da pixbet： Leicester City’s fairytale Premier League success has rightly been a key talking point in the Tavern, as well as around the world, for the last few months.
da lvbet： As the story goes, the Foxes clawed their way back from the brink of relegation in the 2014/15 season to embark on a magnificent run inspired by the like of Mahrez, Kante and Vardy to bring home their first title against all odds (with a few ostrich quotes and questionable trips to Thailand in between).
Phrases such as the ‘underdog story’ and ‘5000/1’ have been bandied about the press so often you’d be forgiven for thinking they were key players in the squad.
Still, there are still a number of parts of Leicester’s history that haven’t had a light shined on them; such as a time when they regularly played a former-England striker at centre-back.
With that in mind, the Transfer Tavern looks at seven facts you probably never knew about Leicester City Football Club.
ROBERTO MANCINI PLAYED FOR THEM
Prior to managing Manchester City to their first Premier League title, the former Fiorentina, Lazio, Inter and Galatasaray manager had a short stint at Leicester City.
Joining the club on loan in 2001, the then 36-year-old made only five appearances in the blue of Leicester before leaving due to personal reasons.
Only two weeks later Mancini was phoning up the club to tell him he had accepted a job as Fiorentina manager, though he apparently fell in love with the English game while in the Midlands.
You’re welcome, Manchester City…
BANKS AND SHILTON PLAYED FOR THEM
Two legends of the game, England ‘keepers Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton both played large chunks of their career for Leicester.
Boasting nearly 200 caps between them, Shilton made 348 total appearance for the boys in blue while World Cup winner Banks managed 356 and was a Fox when he lifted the Jules Rimet.
As well as establishing himself as one of Leicester’s greatest ever keepers, Shilton also famously managed a goal against Southampton when he scored from the opposite end of the pitch.
DION DUBLIN WAS BORN IN LEICESTER
A slightly obscure fact given he started his career with Norwich City; Dion Dublin is a Leicester local.
The England international, who also played for Manchester United, Celtic and Aston Villa, also played for the club for about 18 months under Craig Levein.
In what were known as “the dark times” among Leicester punters, Dublin had a stint at centre-half for the Foxes, a position he had played at a young age with Norwich.
Dublin joined the presenting team for BBC One’s ‘Homes Under the Hammer’ in 2015, which is ironic as during his time at Leicester he was anything but “safe as houses.”
THE MOST FA CUP FINALS WITHOUT A WIN
Before this season, it was usually a case of ‘always the bridesmaid, never the bride’ for the Foxes.
This is certainly the case in the FA Cup, where the East Midlanders hold the record of most final appearances without a win.
Leicester have failed to win the trophy four times: in 1949 they lost to Wolverhampton Wanderers before losing to Tottenham and both Manchester Clubs in the sixties.
They have, however, won the League Cup three times.
THEY WON THE CHARITY SHIELD DESPITE NOT WINNING THE LEAGUE OR CUP
Leicester City achieved an unlikely feat in 1971 when they appeared in the Charity Shield despite never winning the top division or FA Cup.
The scenario occurred when Arsenal won an unexpected double in the 1970-71 season but were unable to pull out of a pre-season tour.
The Foxes, who had won the old Second Division, played FA Cup runners-up Liverpool and won 1-0 courtesy of a Steve Whitworth goal.
The only other club to do this was Brighton and Hove Albion in 1910, who now remain the only side to win the trophy despite not winning the league or FA Cup.
THEIR THAI OWNERS ALSO HAVE A POLO TEAM
Not content with one successful club, Leicester’s Thai owners also bankroll a trophy-laden polo team.
The Srivaddhanaprabha family own the King Power Foxes, who won the Gold Cup and Queen’s Cup last summer.
As well as being vice-chairman of the football club, Aiyawatt “Top” Srivaddhanaprabha also plays polo for the Foxes’ first team.
While Leicester City may struggle to replicate their trophy-winning success this season (although never say never), their Thai owners have every reason to challenge again on horseback.
VICKIE THE VIXEN AND COUSIN DENNIS
While most people are familiar with Leicester mascot Filbert Fox (named after Leicester’s old Filbert Street stadium), few are aware of his friends.
Those who attended games at Filbert Street or the Walkers Stadium (now the King Power) may have also seen Vickie Vixen and Cousin Dennis strutting their stuff on the side of the pitch.
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Vickie or Dennis, leading some to question if there was a scandalous cover-up or just bad blood between Filbert and his friends.