Leicester’s Historic…

At Jamie Vardy’s residence in Melton Mowbray, Christian Fuchs and his teammates could only watch with anticipation.

In May 2016, Leicester City, unexpected contenders, began to believe they were on the cusp of achieving the unimaginable: clinching the Premier League title. They needed their rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, to either lose or draw against Chelsea to secure the championship. “Back then, I called it the most challenging 90 minutes I’ve never played, knowing what was on the line,” said Fuchs, Leicester’s left back, in an interview with ESPN.

When the final whistle blew at Stamford Bridge, confirming Spurs’ 2-2 draw, chaos erupted. “I saw people being dragged around, some screaming and others in tears,” Fuchs recalled. Vardy’s television ended up broken, and beer crates were either flying through the air or being eagerly consumed. The weight of their incredible achievement—winning the league despite being 5000-1 outsiders at the season’s beginning—began to sink in.

For many players, the moment was one of personal validation. Danny Simpson, the starting right back, stepped away from the jubilation soon after the whistle, finding solitude in a quiet corner of Vardy’s expansive garden where he broke down in tears. “Football comes with so much rejection, and constantly battling thoughts that you’re not good enough. It was such a relief,” he expressed. “In that moment, I was alone—Vards has a massive garden, so I doubt he even saw me. Everyone else was busy calling friends and celebrating together. It was simply a beautiful moment.”

As the years slid by, each player has reflected differently on that momentous season. Center back Robert Huth, who retired in 2019, admits he rarely thinks about the title. Meanwhile, second-choice goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who did not play a single minute, doesn’t feel deserving of the champion’s title. Fuchs reminisces warmly about team bonding moments, such as pizza nights where the dough often flew through the air instead of staying on the table. For captain Wes Morgan, his elder son Rio focuses more on Leicester’s current struggles in the Championship than on memories of his father’s trophy lift.

“I’m not sure if it was a fairy tale, but it was incredible, one of the most unexpected achievements in football,” Morgan commented. “It was footballing non-fiction, fiction.”

This reflection invites a vital question: for the players who were crucial to this extraordinary triumph nearly a decade later, how do they perceive their unprecedented success in English football? Was it everything they envisioned? The answer varies by who you ask. Just do not call it a “fairy tale.”

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Achieving the Unthinkable

The Leicester team that began the 2015-16 season had already experienced one miracle. The previous season, they had been at the bottom of the table in mid-April but turned things around and won seven out of their last nine matches to avoid relegation. Nevertheless, manager Nigel Pearson was unexpectedly sacked, and Claudio Ranieri stepped in as his replacement.

Leicester made nine signings that summer, including Japanese forward Shinji Okazaki from Mainz and an unknown midfielder, N’Golo Kanté, from Ligue 2. Huth joined Leicester on a permanent basis from Stoke City after a six-month loan, while Fuchs arrived from Schalke.

Initially, they flew under the radar, conceding just one goal in their first nine matches. Everything fell into place when Ranieri opted to start Simpson and Fuchs as fullbacks. An impressive run from December 29 to February 6 saw them not concede a single goal in the Premier League, pushing them to the top of the standings.

While players largely dismissed outside speculation about their chances at a title, two matches particularly stimulated their aspirations. The first was a 2-0 victory over Liverpool on February 2, highlighted by Jamie Vardy’s sensational long-range goal. “I was right behind him and couldn’t believe he shot,” Okazaki reminisced. “Then it flew in, and I thought, ‘Whoa!'”

However, the next match, a 3-1 victory against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium on February 6, stands out even more in their memories. “We came back from 1-0 down to dominate and win 3-1, completely overpowering them,” Schwarzer recalled. “Right then, we knew we were for real.” They kept pushing for results in the season’s conclusion, securing a top-four finish with a win over Southampton on April 3. “We are in the Champions League—dilly ding, dilly dong!” exclaimed Ranieri.

On May 2, Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge crowned Leicester as champions. “I knew there was a possibility, but why on earth should Leicester win the Premier League?” Fuchs reflected. They began the season as relegation favorites and ended it with their first top-flight title in 132 years, finishing 10 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal.

The celebration took place at Vardy’s house, where Okazaki jokingly said it was the most he had ever drank, shocked when the brunch celebrations continued the next day with even more alcohol.

“Undoubtedly, it was emotional. You grind for so long in your career with moments of hopelessness, and then this happens. My goal was just to play one game in the Premier League,” Morgan stated. “After spending several years in League One and most of my pre-30s in the Championship, even being able to play one match felt amazing. This achievement? It’s beyond disbelief.”

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The common narrative was one of a miraculous sporting achievement. “Everyone calls it a fairy tale, but if you look at all the players, we’re good players,” Huth affirmed. “Sometimes it bothers me when people describe us as misfits; we all had respectable careers with titles and international caps. It wasn’t a fluke.”

Yet, opinions differ. “It truly is iconic and may never be replicated,” Schwarzer states. “I don’t think anyone saw us as potential Premier League victors… I genuinely believe it is a fairy tale.”

Players attribute their success to various factors. On-field, simplicity reigned supreme. “Our tactics were straightforward,” Fuchs noted. “I’m surprised no one caught on. The strategy was simply to ‘protect the castle,’ which was our goal, and when we possessed the ball, find Jamie Vardy.” The team was spared many injuries. “We were blessed by the injury gods,” Morgan remarked.

Okazaki added, “Ranieri didn’t have extensive tactics. It was all about defense first and counterattacking, always advising, ‘If you’re under pressure, play the long ball.'”

Team unity was another vital element. “No one had a standout ego or insisted on doing it their way. There were no bad apples,” Huth emphasized. Fuchs echoed this, stating: “We were a mixed group of players past their prime, like an older Mercedes that still looks good but isn’t quite up to speed anymore.”

“I came to England with aspirations, and landing at Leicester shaped that journey. Being aware of where every player started, recognizing the potential for perhaps a few more years at the top level brought us closer together.”

There were also midseason incentives to maintain motivation. “[The owner] would say, ‘If you win the next few matches, I will take you to the casino for a great night,'” Morgan recalled. “Such small incentives provided an additional boost.”

In August 2016, owner and chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha surprised the 19 Premier League winners still at the club with “protonic blue” BMW i8s. Although many players sold the cars later— “They’re not easy to get in and out of,” Morgan quipped— goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and Okazaki kept theirs.

However, post-title, the inevitable transfer interest arose, starting with Kanté’s move to Chelsea, which initiated the dismantling of the team. On the pitch, Leicester came crashing down to earth. Nine months post-title, they were battling relegation, and Ranieri was dismissed. Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare took over, and despite a Champions League campaign that reached the quarter-finals against Atletico Madrid, Simpson felt the magic was lost, stating, “That was when my dream sort of died. We still surprised people, but after that?
Back to normalcy.” The team finished in 12th, with midfielder Danny Drinkwater transferring to Chelsea that summer, followed by rising star Riyad Mahrez moving to Manchester City in 2018.

The tragedy struck in October 2018 when owner Srivaddhanaprabha, alongside four others, died in a helicopter crash outside the King Power Stadium. “I reflect on my time with [Srivaddhanaprabha] and the impact he had on my life,” Huth remarked. Morgan added, “The bond we shared as a team made his loss profoundly felt.”

Although the club enjoyed a revival under Brendan Rodgers, who led them to an FA Cup victory in 2021, they faced relegation in 2023 and again in 2025, earning promotion in between.

Some members of the 2016 squad reunited to watch Vardy’s final match on May 18 against Ipswich Town. Vardy was the last remaining player from their championship-winning side, with Marc Albrighton retiring in 2024. In July, the Leicester City Masters team, including Morgan, Simpson, Huth, Drinkwater, and Albrighton, clinched the Soccer 7s Series Masters Cup in Singapore. “We had butterflies before the final,” Simpson said. “It was heartwarming to reconnect. When we secured the win, we joked about how we used to be skilled at winning trophies.” However, full reunions were rare.

The group came together in sorrow at Shakespeare’s funeral in August 2024 following his cancer diagnosis. “Regretfully, it takes weddings, birthdays, or funerals for us to reconnect,” Morgan said. “It’s a pity, however, given how much sweat and dedication we shared as teammates.” “Shaky was a remarkable man,” Simpson shared. “When I joined Leicester [in 2014], he guided me when I was out of the lineup. He always checked in and offered support. He was an outstanding person and an even better coach.”

After ten seasons, players reminisce about that unforgettable year differently. Schwarzer was an unused substitute in 37 league matches that season. “I don’t see myself as a Premier League champion,” he reflected. “I occupied one of the best seats in the house and experienced it all. However, in terms of title legitimacy, I don’t feel like a champion at all. It’s a privilege to have been part of it.”

Huth, who faced ongoing foot and ankle issues, retired back in January 2019. “I don’t own anything that reminds me of my football days,” he revealed. “My focus is on my kids and my family. That’s more important than displaying jerseys or medals.”

“Upon retiring, the Premier League win feels less significant, if that makes sense. It was incredible at the moment; however, in my life, it doesn’t change anything. I don’t want to sound pessimistic, but it’s not as fulfilling as one might imagine.”

Okazaki remains heavily involved in football. He co-founded Basara Mainz, a sixth-division German team aimed at providing opportunities for Japanese players. “We initiated ten years ago and now compete in the sixth tier. We aim to offer Japanese players a pathway and strong environment. Our goal is to earn promotion to the fourth division,” he shared.

“The Premier League was a dream,” he continued. “When people call me a Leicester legend, it fills me with pride. In retirement, I recognize it more, but my focus is now on the future and developing Basara Mainz.”

Schwarzer transitioned to a media career, while Morgan now scouts for Nottingham Forest. Simpson, who hung up his boots in July 2024, still plays in 10-a-side matches with Drinkwater and fellow ex-Premier League players in Manchester. “Whenever someone retires, we add them to the WhatsApp group,” Simpson remarked. He stays close with Drinkwater, quipping, “Drinks is living it up,” with a laugh.

Fuchs is now a coach at Charlotte FC. In the past, he considered pursuing a career as an NFL kicker, though those aspirations have faded. “To be clear, those dreams are a thing of the past. … [Charlotte FC head coach] Dean Smith remarked, ‘Didn’t you want to be a kicker?’ And I replied, ‘Sure, but now I’m your assistant coach. I need weekends off for those NFL games.'” He fondly recalls his 2015-16 team. “Everyone involved in that squad achieved something special. We understand it didn’t just happen by chance, as Huth pointed out.”

Players who earned medals received a small replica Premier League trophy. Schwarzer displays his trophy to curious guests. Okazaki keeps his in the Basara office but plans to transfer it to a future museum he aims to open alongside Japan teammates Shinji Kagawa and Takashi Inui—hoping to showcase his medal and trophy prominently. Morgan has a section in his home dedicated to Leicester. Huth’s trophy remains unopened in its box, and his medal is in a safe-deposit box “somewhere.”

Shinji Okazaki’s Premier League winner’s medal and replica trophy proudly displayed in his Basara Mainz office. Photo credit: Basara Mainz

Fuchs’ medal hangs in his dining area alongside a replica FA Cup from 2021. “I told my kids we need to add a few more medals to that collection,” he laughed. For Simpson, his trophy and medal make frequent appearances as reminders of the hard work that led to 2016’s triumph. “My trophy is displayed prominently while my medals are secured, but occasionally after a few drinks, I drape the medal around my neck to relive that moment.”

“Winning that title felt like a validation, not just to others but to myself, proving I could accomplish something remarkable. I yearn to revisit that experience and live it all over again.”

How Leicester Took Home the Premier League Title — And Could It Happen Again?

For those hoping to see another club “pull a Leicester” soon, here’s some good and bad news. The bad news is, after Leicester’s unlikely run, it seems exceedingly improbable that this scenario will repeat given how many favorable circumstances aligned. The good news is, there’s nothing overly distinctive about the strategies they employed—underdogs pursue this path each season. And if it worked once, who’s to say it can’t happen again sometime soon?

At its core, Leicester’s astounding run boiled down to three factors: lineup consistency, ideal counterattacking assets, and some fortuitous moments in close matches (or, rather, unfortunate outcomes for their main competitors). While many teams secure any of these elements yearly, Leicester managed to have all three in one season.

Lineup Stability

Depth reveals itself only when put to the test. Had Leicester faced injuries, their depth may have appeared solid in 2015-16. Talented young attacker Andrej Kramaric, for instance, shone at Hoffenheim but found it hard to secure a spot in the starting lineup. Key substitute Jeffrey Schlupp later made close to 250 Premier League appearances with Crystal Palace. Meanwhile, teenage fullback Ben Chilwell would go on to represent England, while midseason acquisition, winger Demarai Gray, later excelled at Everton. After narrowly escaping relegation, Leicester sought more experienced veterans like Okazaki, Gokhan Inler, and center back Yohan Benalouane during that summer.

Only Okazaki featured prominently during the 2015-16 season since Ranieri ultimately locked his starting lineup, making few changes throughout the year.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and center back Wes Morgan both played all 38 league matches, while Morgan’s partner Huth started 35 games. Vardy and Mahrez each began 36 games and combined for 41 goals and 17 assists. Midfielders Drinkwater (35 starts) and Kanté (33) were critical fixtures. Even Okazaki (28), along with fullbacks Fuchs (30) and Simpson (30), rarely found themselves out of the setup. When injury did strike, capable backups like Leonardo Ulloa and Ritchie De Laet slotted right into the line-up. With few injuries disrupting their routine, Ranieri didn’t have to make significant adjustments to his starting lineup.

A Genuinely Awesome Attack

Hiring Ranieri marked a shift for Leicester. As Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski noted in “Soccernomics”: “In 2015, following a disastrous tenure with Greece that ended in a home defeat to the minuscule Faroe Islands, Ranieri joined Leicester City. At that time, he had been managing for 29 years without substantial success. ‘He was the ultimate loser, with a capital L,’ said Italian football writer Tommaso Pellizzari. ‘Everyone in Italy perceived him as nice, polite, and kind, but never call him for my team.'”

Ranieri’s appointment appeared motivated by a desire for a distinct contrast to Pearson’s approach. While Pep Guardiola’s possession-focused style and Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing were on the rise, Ranieri employed a classical, defense-first 4-4-2 arrangement centered on counterattacking. Soccer was evolving towards horizontal buildup play; however, Ranieri preferred directionality. Instead of aggressively counter-pressing like Klopp, Leicester picked their moments.

The Foxes’ success illustrated how having consistent personnel could make varied playing styles work regardless of trends. They were the most direct team in the Premier League, topping the league in ball recoveries, defensive interventions, counterattacking shots, xG, and a StatPerform metric called direct speed, measuring the speed at which the ball moves forward during a possession. They effectively pressed, forcing 11.1 high turnovers per game (second in the league), and, when compact in defense, they were determined to block shots, denying 31.6% of opponents’ efforts (third in the league). Schmeichel contributed with a strong presence; while his save percentage was decent, he was notably active in claiming balls in the box.

Leicester attempted the highest number of duels in the league (127.1 per game), with both Mahrez and Vardy ranking in the top five for duel attempts within the penalty box. Mahrez would either draw a foul or find Vardy darting forward. Mahrez dominated with 267 ground duels won and led with 45 fouls suffered in the attacking zone (no other player exceeded 32). Vardy topped the league charts with 23.1 xG and was second in goals with 24, just behind Spurs’ Harry Kane.

While actively engaged, Leicester remained remarkably orderly—exactly what Ranieri envisioned. Upon regaining possession, the formula was straightforward: get the ball to Drinkwater or Kanté (likely the ones who won it), then shift it to Mahrez, who would pass it to Vardy. It’s simplistic to suggest this was their solo path to scoring, but Mahrez and Vardy accounted for an impressive 61% of Leicester’s goals, while Mahrez, Vardy, and Drinkwater assisted on 53% of goals. Drinkwater and Kanté also ranked second and third in the league respectively for ball recoveries. The ball moved quickly; while their shots were few, those they did muster were of high quality.

Leicester led the league in xG per shot at 0.18, with Arsenal being the next closest team. Despite lower overall shot numbers, they attempted 91 shots valued at 0.2 xG or more, surpassing all but Arsenal’s total of 77 such attempts.

Notably, Leicester’s 70.5% pass completion rate ranked them second-lowest in the Premier League, yet they ended up with the third-most goals (68) while maintaining several players tucked behind the ball. Their attacking approach wasn’t revolutionary, yet they had the perfect personnel to execute what Ranieri desired.

Everyone Else Blew It

The Premier League landscape in 2015-16 was rather peculiar. Liverpool stumbled under Brendan Rodgers (they eventually hired Jürgen Klopp in October while languishing in 10th place), while Chelsea completely fell apart under José Mourinho (the defending champions found themselves in 16th before his December dismissal). Manchester City was waiting on Pep Guardiola after Manuel Pellegrini, and Manchester United was stagnant under Louis van Gaal; both clubs’ hopes for a title were hindered by player instability.

The climate was ripe for an insurgent team to contest, but Arsenal and Mauricio Pochettino’s promising Tottenham were in strong positions. However, neither could complete the mission.

Though it felt like every Leicester match resulted in a 1-0 win—only seven of their 23 triumphs came with that score— it’s unsurprising that Leicester dominated games determined by one goal or fewer.

Statistically, they weren’t an outlier as champions. Their 12 draws marked the second-highest for a champion in Premier League history (behind Manchester United’s 13 in 1998-99). Of all champions since 2015-16, only Manchester City’s close-game averages in 2020-21 (1.88 PPG) and 2022-23 (1.53) fell below Leicester’s 1.93 that season.

It wasn’t that Leicester excelled in tight contests—it was that competing teams faltered. Arsenal led the league with a +19 goal differential after 40 minutes but was only +10 over the last 50 minutes, winning 20 of 27 matches in which they led. Tottenham managed just 19 victories from 28 such games, averaging an abysmal 1.29 points per tight match.

Leicester won 23 of 29 in that category, ending the season with 81 points, the sixth-lowest total for a champion in Premier League history. They executed their game plan effectively, and no one else recognized the talent within players like Kanté (acquired for €9 million in 2015), Mahrez (€500,000 in 2014), or Vardy (€1.2 million in 2012). The title was a product of both favorable fortune and exceptional player scouting and implementation.

While it might have been a once-in-a-lifetime achievement, there was nothing inherently unreplicable about what Leicester accomplished. Teams such as Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig have succeeded with vertical attacks in recent years. Even Nottingham Forest demonstrated a similar direct approach, nearly leading the league last spring. While the elements were standard, the magic of that unforgettable run has yet to be recaptured over the past decade.