Last year on May 2, Leicester City defeated Newcastle United to win only their ninth game of the 2014-15 Premier League season. In danger of facing relegation, they strung together seven wins in their last nine games to finish the season in 14th position with 41 points. West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion finished above them in the 12th and 13th positions respectively while Newcastle United finished below them.
This is the league table after the end of the 2014-'15 season.
Almost a year later, Leicester City stand on the precipice of securing the greatest underdog triumph in the history of sport. On Sunday, they drew 1-1 at Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, English football's biggest name. All eyes now rest on second-placed Tottenham Hotspur's game against Chelsea on Monday night. If Tottenham are not able to win against Chelsea, Leicester City, lowly Leicester City will be crowned champions of the 2016 English Premier League.
Rags to riches
"From rags to riches" is a common trope used in story-telling but for Leicester, even that oft-used metaphor falls short to describe the significance of what they are on the point of achieving. A year ago, they were a middling East Midlands club, fighting raggedly to stay in the top division of English football. Now after a year of spellbinding performances, they are on track to win a league, considered to be the toughest in the world.
Leicester City’s incredible performance can be put in context by comparing their points tally to the teams which finished alongside them last year. After 34 games last year, Leicester’s points tally read 31; this year, at the same stage, it was 73, an increase of over 40. Comparatively, West Ham United and West Bromwich Albion, who finished above City last year, have remained where they were while Newcastle United have done worse. It is reflected in the standings as well – West Ham are currently in sixth spot in the table with West Bromwich occupying the 14th spot. Newcastle United have fared the worst and are currently 17th in the table.
In fact, Leicester City’s meteoric rise has put some of the Premier League’s bigwigs in the shade. The top five last year comprised of Chelsea, Manchester City, Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.
Giant-killers
With the exception of Tottenham Hotspur who have been the only contenders to Leicester’s run this season, every other team has dropped points, which gives an idea of how competitive this season of the Premier League has been. Defending champions Chelsea are an astounding 33 points short of where they were at a similar stage last year, while the trio of Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal have also under-performed, though to a lesser degree. The only exception to the rule has been the Foxes (as Leicester City are fondly called) who have been spectacular this season and are thus deservedly on top of the table.
Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal had vowed to delay Leicester City’s party and his words proved prophetic as Leicester exited Manchester on Sunday with the honours even. But considering Leicester City are on the verge of something historic, it will take a great deal to stop them from achieving the inevitable. From 5000/1 underdogs at the start of a season to putting themselves in the position to achieve something that has scarcely been seen before in sports history, Leicester City’s story is one for the ages.