Leicester City Football Club and its 2015–16 Premier League season triumph remains one of the greatest sporting shocks in modern football. A club tipped for relegation went on to beat Manchester City, Arsenal, and Tottenham to the title in a season that defied every prediction, algorithm, and bookmaker’s odds. When the Foxes lifted the trophy on 7 May 2016 at the King Power Stadium, they completed a fairy tale that not even Hollywood would have dared to write.
From battling for survival in the previous campaign to securing England’s most coveted football crown just 12 months later, Leicester City’s meteoric rise captured the imagination of fans worldwide. What made it even more astonishing was how they did it—modest spending, a tightly-knit squad, and a tactical blueprint that humbled the country’s elite.
In the article below, we’ll revisit how Leicester City rose from the depths of League One to become Premier League champions, the signings that changed their destiny, the key moments that shaped their season, and the legacy they left behind. We’ll also explore the players who defined the campaign, the statistics that stunned the footballing world, and how their victory changed the landscape of the English game forever.
Why Leicester City’s 2015–16 Season Defied Logic
At the start of the 2015–16 campaign, Leicester City FC were priced at 5000/1 to win the Premier League—odds placed them below the chances of Elvis Presley being found alive. Just nine months earlier, they were bottom of the table, surviving relegation thanks to a late-season surge under Nigel Pearson, winning seven of their final nine matches in 2014–15.
In the summer, Pearson was sacked and replaced by Claudio Ranieri, a decision met with widespread scepticism. Ranieri, who had just been dismissed by Greece following an embarrassing defeat to the Faroe Islands, was not considered a popular choice. But under the Italian’s calm leadership and counter-attacking philosophy, Leicester produced one of the most consistent and effective campaigns in Premier League history.
Leicester City: From League One To Premier League Glory
The club’s journey to the top was anything but instant. Leicester were relegated to League One in 2008 but bounced back at the first attempt under Nigel Pearson, winning the third tier with 96 points. After multiple failed attempts to secure promotion from the Championship, they finally returned to the top flight in 2014, finishing first with 102 points and 31 wins.
Their first season back in the Premier League (2014–15) was a struggle. By March 2015, they were seven points adrift at the bottom, yet they clawed their way to safety, finishing 14th. That momentum, combined with smart recruitment, set the stage for the most improbable of title charges just a year later.
The Transfer Business That Changed The Club’s Destiny
Leicester’s transfer activity before the 2015–16 season was calculated rather than extravagant. The club spent just £27.3 million—pocket change compared to the league’s top clubs. The most transformative signing was N’Golo Kanté, a little-known midfielder from Caen, who was acquired for £5.6 million. Kanté went on to make 175 tackles and 156 interceptions—both league highs—and became the engine room of Leicester’s midfield.
Shinji Okazaki arrived from Mainz, Christian Fuchs signed on a free from Schalke, and Robert Huth made his loan from Stoke City permanent. Riyad Mahrez, signed for just £400,000 from Le Havre in 2014, turned into the league’s most potent wide attacker, finishing the campaign with 17 goals and 11 assists, and winning the PFA Player of the Year award.
Jamie Vardy, bought from non-league Fleetwood Town for £1 million in 2012, exploded into form, scoring 24 goals—including a Premier League record of scoring in 11 consecutive matches, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous record of 10.
Leicester’s Title Run: The Big Wins That Turned Heads
The Foxes got off to a flying start with a 4–2 win over Sunderland on the opening day, followed by a 2–1 win at West Ham. By the end of November, they had climbed to the top of the table after a 3–0 away win at Newcastle United. Critics continued to predict a collapse, but Leicester responded with wins over Chelsea, Liverpool, and Manchester City.
Their 3–1 win at the Etihad Stadium on 6 February 2016 was perhaps the defining moment of the campaign. Leicester dominated from the first whistle, with Mahrez and Robert Huth starring in a performance that made it clear: this was no fluke.
Ranieri’s side remained top of the table for the final three months of the season, finishing with 81 points—10 clear of second-placed Arsenal. They lost just three matches all season, to Arsenal twice and to Liverpool. Leicester scored 68 goals, conceded only 36, and kept 15 clean sheets.
Title Clinched Without Kicking A Ball
On Monday 2 May 2016, Tottenham’s 2–2 draw at Stamford Bridge confirmed Leicester as champions. Spurs had led 2–0 at half-time but were pegged back in the second half by goals from Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard. The result meant Leicester were mathematically uncatchable with two games to spare.
The squad—watching the match at striker Jamie Vardy ’s house—erupted in celebration. Wes Morgan, who played every minute of the title-winning season, lifted the Premier League trophy five days later in front of a packed King Power Stadium after their 3–1 win over Everton.
The Core Squad: Every Player Played A Part
Leicester used just 23 players all season in their first team —only one fewer than the fewest ever used in a Premier League campaign. Nine players started at least 35 of the 38 matches, highlighting the squad’s stability and fitness.
Key contributors:
- Jamie Vardy: 24 goals, second only to Harry Kane in the Golden Boot race.
- Riyad Mahrez: 17 goals, 11 assists, PFA Player of the Year.
- N’Golo Kanté: League-high tackles and interceptions.
- Kasper Schmeichel: 15 clean sheets, 38 starts.
- Wes Morgan & Robert Huth: Defensive partnership that played every match.
- Danny Drinkwater: Most passes completed for the Foxes.
- Marc Albrighton: Contributed 7 assists, often an unsung hero.
Even squad players like Leonardo Ulloa, Andy King, and Jeff Schlupp contributed in key moments off the bench.
Leicester’s European Adventure After The Title
Winning the league earned Leicester their first-ever appearance in the UEFA Champions League. In the 2016–17 season, they topped their group ahead of Porto, Copenhagen, and Club Brugge. They went on to eliminate Sevilla in the round of 16, before falling to Atlético Madrid in the quarter-finals.
Despite a dip in domestic form the following season—finishing 12th—their European exploits added another remarkable chapter to their modern history.
The Legacy: How Leicester Changed The Premier League
Leicester City’s title win was more than just a one-off miracle—it sent shockwaves through the global football landscape. Their triumph challenged the financial hierarchy of the sport and proved that shrewd recruitment, team unity, and tactical clarity could overcome billion-pound squads.
The 2015–16 Foxes forced a rethink in how mid-table clubs approached scouting, analytics, and recruitment. Players like Kanté, Mahrez, and Vardy proved that undervalued assets could be turned into title-winners.
Bookmakers learned their lesson too—after paying out tens of millions in Leicester-related bets, most major bookies vowed never to offer 5000–1 odds again on any similar market.
Conclusion
Leicester City’s Premier League triumph in 2015–16 was a seismic moment in English football. A club that had been in League One just seven years earlier rose to the top of the most competitive league in world football. Led by Claudio Ranieri, driven by Vardy’s goals and Kanté’s tireless midfield dominance, and unified by belief and resilience, the Foxes rewrote the rules of what’s possible in sport.
They didn’t just win the league—they changed it.
In the years since, Leicester have remained a Premier League mainstay, won the FA Cup in 2021, and continued to compete on both domestic and European stages. But no matter what comes next, nothing will ever top the unfiltered joy of that magical Monday night in May 2016, when Leicester City were crowned kings of English football.
