Leicester City currently find themselves in the Championship following their relegation from the Premier League during the 2022/23 campaign.
A fall from grace
Having spent the previous nine seasons dining in the top flight, the Foxes endured a disappointing season, which resulted in manager Brendan Rodgers being sacked and the Foxes suffering their first relegation from the top league since the 2003/04 season.
This was a team that had won the FA Cup as recently as 2021 – the first time they had claimed the prestigious trophy – while they, of course, defied the odds to win the Premier League title in 2016, surprising everyone in the process.
The club is certainly among one of the stronger teams in the second tier. This is evidenced by the outright markets for the Championship winner odds, which currently see Leicester priced as the -120 favorite to lift the title and seal an instant return to the Premier League.
What happened to Leicester City during the 2022/23 Premier League season?
Following their fairytale title win during the 2015/16 season, the club endured a few years of misery before Rodgers was appointed in February 2019 and the former Celtic boss slowly built them back into a side that was feared.
The Northern Irishman steadied the ship before leading the Foxes to a wonderful fifth-place finish in the top flight during his first full season in charge – just four points off securing a Champions League spot.
Rodgers repeated the feat in 2020/21 before managing the club to their maiden FA Cup victory courtesy of a stunning Youri Tielemans strike against Chelsea. However, things started to go downhill from there…
Youri Tielemans vs. Chelsea.
The Emirates FA Cup Final, 2021.
Unforgettable. pic.twitter.com/NA4XlbHmTs
— Leicester City (@LCFC) November 19, 2021
A ninth-place finish preceded the disastrous relegation campaign in which Leicester eventually ended up having to settle for 18th place in the table. They won just nine league games throughout the whole campaign, winning just 34 points as they dropped down a division.
Rodgers was relieved of his duties and even Dean Smith couldn’t save them having replaced the former Liverpool manager. Enzo Maresca took over in the summer and his appointment is looking like a shrewd one indeed.
How has Leicester City started the Championship campaign?
Adapting to the second tier of English football hasn’t appeared to be a problem for the former Manchester City coach as he aims to showcase the knowledge gained from working under Pep Guardiola.
Indeed, the 43-year-old has steered the Foxes to nine wins out of ten in the Championship so far, conceding just six goals across these games, which is the lowest total in the league.
Impressive wins against Coventry City, Southampton, and Norwich City have clearly given them the edge in the promotion race and all momentum appears to be with the club as they head towards the festive season in wonderful spirits.
Leicester may not have long to wait until they are playing against the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool. The job Maresca has done so far has been nothing short of sensational.
Who has impressed for Leicester City so far?
Jamie Vardy looked like he was ready to depart the club during the summer following their relegation, but the 36-year-old decided to see out the final year of his current contract.
It looks to have been a wise decision for both the player and the club, as the veteran – who remains one of only two players in the squad to have won the Premier League – has managed to score four times across all competitions.
What a win, another 3 points on the road ???? @LCFC pic.twitter.com/wjGQ4yYCea
— Jamie Vardy (@vardy7) October 1, 2023
The former England international looks confident he can spearhead a title challenge and will want to depart the club next year by playing an integral part in their speedy return to the top flight.
Another player who’s impressing this term is defender Wout Faes. The Belgian is in just his second season at the club, yet is proving to be a wonderful acquisition. He’s started nine league matches and Leicester has kept a clean sheet in four of them, while the center-back has won an impressive 3.7 total duels per game – a success rate of 66% – as he clearly likes to showcase his physicality during matches.
With a reliable goal scorer in Vardy and a defender who’s looking like an unstoppable force in Faes, the Foxes appear to be well on their way to returning to the big time. Maresca could be at the King Power Stadium for the next few years if he keeps this form up.
