Leicester City has been crowned Premier League champions of the 2015/16 season, bringing an end to one of the greatest and most unlikely campaigns from an English football club in the league’s history.
With Leicester predicted to face relegation at the start of the season, facing extortionate odds of 5,000/1 to lift the trophy, they managed to successfully pull off an almost insurmountable task by not only surviving the season, but also becoming its champions.
Here’s a look at the best moments from Leicester City’s extraordinary Premier League season:
Jamie Vardy’s goal record
The crowning moment in a breakthrough season for Jamie Vardy, the striker managed to set a new Guinness World Record on November 28th, 2015 after scoring in 11 consecutive games. Breaking Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s previous record of scoring in 10 games in a row, Vardy managed to carve his name into the history books, earning a congratulatory message from the legendary Manchester United striker in the process:
Well done vardy7! You’re number one now and you deserved it. #11inarow. https://t.co/qJHjZlnFDA
— Ruud van Nistelrooy (@RvN1776) November 28, 2015
Manchester City 1 – 3 Leicester City
With Manchester City hot on the heels of Leicester in February 2016, many predicted that the underdogs’ spectacular run of form would be brought to a halt at the tail-end of the season, as bigger clubs began moving up the Premier League table. Man City could have matched Leicester on points if they defeated them at the Etihad in this crucial match, but Leicester fought valiantly to pick up a confident victory, moving five points clear of City and relegating the Manchester club to third place.
Mahrez crowned PFA player of the year
Image Credit: Matthew Ashton / Getty Images
Leading Leicester City to their Premier League victory was Riyad Mahrez, a vital talent who has accumulated 17 goals and 11 assists thus far in the 2015/16 season. His hard work was officially recognized by the Professional Footballer Association, who crowned him their PFA Player of the Year last month.
Jamie Vardy’s world-class goal against Liverpool
Jamie Vardy’s season was not short of highlights, but arguably his most impressive goal came against Liverpool in February. Rival manager Jurgen Klopp would brand the strike “world class” in his post-match interview.
A very merry Christmas
Image Credit: Plumb Images / Getty Images
Leicester’s 3-2 victory against Everton at Goodiston Park on December 19th saw the club top the Premier League, kicking off a very merry Christmas for their supporters. This also saw them making Premier League history, with them being the first club to be bottom of the Premier League table one season and top of the table the next.
Free doughnuts and beer
Leicester’s chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha asked the club’s fans to celebrate his birthday alongside him on April 3rd, by handing out a free Singha Beer and Krispy Kreme doughnuts to those in attendance for their match against Southampton. With this gesture, Leicester couldn’t endear themselves to football fans any more than they already had done.
Leicester City 4 – 0 Swansea
Image Credit: Ross Kinnaird / Getty Images
For a moment, it looked as though Leicester’s Premier League title hopes were going to be dashed, after Jamie Vardy almost turned from hero to villain after being suspended during the club’s match against West Ham. With Vardy having been shown two yellows for diving during the match, Leicester fans were concerned that the club was going to blow their lead at the last hurdle, as Vardy was forced to watch on from the sidelines as the Foxes took on Swansea. Fortunately for both Leicester and the striker, the club went on to claim an emphatic 4-0 win following a brace from Leonardo Ulloa, along with goals from Mahrez and Marc Albrighton, moving them 8 points clear of Tottenham in the process.
Wes Morgan’s goal against Manchester United
A victory against Manchester United on May 1st would have ensured that Leicester would have won the 2015/16 Premier League, but that was not to be. However, while Manchester United played Leicester to a draw in a hard-fought match, Foxes captain Wes Morgan managed to secure a vital point for his club with a headed goal, the last Leicester would score before being crowned champions following Tottenham’s draw against Chelsea.
Jamie Vardy’s having a party
“Jamie Vardy’s having a party” became a catchphrase of this Premier League season, thanks to the striker’s impeccable run of goal-scoring form. However, when Tottenham played Chelsea Vardy literally held a party, inviting his teammates to watch a match that would seal their fate as Premier League champions. Christian Fuchs uploaded a video to Facebook of the moment the final whistle was blown, and the rest is history.
