[121][110] Siam Commercial Bank became the club's first sleeve sponsor, and the deal was valid for the 2017–18 season.[122] Since the 2018–19 season, the sleeve sponsor has been Bia Saigon.[123]

Stadium and training ground

edit
See also: King Power Stadium and Filbert Street
 
The "Double Decker" Stand at Filbert Street

In their early years, Leicester played at numerous grounds, but have only played at two since they joined the Football League. When first starting out, they played on a field by Fosse Road,[124] hence the original club name Leicester Fosse. They moved from there to Victoria Park, and subsequently to Belgrave Road. Upon turning professional the club moved to Mill Lane.[124] After eviction from Mill Lane the club played at the County Cricket ground while seeking a new ground. The club secured the use of an area of land by Filbert Street and moved there in 1891.[124]

Some improvements by noted football architect Archibald Leitch occurred in the Edwardian era, and in 1927 a new two-tier stand was built,[124] nicknamed "the Double Decker", which would persist until the ground's closure in 2002. With the exception of the addition of compulsory seating, the ground saw no further development until 1993, when the Main Stand was demolished and replaced by the new Carling Stand. The addition of the new stand, while the rest of the ground had been untouched since the 1920s, led manager Martin O'Neill to joke that he used to "lead new signings out backwards" so they only saw the Carling Stand.[125]

 
King Power Stadium, formerly known as the Walkers Stadium, has been the home of Leicester City since 2002

The club moved away from Filbert Street in 2002, to a new 32,500-capacity all-seater stadium located less than 300 yards away.[126][127] The site's address, Filbert Way, retains a link with the club's former home. The first match hosted at the stadium was a 1–1 friendly draw against Athletic Bilbao, Bilbao's Tiko scored the first goal at the stadium and Jordan Stewart became the first Leicester player to score.[128] The first competitive match was a 2–0 victory against Watford.[129]

The stadium was known as the Walkers Stadium until 2011 in a sponsorship deal with Leicester-based food manufacturers Walkers. On 19 August 2010, it emerged that the new owners King Power wanted to rename the stadium King Power Stadium, and had plans to increase the capacity to 42,000 should Leicester secure promotion.[130] On 5 July 2011, it was announced that the Walkers Stadium would now be known as King Power Stadium.[131]

The stadium currently has an all-seated capacity of 32,262, with plans formally approved in December 2023 to extend this to 40,000.[132][133] In 2020, the club moved into a new state-of-the-art training complex in the Leicestershire village of Seagrave, described as being "one of the world's most advanced training facilities." The club's former training ground Belvoir Drive now serves as the training ground for Leicester City Women.[134]

Rivalries, support and hooliganism

edit
Main articles: Leicester City F.C.–Nottingham Forest F.C. rivalry, Derby County F.C.–Leicester City F.C. rivalry, and M69 derby

The club's main rivals are Nottingham Forest, Derby County and Coventry City.[135][136][137] Lesser rivalries also exist with Chelsea and more recently Tottenham Hotspur.[138][139] Leicester were widely considered to be Nottingham Forest's main rivals prior to the mid-1970s. However, when Brian Clough was appointed as Forest manager in 1975, much to the dismay of Derby fans, the rivalry between Forest and Derby quickly intensified. The Leicester-Forest rivalry is however, still prominent on the border of both cities, and on the border of both counties (Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire).

The club's anthem "When You're Smiling", sung by supporters at home and away matches, is believed to have originated in the late 1970s, with a modern version of the tune currently played before kick-off on home matchdays.[114] Like many other clubs in English football, Leicester have had links to hooliganism. In England and Wales, Leicester were listed as the second most violent football club in August 2000,[140] and averaged the fifth highest number of hooligans at matches between 2019 and 2023.[141] During the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, the club were ranked third and fourth respectively for football banning orders.[142][143]

European record

edit
Main article: Leicester City F.C. in European football
Season Competition Round Club Home Away Aggregate
1961–62 European Cup Winners' Cup PR   Glenavon 3–1 4–1 7–2
1R   Atlético Madrid 1–1 0–2 1–3
1997–98 UEFA Cup 1R   Atlético Madrid 0–2 1–2 1–4
2000–01 UEFA Cup 1R   Red Star Belgrade 1–1 1–3 [nb 1] 2–4
2016–17 UEFA Champions League GS   Porto 1–0 0–5 1st
  Club Brugge 2–1 3–0
  Copenhagen 1–0 0–0
R16   Sevilla 2–0 1–2 3–2
QF   Atlético Madrid 1–1 0–1 1–2
2020–21 UEFA Europa League GS   Braga 4–0 3–3 1st
  AEK Athens 2–0 2–1
  Zorya Luhansk 3–0 0–1
R32   Slavia Prague 0–2 0–0 0–2
2021–22 UEFA Europa League GS   Napoli 2–2 2–3 3rd
  Spartak Moscow 1–1 4–3
  Legia Warsaw 3–1 0–1
UEFA Conference League KPO   Randers 4–1 3–1 7–2
R16   Rennes 2–0 1–2 3–2
QF   PSV Eindhoven 0–0 2–1 2–1
SF   Roma 1–1 0–1 1–2
Notes
  • LCFC goals listed first
  • KPO: Knockout round play-offs
  • PR: Preliminary round
  • 1R: First round
  • GS: Group stage
  • R32: Round of 32
  • R16: Round of 16
  • QF: Quarter-final
  • SF: Semi-final

Managerial history

edit
Main article: List of Leicester City F.C. managers

Leicester City's current manager, Steve Cooper, was appointed on 20 June 2024.[144] Nigel Pearson and Peter Hodge have both had two separate spells in charge of the club. Dave Bassett also had a second spell as caretaker manager after his spell as permanent manager.[145] Up until Peter Hodge was hired after World War I, the club had no official manager. A nominal role of secretary/manager was employed, though the board and the selection committee took control of most team affairs. It was Hodge who instated a system at the club for the manager having complete control over player and staff recruitment, team selection, and tactics. Though Hodge was originally also titled "secretary/manager" he has retrospectively been named as the club's first official "manager."[146]

Records and statistics

edit
Main article: List of Leicester City F.C. records and statistics
 
Historical league positions of Leicester City in the Football League

Graham Cross holds the record for the most Leicester appearances, with the defender playing 600 games between 1960 and 1976, increased from 599 following the club's decision to incorporate the 1971 Charity Shield into official records.[147] However, Adam Black holds the record for the most appearances in the league with 528 between 1920 and 1935.[148]

Striker Arthur Chandler is currently the club's all-time record goal scorer, netting 273 in his 12 years at the club; he also found the net in 8 consecutive matches in the 1924–25 season.[5] The most goals managed in a single season for the club is 44 by Arthur Rowley, in the 1956–57 season.[5] The fastest goal in the club's history was scored by Matty Fryatt, when he netted after just nine seconds against Preston North End in April 2006.[149]

Jamie Vardy broke the Premier League record by scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League games, scoring 13 in the process during the 2015–16 Premier League season.[150] Vardy's goal at Sunderland on 10 April 2016 saw him become the first Leicester player since Gary Lineker in 1984–85 to score 20 top flight goals for the club, having already become Leicester's highest Premier League scorer in a single season,[151] ultimately finishing with 23 and the Premier League Golden Boot for the season.[152]

The record transfer fee paid by Leicester for a player was in the region of £32-to-40 million for midfielder Youri Tielemans from AS Monaco.[153] The highest transfer fee received for a Leicester player was approximately £80 million from Manchester United for Harry Maguire; at the time of the transfer this was the eleventh-highest-ever fee, the highest-ever move between two English teams, and the highest-ever for a defender.[154][additional citation(s) needed]

The club's record home attendance is 47,298, for a fifth-round FA Cup match against Tottenham Hotspur at Filbert Street in 1928.[155] The current record home attendance at the current stadium is 32,242, for a Premier League match against Sunderland on 8 August 2015.[156] The highest-ever attendance for a non-competitive football match at King Power Stadium stands at 32,188, for a pre-season friendly against Real Madrid on 30 July 2011.[157]

Leicester's highest league finish is first in the Premier League in 2015–16.[30] The club currently holds the all-time record for second tier titles with eight.[105]

Leicester's longest unbeaten run in the league was between 1 November 2008 and 7 March 2009, in which the team remained unbeaten for 23 games on their way to the League One title.[158] The club's longest run of consecutive victories in league football is currently nine, which the team achieved between 21 December 2013 and 1 February 2014 in the EFL Championship.

In the 2015–16 season, Leicester achieved many new club records in what The Daily Telegraph described as "one of the most astonishing league titles of all-time".[159] They recorded the fewest losses in any of the club's previous Premier League seasons, the fewest away defeats in any top-flight season, and the most consecutive wins in the top flight. Those consecutive victories came against Watford, Newcastle United, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Sunderland. Coincidentally, Leicester kept a record of five straight clean sheets against each of the same five opponents. The King Power Stadium's home crowds in 2015–16 saw their team beaten just once in the Premier League all season.[151]

Leicester made their UEFA Champions League debut in the 2016–17 season, their fourth appearance in European football. The club became the third English team to win on their Champions League debut, after Manchester United in 1994 and Newcastle United in 1997. They also became the first English team to win away on their Champions League debut, and win all three of their opening games in the competition.[160][161] Leicester are currently the first and only team in Champions League history to keep clean sheets in each of their opening four games in the competition.[162] In March 2017, the club became the 50th to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

On 25 October 2019, the Leicester team set the record for the highest margin of away victory in English top-flight history, defeating Southampton 9–0 at St Mary's Stadium. In doing so they also tied the record for the highest margin of victory in Premier League history, equalling Manchester United's 9–0 home victory over Ipswich Town in 1995.[163] As a result, Leicester City hold the all-time top tier records for the biggest defeat, biggest away win, and highest-scoring draw.

In the 2023–24 EFL Championship season, the club made its best start to a league season, and the best in the competition's history (since being known as the Championship).[164] During this period, the club also set a new record of six straight away wins, matched the all-time record of nine consecutive league wins home and away, and went four home matches without conceding for the first time since 1973.[165]

League history

edit
Main article: List of Leicester City F.C. seasons

Since their election to the Football League in 1894, Leicester City have spent all but one season within the top two tiers of English football. During the 2008–09 season, they played in League One, the third tier of English football, after the club's relegation from the Championship in the previous season. However, the club made an instant return to the second tier and were promoted as 2008–09 League One champions.

Source[91]
L1 = Level 1 of the football league system; L2 = Level 2 of the football league system; L3 = Level 3 of the football league system.
  • Seasons spent at Level 1 of the football league system: 55
  • Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 63
  • Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 1

(up to and including 2023–24)

Players

edit

First team

edit
As of 30 August 2024[166]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   WAL Danny Ward
2 DF   ENG James Justin
3 DF   BEL Wout Faes
4 DF   ENG Conor Coady
5 DF   ITA Caleb Okoli
6 MF   NGA Wilfred Ndidi
7 FW   GHA Abdul Fatawu
8 MF   ENG Harry Winks
9 FW   ENG Jamie Vardy (captain)
10 FW   ENG Stephy Mavididi
11 MF   MAR Bilal El Khannouss
14 FW   JAM Bobby De Cordova-Reid
16 DF   DEN Victor Kristiansen
17 MF   BAN Hamza Choudhury
18 FW   GHA Jordan Ayew
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 FW   ZAM Patson Daka
21 DF   POR Ricardo Pereira
22 MF   ENG Oliver Skipp
23 DF   DEN Jannik Vestergaard
24 MF   FRA Boubakary Soumaré
29 FW   FRA Odsonne Édouard (on loan from Crystal Palace)
30 GK   DEN Mads Hermansen
31 GK   DEN Daniel Iversen
33 DF   ENG Luke Thomas
34 MF   ENG Michael Golding
35 FW   IRL Kasey McAteer
37 MF   ENG Will Alves
40 MF   ARG Facundo Buonanotte (on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion)
41 GK   POL Jakub Stolarczyk

Out on loan

edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
15 DF   AUS Harry Souttar (on loan at Sheffield United until 30 June 2025)
26 DF   ENG Ben Nelson (at Oxford United until 30 June 2025)
27 MF   POR Wanya Marçal (on loan at De Graafschap until 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
28 FW   IRL Tom Cannon (on loan at Stoke City until 30 June 2025)
44 MF   ENG Sammy Braybrooke (on loan at Dundee until 30 June 2025)

Under-21s and Academy

edit
Main article: Leicester City F.C. Under-21s and Academy

Former players

edit
Main article: List of Leicester City F.C. players

Club staff

edit

As of 9 July 2024[167][168][169][170][171][172]

Directors & Senior Management
Role Person
Chairman   Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha
Vice Chairman   Apichet Srivaddhanaprabha
Chief Executive   Susan Whelan
Finance Director   Kevin Davies
Director of Football   Jon Rudkin
Football Operations Director   Andrew Neville
Operations Director   Anthony Mundy
Communications Director   Anthony Herlihy
HR Director   Liam Dolan-Barr
Commercial Director   Dan Barnett
General Counsel   Matthew Phillips
 
Steve Cooper is the current manager of the club
Management Staff
Role Person
First Team Manager   Steve Cooper
First Team Assistant Manager   Alan Tate
First Team Set Piece Coach   Andrew Hughes
First Team Goalkeeping Coach   Danny Alcock
First Team Coach & Analyst   Steve Rands
First Team Coach   Ben Dawson
Head of Fitness & Conditioning   Matt Reeves
Head of Medicine   Dr. Simon Morris
First Team Physiotherapist   Niall Stevens
First Team Physiotherapist   Gary Silk
Kit Manager   Paul McAndrew
Head of Senior Player Recruitment   Martyn Glover
Loans Manager   Robert Huth
Academy Director   Jon Rudkin

Player statistics

edit

Player of the Year

edit

Leicester City's Player of the Year award is voted for by the club's supporters at the end of every season.[146]

English Hall of Fame members

edit

The following have played for Leicester and have been inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame:

Football League 100 Legends

edit

The Football League 100 Legends is a list of "100 legendary football players" produced by The Football League in 1998, to celebrate the 100th season of League football.[180] It also included Premier League players, and the following former Leicester City players were included:[180]

Players with over 300 appearances for Leicester

edit

Includes competitive appearances only. Current players in bold.

As of 4 May 2024[146][148]

Players with 50 or more goals for Leicester

edit

Includes competitive appearances only. Current players in bold.

As of 4 May 2024[146][181][182]

Honours

edit
See also: List of Leicester City F.C. records and statistics § Honours
 
Leicester City players lifting the 2015–16 Premier League trophy

Leicester City are currently one of five clubs, including Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, to have won the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup since 2000. Since the start of the millennium, they are the 6th most successful club in English football and one of 14 clubs to have won all four major domestic competitions.[183] The club also hold the record for the most second division titles with eight.[184]

League

Cup

Notes

edit
  1. ^ 'Away' leg held at the Gerhard Hanappi Stadium, Vienna, Austria

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "The History of Leicester City Football Club". Leicester City F.C. Archived from the original on 21 June 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  2. ^ "A History of Filbert Street". Filbertstreet.net. Archived from the original on 29 September 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011.
  3. ^ a b "Leicester rename Walkers Stadium the King Power Stadium". BBC Sport. 5 July 2011. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  4. ^ James, Stuart (24 February 2017). "Claudio Ranieri's reign ends in cruel, brutal fashion as Leicester lose patience". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Sewell, Albert (1974). Observer's Book of Association Football. London: Frederick Warne & Co. p. 58. ISBN 978-0-7232-1536-3.
  6. ^ "Short sporting lifetime". Leicester Mercury. 1 February 2010. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  7. ^ "Final 1908/1909 English Division 1 (old) Table". Football DataCo Limited. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  8. ^ a b "All Time Leicester Records & Achievements". Soccerbase.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  9. ^ "Leicester City 1924–1925: English Division Two (old) Table". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  10. ^ "Leicester City 1934–1935 : English Division Two (old) Table". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  11. ^ "Leicester City 1936–1937: English Division Two (old) Table". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  12. ^ "Leicester City 1938–1939: English Division Two (old) Table". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  13. ^ "Socerbase.com FA Cup 1949". Soccerbase.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  14. ^ "Leicester City 1948–1949: Results". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  15. ^ "Leicester City 1948–1949: English Division Two (old) Table". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  16. ^ "Leicester City 1953–1954: English Division Two (old) Table". Statto.com. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  17. ^ "QosFC: Legends – Dave Halliday". qosfc.com. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  18. ^ "Leicester City drops into second division". Leader-Post. Regina. Reuters. 20 May 1969. p. 21. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  19. ^ Bagchi, Rob (6 October 2011). "The forgotten story of ... Leicester City: Ice Kings". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  20. ^ Miller, Nick (4 August 2016). "The forgotten story of ... Leicester City winning the 1971 Charity Shield". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 4 August 2016.
  21. ^ "Liverpool in 5th Cup Final". The Age. 5 April 1975. p. 26. Retrieved 16 September 2009. [permanent dead link‍]
  22. ^ Hern, Bill; Gleave, David (2020). Football's Black Pioneers. Leicester: Conker Editions. pp. 168–169. ISBN 9781999900854.
  23. ^ "Liverpool finally get something". New Straits Times. 8 May 1980. p. 30. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  24. ^ "McGhee the new man at Molineux". The Independent. London. 14 December 1995. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  25. ^ "Red Star end Leicester dreams". BBC News. 28 September 2000. Archived from the original on 13 January 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  26. ^ "Statement by the Foxes Trust on an unofficial forum". Talkingballs.co.uk. 24 November 2004. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  27. ^ "Leicester City put into administration". BBC News. 22 October 2002. Archived from the original on 3 June 2004. Retrieved 25 September 2006.
  28. ^ "Mandarić seals Leicester takeover". BBC Sport. 13 February 2007. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  29. ^ Nickless, Graham (26 November 2007). "Bristol City 0 Leicester City 2: 'Hollywood' Holloway makes successful start". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  30. ^ a b Roeder, Oliver (3 May 2016). "Leicester City's Stunning Rise, In Two Charts". FiveThirtyEight. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  31. ^ "Sousa confirmed as new Leicester boss". BBC Sport. 7 July 2010. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  32. ^ "Thai consortium eyes deal to buy Leicester for £39m". BBC Sport. 5 August 2010. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  33. ^ "Thai group buys Leicester City". Agence France-Presse. 12 August 2010. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 12 August 2010.
  34. ^ "Thai-based consortium seal Leicester City deal". BBC Sport. 12 August 2010. Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  35. ^ "Leicester sack Paulo Sousa". BBC Sport. 1 October 2010. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  36. ^ "Portsmouth 6–1 Leicester". BBC Sport. 24 September 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Sven-Goran Eriksson appointed Leicester City manager". BBC Sport. 3 October 2010. Archived from the original on 12 September 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  38. ^ "Vichai Raksriaksorn named Leicester City chairman". BBC Sport. 10 February 2011. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  39. ^ "Sven-Goran Eriksson leaves his role as Leicester boss". BBC Sport. 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  40. ^ "Leicester City appoint Hull City's Nigel Pearson as boss". BBC Sport. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
  41. ^ Mike Whalley. "Leicester City 1–1 Arsenal". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 14 December 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  42. ^ Steve Canavan. "Stoke City 0–1 Leicester City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  43. ^ Aimee Lewis. "Leicester City 5–3 Manchester United". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  44. ^ Corless, Liam (16 May 2015). "The incredible run that secured Leicester City's Premier League survival". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  45. ^ "Sunderland vs Leicester City reaction: Foxes secure perhaps the greatest escape in Premier League history". The Independent. 17 May 2015. Archived from the original on 9 September 2017. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  46. ^ "Leicester city stats". Skysports.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.
  47. ^ "Nigel Pearson: Leicester boss's sacking linked to son's actions". BBC Sport. 1 July 2015. Archived from the original on 2 July 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  48. ^ "Leicester City parts company with Nigel Pearson". Leicester City FC. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  49. ^ "Nigel Pearson: Leicester City sack manager". BBC. 30 June 2015. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  50. ^ "Claudio Ranieri: Leicester City appoint ex-Chelsea manager". BBC Sport. 13 July 2015. Archived from the original on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  51. ^ "Claudio Ranieri: Leicester City appoint ex-Chelsea manager". 13 July 2015. Archived from the original on 6 April 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  52. ^ "Jamie Vardy breaks record for goals in consecutive games". BBC Sport. 28 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  53. ^ Osborne, Chris (19 December 2015). "Everton 2–3 Leicester City". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  54. ^ Clark, Gill. "Leicester qualify for Champions League". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  55. ^ "Leicester City win Premier League title after Tottenham draw at Chelsea". BBC Sport. 2 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  56. ^ Lawrence, Amy. "Leicester celebrate first title after Chelsea recover for Tottenham draw". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 5 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  57. ^ "Bookies set to hand over £15m if Leicester win title". ITV News. 2 May 2016. Archived from the original on 2 June 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  58. ^ Rayner, Gordon; Brown, Oliver. "Leicester City win Premier League and cost bookies biggest ever payout". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  59. ^ Wood, Greg (3 May 2016). "The 5,000-1 payouts on Leicester only tell part of Premier League betting story". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  60. ^ Hayward, Paul (3 May 2016). "Leicester City's football fairytale touches us all". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 17 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  61. ^ "Sport's greatest-ever upset". Sporting Life. 2 May 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  62. ^ Markazi, Arash (12 February 2016). "How longest of long shots could make history". ESPN. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  63. ^ Bevan, David "The Unbelievables: The Amazing Story of Leicester's 2015/16 Season", 30 June 2016.
  64. ^ Hinshelwood, Colin. "Thailand Cheers as Far-away Leicester City Clinches Unlikely Soccer Title". TIME. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 2 May 2016.
  65. ^ "The success of Leicester City will be pored over for management lessons". The Economist. 7 May 2016. Archived from the original on 3 May 2016. Retrieved 4 May 2016.
  66. ^ Sharma, Aabhas (3 May 2016). "Leicester City: The champions who were never meant to be". Archived from the original on 6 May 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  67. ^ JJ Bull (21 December 2016). "The return of 4–4–2, non-striking strikers and keepers who can play: The tactical trends of 2016". Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
  68. ^ Chris Whiting (9 May 2016). "Nigel Pearson verdict". Archived from the original on 25 February 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2016.
  69. ^ "Sports Personality 2016: Leicester win Team of the Year, Claudio Ranieri top coach". BBC Sport. 20 December 2016. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2016.
  70. ^ a b "Claudio Ranieri: Leicester manager sacking made Gary Lineker 'shed a tear'". BBC Sport. 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  71. ^ "Football transfer gossip: Barkley, Vermaelen, Mahrez, Neymar, Sanchez". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  72. ^ "Leicester City 3–1 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 27 February 2017. Archived from the original on 24 November 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  73. ^ "Leicester City 3–1 Hull City". BBC Sport. 4 March 2017. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  74. ^ "Craig Shakespeare Takes Charge of Leicester City Until The end of the Season". Leicester City F.C. 12 March 2017. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
  75. ^ "Champions league table & Standings". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  76. ^ "Leicester reach Champions League quarter-finals and threaten to defy logic again". BBC Sport. 15 March 2017. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  77. ^ "Leicester City 1–1 Atlético Madrid". BBC Sport. 18 April 2017. Archived from the original on 7 March 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  78. ^ "Craig Shakespeare: Leicester City caretaker named permanent manager". BBC Sport. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
  79. ^ "Craig Shakespeare: Leicester City sack manager four months after appointment". BBC Sport. 17 October 2017. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  80. ^ "Leicester City owner's helicopter crashes". BBC News. 27 October 2018. Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  81. ^ "Leicester City confirm chairman's death". BBC News. 28 October 2018. Archived from the original on 29 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  82. ^ Blackwell, Jordan (4 April 2022). "Leicester City unveil Vichai statue in ceremony at King Power Stadium". LeicestershireLive. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
  83. ^ "Claude Puel Leaves Leicester City". Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  84. ^ "Brendan Rodgers: Leicester City appoint former Celtic boss as manager". BBC Sport. 26 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 26 February 2019.
  85. ^ "Premier League: Ruthless Leicester City rout Southampton 9–0 to notch joint biggest away win in league history". 26 October 2019. Archived from the original on 26 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  86. ^ McNulty, Phil (28 January 2020). "Late Trezeguet goal sends Villa into final". BBC Sport.
  87. ^ "Leicester 0–2 Man Utd – report and reaction as Foxes miss out". 26 July 2020. Archived from the original on 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
  88. ^ "Leicester's FA Cup final dreams come true as Chelsea fall short at Wembley". Archived from the original on 15 May 2021. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  89. ^ "Leicester beat Man City to win Community Shield". BBC Sport.
  90. ^ "Leicester miss out on Conference League final". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  91. ^ a b "Leicester City". Football Club History Database. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  92. ^ "The full cost of COVID-19 on Leicester City's finances". Leicestermercury.co.uk. 17 February 2022.
  93. ^ "Leicester City's Thai owners standing firm behind club after revealing full extent of Covid losses". Business-live.co.uk. 17 February 2022.
  94. ^ Percy, John (22 March 2024). "How Leicester City's magic carpet ride spiralled into a spending rules nightmare". The Daily Telegraph.
  95. ^ "Leicester Mercury - What Leicester City's finances mean for summer transfers and James Maddison". Leicestermercury.co.uk. 8 March 2023.
  96. ^ "A nightmarish transfer window for Leicester City". Foxesofleicester.com. 3 August 2022.
  97. ^ "Owners investing in infrastructure to close the gap on the 'big six' in the long term". Skysports.com.
  98. ^ "LCFC Statement - Brendan Rodgers". Lcfc.com.
  99. ^ "Leicester City Appoint Dean Smith". Lcfc.com.
  100. ^ Shamoon Hafez (28 May 2023). "Leicester City 2–1 West Ham: Foxes relegated from Premier League". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  101. ^ "Premier League: Everton avoids relegation on dramatic final day as Leicester City and Leeds United drop down to Championship". CNN. 28 May 2023.
  102. ^ "LCFC Appoint Maresca As Manager". Leicester City FC. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  103. ^ "Record-Breaking Foxes Seal Swans Win". Leicester City FC. 21 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  104. ^ Aloia, Andrew (29 April 2024). "Preston North End 0–3 Leicester City". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  105. ^ a b "City Clinch Record Eighth Second Tier Title At Preston". Leicester City FC. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  106. ^ Hutchinson, John (18 July 2012). "City Shirts – A Potted History". Leicester City F.C. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  107. ^ a b c d e f g "Leicester City". Historical Football Kits. Archived from the original on 19 September 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  108. ^ a b "Crests | Leicester City". lcfc.com.
  109. ^ "Leicester City unveil new home kit". Leicester Mercury. 25 April 2009. Archived from the original on 14 July 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  110. ^ a b Moor, Dave. "Coca Cola Championship 2009 – 2010". historicalkits.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
  111. ^ "Leicester City's 2023/24 adidas Away Kit Unveiled & Launched Online & In-Store".
  112. ^ Official History DVD, 00:32:00
  113. ^ "The Post-Horn Gallop | Leicester City". lcfc.com.
  114. ^ a b "When You're Smiling | Leicester City". Lcfc.com.
  115. ^ "Leicester City – Historical Football Kits". Historicalkits.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  116. ^ "No More Puma – Adidas Leicester City 18–19 Home Kit Revealed". Footy Headlines. 1 June 2018. Archived from the original on 29 June 2018. Retrieved 11 August 2018.
  117. ^ "Burrda Announced As Official Kit Supplier". LCFC.com. 14 July 2010. Archived from the original on 15 July 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  118. ^ "LCFC & PUMA Unveil 13/14 Home Kit". LCFC.com. 6 July 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  119. ^ "BC.GAME Announced As New LCFC Principle Partner" (Press release). Leicester City Football Club. 5 July 2024.
  120. ^ "Partnerships | Leicester City". Lcfc.com.
  121. ^ "FBS — OFFICIAL CLUB PARTNER OF LCFC". FBS.
  122. ^ "Siam Commercial Bank To Be Leicester City Sleeve Sponsor". Leicester City F.C. 15 July 2017. Archived from the original on 11 August 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  123. ^ "Leicester City And ThaiBev Agree Multi-Year Global Partnership". Archived from the original on 3 August 2018. Retrieved 3 August 2018.
  124. ^ a b c d Inglis, Simon (1987). The Football Grounds of Great Britain (2nd ed.). London: Collins Willow. p. 136. ISBN 0-00-218249-1.
  125. ^ Author notes on Farewell to Filbert Street. ASIN 095235361X.
  126. ^ "Lineker unveils new Foxes home". BBC Sport. 23 July 2002. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  127. ^ "'A Massive Step Forward' – when the Foxes Moved to Filbert Way". Lcfc.com.
  128. ^ "Empate del Athletic Bilbao". El Dia (in Spanish). 5 August 2002. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2009.
  129. ^ Leach, Conrad (11 August 2002). "Leicester make a tidy profit from Deane double". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 8 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  130. ^ "Leicester City's Walkers Stadium could be renamed and increased in size". Leicester Mercury. 19 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  131. ^ "Leicester change stadium name". Archived from the original on 4 December 2020. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  132. ^ "King Power Stadium Development Latest".
  133. ^ "Premier League Handbook 2022/23" (PDF). 19 July 2022. p. 24. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 August 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  134. ^ "Leicester City Make Historic Move To New Seagrave Training Ground". LCFC. 22 December 2020. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  135. ^ "Football Rivals: The Census". Sky Sports. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  136. ^ Sinclair, John (17 February 2007). "Leicester v Coventry". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
  137. ^ "Club Rivalries Uncovered" (PDF). Football Fans Census. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  138. ^ "Football Mysteries: What have Chelsea got against Leicester?". Shoot.co.uk. 13 September 2016.
  139. ^ "Vardy reignites Tottenham rivalry with jibe despite unbeaten start to season". Daily Mirror. 18 September 2023.
  140. ^ "Hooligan league - Cardiff fans fifth". BBC News. 14 August 2000. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  141. ^ Keeping, Freya (26 March 2024). "Leicester City ranks among teams with the highest number of hooligans". Melton Times. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
  142. ^ "Football-related arrests and banning orders, England and Wales: 2022 to 2023 season".
  143. ^ "Football-related arrests and banning orders, England and Wales: 2023 to 2024 season – 3.1 Highest number of new football banning orders since the 2010 to 2011 season". Government of the United Kingdom – Home Office. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
  144. ^ "Leicester City Appoint Steve Cooper As First Team Manager".
  145. ^ "Past Managers". Leicester City F.C. 20 June 2008. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  146. ^ a b c d Dave Smith & Paul Taylor (2010). Of Fossils and Foxes. Pitch Publishing (Brighton) Limited. ISBN 978-1-905411-94-8.
  147. ^ "Leicester City Statistics – The FA Community Shield". Leicester City F.C. 6 August 2021. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  148. ^ a b "Most Appearances". Leicester City F.C. 23 September 2009. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  149. ^ "Miscellaneous Records". Leicester City F.C. 30 May 2008. Archived from the original on 30 March 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  150. ^ "Jamie Vardy breaks record for goals in consecutive games". BBC Sport. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  151. ^ a b "CHAMPIONS: City's Record-Breaking Season". Leicester City F.C. 4 May 2016. Archived from the original on 6 November 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  152. ^ "Premier League Golden Boot: Leicester City's Jamie Vardy wins with 23 goals". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 July 2020. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
  153. ^ "Leicester sign Youri Tielemans from Monaco for club record fee". The Guardian. 8 July 2019. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  154. ^ "Harry Maguire: Manchester United pay Leicester world-record fee for a defender". Sky Sports Football. 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  155. ^ John Hutchinson (20 February 2013). "TWIH: Filbert Street's record crowd". Leicester City FC. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  156. ^ "King Power Stadium Leicester City FC, Info & Map | Premier League".
  157. ^ "Record crowd watch Leicester City play Real Madrid". BBC Sport. 1 August 2011. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  158. ^ "No escape act this time, City!". Leicester Mercury. 12 March 2009. Archived from the original on 2 October 2015. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  159. ^ Wallace, Sam (10 December 2016). "Leicester City 4 Man City 2: Foxes find their ferocious side as Jamie Vardy hat-trick ends 16 match goal drought". Archived from the original on 11 December 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
  160. ^ @TheOddsBible (18 October 2016). "Leicester are the first English side ever to win their first three Champions League games" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  161. ^ Miller, Max (27 September 2016). "Leicester City make BEST EVER start to Champions League life by English club". Metro.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 September 2016. Retrieved 28 September 2016.
  162. ^ @SkySportsStatto (2 November 2016). "@LCFC are the 1st team in Champions League history to keep clean sheets in their opening 4 games in the competition" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  163. ^ "Leicester City equal Premier League record win with nine-goal rout over sorry Southampton". The Telegraph. 25 October 2019. Archived from the original on 25 October 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2019.
  164. ^ "Record-Breaking Foxes Seal Swans Win". Lcfc.com.
  165. ^ "Leicester City in 2023/24: Records Broken & Others in Sight". Lcfc.com.
  166. ^ "LCFC Men". Leicester City F.C. Archived from the original on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2024.
  167. ^ "Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha Named Leicester City Chairman". Archived from the original on 8 August 2019. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  168. ^ "Senior Management". Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  169. ^ "Leicester City Football Club Limited". Archived from the original on 28 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  170. ^ "Academy Staff". Leicester City F.C. Archived from the original on 13 September 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  171. ^ "Coaching Staff". Leicester City F.C. Archived from the original on 9 July 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2013.
  172. ^ "LCFC Men Staff". LCFC. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  173. ^ "Iheanacho & Leitzig Earn Player Of The Season Recognition". Leicester City Football Club. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  174. ^ "Award Braces For Dewsbury-Hall & Rantala". Leicester City FC. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  175. ^ a b "English football's finest honoured". BBC Sport. 30 November 2002. Archived from the original on 31 July 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  176. ^ "Football Focus | Robson joins Hall of Fame". BBC Sport. 2 December 2003. Archived from the original on 5 November 2005. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  177. ^ Riach, James. "Revie remembered". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 10 June 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  178. ^ Stephen Halliday (12 November 2012). "Football Hall of Fame: Pat Stanton and Gordon McQueen among five new inductees". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
  179. ^ "Frank McLintock". National Football Museum. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  180. ^ a b "Football | Legends list in full". BBC News. 5 August 1998. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2016.
  181. ^ "The official site of Leicester City Football Club". Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  182. ^ "Players". Archived from the original on 12 July 2013. Retrieved 4 May 2013.
  183. ^ "Honours | Leicester City". lcfc.com.
  184. ^ "Leicester City: Champions!". Leicester City F.C. 29 April 2024.

Further reading

edit
  • Smith, Dave; Taylor, Paul (2001). Of Fossils and Foxes: The Official Definitive History of Leicester City Football Club. ISBN 978-1-899538-21-8.
  • Smith, Dave; Taylor, Paul (1995). The Foxes Alphabet: Complete Who's Who of Leicester City Football Club. ISBN 978-1-899538-06-5.
  • Leicester City FC, The Official History of Leicester City Football Club DVD (2003) (out of print). EAN 5035593200013.
  • Hutchinson, John (2014). From Shed to Stadium: Illustrated history of LCFC. ISBN 978-1-909872-18-9.
  • Hutchinson, John; Plumb, Neil; O'Donnell, Rob (2015). Leicester City Classic Shirts 1949–2016. ISBN 978-1-909872-76-9.
edit
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Leicester City F.C..

Independent websites

edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Leicester_City_F.C.&oldid=1258192255"