PREMIER LEAGUE
LEICESTER CITY DEFIED THE ODDS TO WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE IN 2016 BUT HAVE HAD TO REBUILD IN THE YEARS SINCE. OLI COATES TAKES A CLOSER LOOK AT THE TEAM’S FALL AND RISE FOLLOWING THEIR ASTONISHING SUCCESS.
FLYING FOXES “LEICESTER ARE BECOMING LESS LIKE UNDERDOGS”
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hat do you do after pulling off one of the most remarkable feats in English football history? Sack the manager, of course. Claudio Ranieri lasted barely nine months at Leicester City after delivering the most impossible of Premier League titles in 2015-16, catapulting the club into a period of rebuilding despite the eyes of the world being thrust upon them. In the time it takes for a human baby to fully develop, Ranieri was out of a job, despite bestowing memories that will last a lifetime for any supporter of Leicester City. And indeed for millions of other football fans across the globe, and not just of clubs considered underdogs like the tenacious Foxes of that campaign. Craig Shakespeare took up the reigns and eventually ensured the champions finished 12th in 2017, but only lasted a couple of months in his first full season in charge. He was replaced by Claude Puel, who guided the Foxes to ninth place, before almost a year to the day after taking over, unimaginable tragedy struck. Leicester’s much-loved owner and chairman, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, died alongside four others in a devastating helicopter crash on October 27, 2018. Shaking the footballing world to its core, the future of the Srivaddhanaprabha family’s involvement in Leicester City inevitably came into question. With Vichai’s son, Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha succeeding his father as chairman, Leicester’s fate would go one of two ways. Top appeared in little doubt his
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father would want the family’s commitment to continue, and the new Leicester began to rise from the ashes of the tragic crash. Indeed, the man currently taking his place in the dugout at the King Power Stadium, Brendan Rodgers, was appointed just four months after Vichai’s passing. Like his new club, the Northern Irishman was also in a period of rebuilding, following a spell in Scotland with Celtic. Rodgers needed to regroup and restore his reputation after falling agonisingly short of landing a first ever Premier League title for Liverpool in 2014. An excellent coach who built up a strong reputation for his attractive style of play at Swansea City, Rodgers gave up the chance to lead Celtic to a historic treble treble in order to make his Premier League return. So far, you’d have to say he’s been vindicated in that decision. Handed the keys to the castle in many ways, Rodgers oversaw the move to Leicester’s new state-of-the-art training ground, which opened in December. Symbolic of the legacy Vichai left behind, the worldclass facilities provide the Foxes squad with a thoroughly modern base befitting their current status and future aspirations. Rodgers has returned Leicester to the upper echelons of the Premier League, although the Foxes faded during the final weeks of last season to narrowly miss out on a place in this term’s Champions League. Things are looking promising this time round, and if lessons are learned from last season, Leicester should be
ABOVE (MAIN): Leicester's Daniel Amartey (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring the 2-1 lead during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton Hove Albion and Leicester City ABOVE (SMALL): Brendan Rodgers is looking to take Leicester City back into the Champions League BOTTOM RIGHT: Jarrod Bowen (2-R) of West Ham United celebrates with teammates after scoring the 3-0 goal during the English Premier League match between West Ham United and Leicester City
HAPPY HAMMERS Winning the Premier League title is certainly not on the cards for West Ham. But finishing in the top four and qualifying for next season’s Champions League – likely at the expense of big clubs like Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton and Arsenal – would rank almost as highly as Leicester City’s stunning title triumph of 2016. Fourth after 30 games and daring to dream, David Moyes has deftly navigated this strangest of seasons in his second stint at West Ham. His first full campaign of this second spell will surely earn the Scot a renewal on his initial 18-month contract, with the Hammers surprising everyone through their continued charge for European football. Even qualifying for the Europa League would represent a major accomplishment for West Ham, who’ve probably benefited more than most from the lack of fans at their London Stadium home. While undoubtedly passionate, Irons supporters can turn their own ground into a cauldron of negativity when their teams isn’t playing how they want them to. With that pressure and often toxic atmosphere removed, not to mention the issues raised by the London Stadium’s suitability as a football venue in terms of acoustics and sight lines, West Ham have banded together in hugely impressive fashion. Only eight defeats in their opening 30 league games is a marked improvement on last season, when the Hammers had lost 17 matches at the same stage. The positivity is clear to see and has been personified by the form of Jesse Lingard. On loan from Manchester United, the England international has been playing with a smile on his face and a spring in his step. He’s scored a hatful of goals since joining West Ham at the end of January, including a brilliant solo effort against Wolves in early April. Lingard has almost appeared to be the final piece in the puzzle, linking West Ham’s attacking play to brilliant effect and contributing the goals and assists which have made up for the shortfall elsewhere. The Hammers don’t have the toughest of run-ins ahead of them, giving them a wonderful chance to secure European football. Leicester’s title success meant so many things to so many people, but one of the biggest things it did was open up the very real, tangible possibility that anything can happen in football. Even over the course of a 38-game season, pitted against the longest odds and biggest opponents. The greatest underdog story, arguably in sporting history, may well serve as a prelude to more teams finding a way to overcome the odds and deliver moments that last a lifetime.
