Leicester’s 2016 wonder, 10 years on, still casts a spell despite League One drop | OneFootball

L'Équipe notes that Leicester announced on 20 April a 30 May gala at the King Power to reunite their 2016 champions. A 2-2 draw with Hull the next day confirmed relegation to League One.

Supporters have struggled to look ahead, amid an urge to play down a triumph once billed as 'the greatest story ever told'. Rob Tanner said some pundits never accepted it, including a 2019 jibe from Chris Sutton.

Bookmakers had Leicester at 5000-1, the same probability they gave to Lady Gaga becoming US president. This followed a great escape in 2014-15 and Nigel Pearson’s sacking on 30 June 2015.

Claudio Ranieri, 63, arrived after a bleak Greece stint capped by a home defeat to the Faroe Islands. Christian Fuchs recalled early doubts before Ranieri told the squad he would not change their ways.

A core around Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez cost about €30m, with N’Golo Kanté €9m from Caen and Mahrez €500,000 from Le Havre. Ranieri leaned on a counter-attacking 4-4-2 and kept pressure light.

Players did not talk about titles, Fuchs said he only believed after Chelsea drew with Tottenham to seal it. The numbers still jar, a points-per-game jump of over one on 2014-15, only 15 regular starters, Vardy scoring in 11 straight games.

The crescendo came on 7 May 2016 against Everton, when Andrea Bocelli sang Nessun Dorma on the pitch before the trophy lift. Beside a saluting Ranieri, the aria and the crowd’s chorus created a moment that endures a decade on.

Source: L'Équipe