Football Premier League Sports

FIVE YEARS ON: Leicester City lift the 2015/16 Premier League Trophy on this day in 2016

By Nathan John, University of Gloucestershire

The 7th May 2016 was a momentous day not only for Leicester City Football Club but for the whole of the sporting world. Leicester City, having been confirmed as champions of the Premier League on the Monday, lifted the trophy the following Saturday when they faced Everton at the King Power stadium in the 5:30 kick off.

The celebrations had run far through that week, but it was finally time for the fans to be able to celebrate with the team in the stadium and show their admiration for their heroes in blue.

The legendary singer Andrea Bocelli was invited to perform on the pitch before the game in what felt more like a movie scene than a football match. He was invited by the man himself, fellow Italian Claudio Ranieri who had masterminded Leicester to a feat that nobody could have imagined possible in the summer of 2015.

32,140 were in attendance to watch the newly crowned champions beat Everton 3-1 in what felt like a momentous day not only for Leicester but for the whole of football. The foxes had gone through the whole campaign with just three defeats to their name and 23 victories.

This felt like a victory for football not just for Leicester. A quite remarkable footballing miracle made possible by the likes of ex non-league player Jamie Vardy, Aston Villa reject Marc Albrighton, journeyman Robert Huth and the unknown of N’golo Kante.

Even celebrities were chipping in with the fun. Hollywood actor Tom Hanks claimed he had a bet on the Foxes and had become an even wealthier man because of it. Life-long Leicester fan and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker had to present the programme in his Leicester underwear.

It was an unforgettable campaign, topped of by an emphatic title celebration, the likes of which had not been matched before. The eyes of the world, for just a period of time, were focused on a small Midlands city where something truly special had happened. The players will forever be etched into the minds of all football fans who lived to see it happen. In the words of Martin Tyler “Champions of England 2016, the amazing Leicester City”.

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