Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Matt Leigh
Guest(s)
Release Date
24 August 2023
Duration
66 min
In this episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by football aficionado Matt Leigh to revisit one of the most astonishing triumphs in sporting history — Leicester City’s 2015–2016 Premier League title.
A year after narrowly escaping relegation, Leicester stunned the world by rising from survival scrap to champions under the genial genius of Claudio Ranieri. The conversation explores how a club with limited resources, a tight-knit squad, and a humble approach managed to outplay football’s elite — a season that turned expectation on its head and captured global imagination.
The episode dives into Jamie Vardy’s record-breaking goal streak, Riyad Mahrez’s moments of magic, and N’Golo Kanté’s tireless brilliance, while celebrating the unsung heroes — from captain Wes Morgan and goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel to the tactical discipline that defined Ranieri’s system. Leicester’s rapid counter-attacks, compact defensive shape, and team-first mentality became the blueprint for modern underdog success.
But it wasn’t just about football. Leicester’s triumph became a cultural event — from Ranieri’s charming “dilly-ding, dilly-dong” pressers to the infamous pizza party that symbolised the joy, unity, and humility of this extraordinary team. The hosts debate where Leicester’s achievement ranks among football’s greatest sides and what it says about belief, teamwork, and destiny in sport.
A miracle born of effort and emotion, Leicester City 2015–2016 didn’t just win the league — they restored faith in the impossible.
Takeaways
Leicester’s 2015–16 triumph remains football’s greatest modern underdog story.
Claudio Ranieri’s leadership balanced humour, trust, and tactical discipline.
Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez defined counter-attacking excellence.
Team chemistry and unity were as vital as tactics.
Leicester’s success inspired belief that football’s magic still exists.
Leicester City 2016: The Miracle That Stunned the World
In 2015–2016, Leicester City achieved the unthinkable — from relegation favourites to Premier League champions at 5000–1 odds. It wasn’t just a title win; it was the greatest underdog story in modern sport.
Under the charming and meticulous Claudio Ranieri, Leicester played fearless, efficient football. Built around a compact 4-4-2 system, they frustrated giants and thrilled neutrals. Jamie Vardy’s record-breaking goals, Riyad Mahrez’s dazzling dribbles, and N’Golo Kanté’s relentless energy powered the Foxes to glory.
From beating Manchester City at the Etihad to sealing the title after Chelsea’s draw with Tottenham, Leicester’s journey was pure theatre. Off the pitch, Ranieri’s light touch — epitomised by his “pizza party” reward for a clean sheet — fostered belief and joy. The bond between players and fans transformed the King Power Stadium into a cauldron of emotion.
This wasn’t just a football triumph — it was a social phenomenon. Leicester’s rise united a city, captured the imagination of millions, and reminded everyone why football endures: because sometimes, the impossible happens.
Leicester City 2015–2016 didn’t just win the Premier League. They changed its soul.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
Leicester’s rise from relegation to Premier League champions
Claudio Ranieri’s tactical and psychological genius
Key players: Vardy, Mahrez, Kanté, Morgan, and Schmeichel
The global reaction and cultural resonance of the title win
Ranking Leicester’s place among football’s greatest teams
Jamie Vardy’s 11-game Premier League scoring streak
The 3–1 win over Manchester City at the Etihad
Ranieri’s “pizza party” promise to reward a clean sheet
Eden Hazard’s goal for Chelsea that sealed Leicester’s title
The unforgettable title celebrations at King Power Stadium
Andrea Bocelli’s serenade before Leicester’s final home match
Notable Manager
Claudio Ranieri
Notable Players
Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, N’Golo Kanté, Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan, Danny Drinkwater, Marc Albrighton, Robert Huth, Christian Fuchs, Shinji Okazaki, Leonardo Ulloa
Style of Play
4-4-2 Formation, Counter-Attacking, Deep Defensive Block, Transitional Play, Team Cohesion, High Work Rate
Leicester City’s 2015–2016 side were the masters of efficiency and execution. Under Claudio Ranieri, they played a devastatingly simple but effective 4-4-2 system, rooted in discipline, structure, and lightning-fast transitions.
Their approach began with a deep defensive block led by Wes Morgan and Robert Huth, shielded by the tireless N’Golo Kanté, who won back possession and instantly triggered attacks. From there, Leicester sprang forward with speed — Danny Drinkwater’s precision passing finding Mahrez on the right or Vardy running in behind. The result was football stripped to its purest form: energy, directness, and ruthless finishing.
Riyad Mahrez’s unpredictability gave Leicester creative flair, drifting inside to combine with Okazaki or releasing Vardy with perfectly weighted through balls. On the other wing, Marc Albrighton’s work rate and delivery provided balance. Up front, Vardy’s pace and aggression stretched defences, creating space for midfield runners.
Ranieri’s men didn’t dominate possession — they dominated moments. Their compact shape forced opponents wide, while their counters punished any lapse in concentration. With Kasper Schmeichel commanding the box and Kanté covering seemingly every blade of grass, Leicester became a lesson in teamwork and trust.
Their football was not about glamour but clarity — a perfectly drilled machine that understood its purpose. Leicester 2015–2016 turned simplicity into art, and belief into silverware.
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