The 11 games that defined Leicester City's glorious decade - Mercury

[urban.spaceman]

The 11 games that defined Leicester City's glorious decade

We pick our favourite Leicester City matches from the 2010s

• 12:24, 22 NOV 2019
• Updated12:52, 22 NOV 2019

Andy King, Marc Albrighton and Jamie Vardy celebrate scoring in three of Leicester City's games of the decade (Image: Getty Images)

We pick our favourite Leicester City matches from the 2010s

The decade is nearing its end and it will be one looked upon fondly by Leicester City fans.

The lows of the early 2010s, Yann Kermorgant’s chipped penalty and Troy Deeney’s 97th-minute sucker punch breaking hearts and ending play-off dreams, have been eclipsed by record-breaking wins, barnstorming European tours, and the most unbelievable title success in the history of the game.

Trips to the King Power Stadium, and around the country or continent, have often been a treat for City supporters, with plenty of matches from the decade destined to live long in the memory.

Here, we have picked out the best 11. You can pick your favourite at the bottom of the page.

11. Leicester City 3-1 Liverpool – Premier League – February 27, 2017

In the blink of an eye, City went from the nation’s darlings to a club of backstabbers, their Roman manager Claudio Ranieri ousted just nine months after lifting the title.

City were involved in a relegation battle and their performances were deteriorating, but pundits and the public were angered by the supposed injustice of Ranieri’s sacking.

The players took the brunt of the blame and their professionalism was questioned. They had been deliberately performing poorly to get Ranieri the boot, apparently.

Really, the Tinkerman had tinkered too much, changing what made City so good.

In the first game after Ranieri’s departure, Craig Shakespeare went back to basics, City rediscovered their mojo and a side motivated by the criticism directed at them produced a superb performance, Danny Drinkwater’s arrowed half-volley the pick of the goals.

10. Cardiff City 0-1 Leicester City – Premier League – November 3, 2018

There was a possibility the match would be postponed, but Khun Vichai would not have wanted that.

Determined to honour the legacy of their beloved chairman, who had died only seven days earlier in a tragic helicopter crash, City showed spirit and desire to keep out Neil Warnock’s battling Bluebirds and claim a hugely emotional victory, Demarai Gray revealing a poignant message to ‘The Boss’ after turning in Ben Chilwell’s cross.

Demarai Gray of Leicester City celebrates with his team mates after scoring

This was not a match high on quality, but it was a truly emotional occasion and those feelings spilled out at the final whistle, when the squad and staff stood and applauded the travelling supporters for 15 minutes, the fans chanting for Vichai and their club icons.

9. Leicester City 4-1 Derby County – Championship – January 10, 2014

The Championship title win has been somewhat overshadowed by what followed two seasons later, but there are a huge number of highlights from the 2013-14 campaign.

City were rampant in their race to 102 points and the second-tier trophy and their 4-1 demolition of Derby was the pick of the displays.

With Anthony Knockaert and Lloyd Dyer on the flanks and David Nugent and Jamie Vardyleading the line, City were blistering on the front foot, pummelling their East Midlands rivals, who arrived on the back of 10 wins in 14 games.

Ritchie de Laet’s superb goal opened the scoring in a brilliant first-half performance in which Nigel Pearson’s men could have netted five.

Nugent and Vardy provided a clinical touch in the second half to give City the emphatic win they deserved and to send a message to the rest of the division: Leicester were not going to let go of top spot.

8. Leicester City 3-2 Aston Villa – Premier League – September 13, 2015

At the start of City’s road to Premier League glory, clean sheets were hard to come by. Christian Fuchs and Danny Simpson had not yet been installed at full-back and rather than the resolute defensive displays that characterised the latter stages of the campaign, there were goals galore at the King Power Stadium.

A fantastic start to the campaign looked set to be halted by Tim Sherwood’s Aston Villa after sweet strikes from Jack Grealish and Carles Gil put the visitors two goals up.

Jamie Vardy, Nathan Dyer and Kasper Schmeichel after Leicester City's victory over Aston Villa in 2015 (Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire)

But this was a City side who did not know when they were beaten, and they clinched the three points in a thrilling final 20 minutes.

De Laet flicked home a corner, Vardy prodded in a low cross and then debutant loanee Nathan Dyer put his head where it hurt to nod home Riyad Mahrez’s chipped ball in the 89th minute.

7. Southampton 0-9 Leicester City – Premier League – October 25, 2019

Back in the pre-war era, one-sided wins and ridiculous scorelines were commonplace. But money and tactics have made the game more conservative, and 0-0s are now more likely that 4-4s.

City defied that pattern earlier this season to not only record the joint-biggest win of the Premier League era, but the biggest away win in the history of the English top flight, going all the way back to 1888.

In the pouring south coast rain, City tore apart 10-man Saints, showing a ruthless edge to keep gunning for goals, despite sealing the victory within 20 minutes of kick-off.

Brendan Rodgers’ side produced some scintillating football, allowing Vardy and Ayoze Perez to both leave St Mary’s with a match ball.

6. West Brom 2-3 Leicester City – Premier League – April 11, 2015

City were down and out. They had been bottom since late November and were seven points from safety with nine games to play. Most supporters had settled for relegation.

Andy King then turned in a late winner against West Ham to provide a glimmer of hope, before City stunned the Baggies. All of a sudden, there was genuine belief that City could pull off a great escape.

An early flurry of goals had seen City trailing 2-1 after 26 minutes, but a half-time formation change – Pearson bringing on Marcin Wasilewski to form a back three, with Marc Albrighton and Jeff Schlupp operating as wing-backs – put the visitors on top.

Riyad Mahrez celebrates with Jamie Vardy during the victory at West Brom during Leicester City's Great Escape (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Robert Huth headed in the equaliser with 10 minutes to play, but it was Vardy’s winner that was the defining moment of the spectacular run to safety.

At his devastating, unremitting best, Vardy robbed Gareth McAuley, sprinted half the length of the pitch then drilled a shot into the bottom corner, sparking wild celebrations.

5. Club Brugge 0-3 Leicester City – Champions League – September 14, 2016

The Champions League draw had handed City fans a backpacker’s dream tour of Europe, and the first stop was Bruges.

It was a scarcely believable sight, the famous music blaring out as a camera panned across Daniel Amartey, Danny Drinkwater and Co.

In fact, fans were still pinching themselves when Albrighton converted Luis Hernandez’s long throw just five minutes in.

This was not a side that were fazed by the grand occasion, and a Riyad Mahrez dead-ball double - a sweet free-kick and then a penalty - ensured City began their debut campaign in the continent’s top competition in style.

The celebrations continued long into the night.

4. Leicester City 3-1 Everton – Premier League – May 7, 2016

The party had started in Vardy’s kitchen on Monday night when Eden Hazard curled a peach of a strike past Hugo Lloris to make City mathematically uncatchable.

The week-long festivities culminated in the title lift at the King Power Stadium.

But not before world-famous tenor Andrea Bocelli had rocked up and brought the house down, turning many of the 32,000 fans into blubbering wrecks with his renditions of Nessun Dorma and Time to Say Goodbye.

Wes Morgan lifts the Premier League trophy (Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)

The match was merely a sideshow but City, in the pouring rain, kept their composure to emphatically beat the Toffees, homegrown King on the scoresheet with Vardy adding another two to his tally.

By full-time, the sun was out again. The players accepted their medals one by one before Wes Morgan got his hands on the trophy and thrust it into the sky, an image seared into the memory of every City fan.

3. Manchester City 1-3 Leicester City – Premier League – February 6, 2016

The game that made everyone believe.

Leicester had been challenging at the top all season, and yet their demise was always imminent. They were going to drop off at some point, surely?

When Huth looped a header into the corner for his second of the game, perceptions changed. Could they actually… win the Premier League?

Yes, they could, and yes, they did, playing brilliant, effective football on the way.

At the time, Man City – with David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero at the peak of their powers – were Leicester’s closest challengers.

But Ranieri’s men romped to victory at the Etihad Stadium, bamboozling their big-spending opponents.

Mahrez’s goal was the highlight of the match, and maybe the highlight of the season. N’Golo Kante rode a challenge and played the ball to the Algerian magician, who dinked it over Nicolas Otamendi and then shimmed around Martin Demichelis before lashing home. Sublime.

2. Leicester City 5-3 Manchester United – Premier League – September 21, 2014

Four games into their top-flight return, City faced the defining side of the Premier League era: Manchester United.

To the King Power Stadium came Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie, Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria. De Laet, Morgan, Liam Moore and Paul Konchesky stood in their way.

An hour played, proceedings were going as expected, Leo Ulloa’s header the bright spot for City, who trailed 3-1.

In the Premier League era, United had never given up a two-goal lead to lose. But as the message above the tunnel reads: Foxes Never Quit.

Esteban Cambiasso celebrates making it 3-3 during the Barclays premier League match between Leicester City and Manchester United at The King Power Stadium on September 21, 2014 (Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)

Nugent slammed home a penalty, then Esteban Cambiasso kickstarted the cult surrounding him with the equaliser, before Vardy showed superb composure to finish one-on-one and put City into an unfathomable lead.

Ulloa rounded off the victory with another spot-kick.

At the time, it seemed like it couldn’t possibly get better for City. It did.

But as a 90-minute spectacle, there hasn’t been a Premier League game like this.

1. Leicester City 2-0 Sevilla – Champions League – March 14, 2017

For two years, City had written ever-more remarkable chapters in their astounding story and they were not ready for their fairytale to end at the hands of Sevilla.

Champions League nights had generated a brilliant atmosphere at the King Power Stadium and there was an unrivalled passion in the stands for the second leg of the round-of-16 tie.

Trailing by a goal and with a different manager in the dugout from the first leg, City triumphed in a terrifically entertaining encounter.

Morgan thighed in Mahrez’s free-kick and then Albrighton sparked pandemonium early in the second half with the goal that put City ahead on aggregate.

Leicester City fans go wild after Marc Albrighton scores to make it 2-0 against Sevilla on way to Champions League quarter-final (Image: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)

A Sevilla goal would take the game to extra-time and the final half-hour was incredibly tense. The pressure got to the visitors. Samir Nasri saw red for headbutting Vardy and then manager Jorge Sampaoli was sent to the stands.

There was still time for more drama. Just as they did in the first leg, City conceded a penalty. But just as he did in the south of Spain, Kasper Schmeichel saved it, getting down to deny Steven N’Zonzi.

It wasn’t celebrated like a goal. It was more than that. It was the moment City had defied the odds again to book their place in the last eight of the Champions League.

What is your favourite Leicester City match of the 2010s?

[StanSP]

Can't really complain too much at those picks.

 

I'd go for 2-0 vs Liverpool for Vardy's volley as opposed to the 3-1.

 

That Sevilla game was ridiculously good.

The Man Utd game was a massive fvck you to the big 6 (forget the fact we didn't win again for 3 months )

 

The way the Villa game ended was pure magic. Plus it made Sherwood look a miserable twat

[Corky]

Yeah, think they are all fair shouts.

[Fox1970]

Yes, a decent summary.

But I would have the 3-1 win at Manchester City as  the game which really defined the whole 2015-16 season and the subsequent fairy tale. 

 

Weirdly enough I began to feel quite scared and nervous after that game, as it became fully clear, perhaps for the first time, that the team was good enough to go the whole way. And the implications of that were rather frightening

[Spudulike]

That photo of Albrighton's goal against Sevilla was actually Wes.

[rn9013]

That Sevilla game was truly magical. I’ll never forget it to the day I die. At the final whistle complete strangers were just hugging each other around me in disbelief. That was the moment that encapsulated the whole fairytale for me. 

Edited 22 November 2019 by rn9013

[Guest Eamonn]

What an amazing journey...as if it needed saying...but what an amazing 10 - 11 really - years. We are bloody lucky to have these great owners.

[Sampson]

I hoped that the Sevilla game was #1 when I opened the thread.

 

No matter what he does for the rest of his life, Marc Albrighton should be awarded the freedom of Leicester and should never have to buy a drink in the county of Leicestershire again. Never celebrated a goal as much as that one in my life.

 

The atmosphere at the KP that night was incredible.

Edited 22 November 2019 by Sampson

[MattFox]

The 3-2 at Forest in 2013 deserves a mention 

 

First win at Forest in years  and took their play off place of them.

 

Also probably kept Pearson in a job , if we’d finished outside the playoffs despite being Top 2 for a large part of the season the calls to replace him would have been enormous 

[whoareyaaa]

Will never forget that Mahrez goal at Man City we was brilliant that day. 

Edited 22 November 2019 by whoareyaaa

[LestaAl]

Good choices- each one in context was another forward step in the  recovery of the club from the doom of the years in the lower leagues

[LestaAl]

3 minutes ago, whoareyaaa said:

Will never forget that Mahrez goal at Man City we was brilliant that day. 

At the lunchtime game I was in an empty pub in Notts  and as the goals came in and the lunchtime trade came in to the pub it felt safe to take my top off to reveal my Leicester shirt. 

 

What a feeling 

[Finnegan]

Yeah pretty good list. It's funny that I agree with the top two completely because they're probably my two favourite home games of all time. 

 

I know they were either side of our title winning season but they were two of the most amazing games and atmospheres we've ever had. 

 

Other games may have had Leoquake and whatever but for sustained 90 minutes of revelry and intensity that Sevilla game was magnificent and the comeback vs United. Utterly absurd. 

 

I genuinely think we are comfortably the most dramatic and neutral-entertaining team of the decade by a long way. 

 

From Kermo and Deeney Day to the nature of our promotion and survival, Pearson and the ostrich, the hooker racist orgy, the insane title win, the CL run, the dogs of War, the Ranieri sacking, the nine nil. 

 

What even is Leicester? 

Edited 22 November 2019 by Finnegan

[Wolfox]

On reflection… the West Brom away game when Vardy discovered he was a good prem player seemed seemed to be the catalyst for everything to turn good…

[Guest Cujek]

1 hour ago, StanSP said:

 

willy puller

[49er]

Surely Chelsea 2 Spuds 2 has to be at the top of the list

[StanSP]

3 minutes ago, 49er said:

Surely Chelsea 2 Spuds 2 has to be at the top of the list

No.

These are our games.

 

Very small-time to include a game that doesn't involve us as one of the top 11 games in the decade, especially given how seriously good this decade has been.

 

The game was significant for us but it wasn't in the top Leicester games. The whole season didn't hinge on that one game!

[Finnegan]

19 minutes ago, 49er said:

Surely Chelsea 2 Spuds 2 has to be at the top of the list

 

I really dislike the obsession with that game tbh. 

 

Football's revisionists would have you believe Tottenham threw the title away and Chelsea won it for us that night. 

 

We won the league by ten points, it's mad, we romped the league really. We won it by our own accord. When Chelsea were five points clear with like ten games left people were saying it was an insurmountable lead. Yet the media were acting like we were clinging by our finger nails. Load of rubbish. There wasn't a title race at the end there was a procession. 

[Koke]

I often forget the 5-3 Man Utd game. This was 4 years ago. So much has happened since. Also forgotten in that United game was Di Maria world class goal. Probably top 3 goals ever scored at the KP by an opposition player. Cant think of many better.

 

And I know we didn't win the game but the Ateltico Madrid game in the Champions League was quite special. We pushed one of the best teams in Europe all the way.

Edited 22 November 2019 by Koke

[treer]

the champions quarter final should be in the top 3, he seems to have orgotten that

[Koke]

The managers who managed those 11 games 

 

Ranieri 4

Pearson 3

Shakespeare 2

Puel 1

Rodgers 1

[StanSP]

4 minutes ago, Koke said:

I often forget the 5-3 Man Utd game. This was 4 years ago. So much has happened since. Also forgotten in that United game was Di Maria world class goal. Probably top 3 goals ever scored at the KP by an opposition player. Cant think of many better.

 

And I know we didn't win the game but the Ateltico Madrid game in the Champions League was quite special. We pushed one of the best teams in Europe all the way.

Probably because it was 5 years ago

 

I remember one of the commentators describing the Di Maria goal as a 'belting' finish . It was a lob ffs not a 30 yard worldie.

 

I agree about the Atletico game. Thought it'd be in there. The atmosphere was incredible as we peppered their goal searching for those goals. Then you had the Atletico fans loving us and our achivement and Simeone literally lifting our players up off the ground, realising what a journey we had been on.

[AKCJ]

I think a lot of Leicester fans don't realise how lucky we are.

 

That Sevilla game in particular. **** me.

 

95% of football clubs go through their entire existence without experiencing a game like that. Honestly, if i could bottle how I felt for that 90 minutes and sell it i'd be a multi-billionaire.

[Out Foxed]

I’ll never forget Sevilla and Everton. Absolutely amazing moments. 

[Hammo]

Can’t really argue with those, all of them super special with Sevilla rightly at Number One.

 

The home win over Chelsea in 15/16 was also worthy of a mention, not just because we won with two sublime goals but because we were also able to belt out full-throated renditions of not one but two cherished chants: “you’re getting sacked in the morning” (Mourinho) and “you’re going down with the Villa”.

 

That said, Chelsea did give us a bit of a helping hand a few months later...