Leicester City In The 21st Century: 2015/16

01

Ranieri joins the Foxes

Following the departure of Nigel Pearson in the off-season, Italian former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri joined the Club on 13 July, 2015, linking up with the squad on a pre-season stay in Austria.

02

Summer business

Following the earlier permanent signings of Christian Fuchs, Robert Huth and Shinji Okazaki, little-known Caen midfielder N'Golo Kanté also headed to King Power Stadium on 3 August, 2015.

03

Head over heels

Leicester - favourites for relegation - make an excellent start to the 2015/16 season with Jamie Vardy and Marc Albrighton netting either side of a brace from Riyad Mahrez in an opening-day 4-2 home win over Sunderland.

04

A stunning comeback

After a victory at West Ham United and consecutive draws with Tottenham Hotspur and AFC Bournemouth, the Foxes entertain Aston Villa on 13 September, 2015. Despite going 2-0 down, City hit back through Ritchie de Laet, Jamie Vardy and Nathan Dyer - who injures himself in the process - to triumph 3-2. Something peculiar is going on at King Power Stadium...

05

Pizza time!

After being promised a pizza upon their first clean sheet, a 1-0 success over Crystal Palace on 24 October, 2015 leads to Claudio Ranieri taking Leicester City's squad to a local pizzeria to make their own!

06

The run continues

So far, a loss to Arsenal at home is the only blot on Leicester's season as they register a sixth win of the season at West Bromwich Albion in late October. Riyad Mahrez bags another brace for the Foxes, while Jamie Vardy finds the net for the eighth consecutive game in a row...

07

A record-equaling goal

City go to the top of the Premier League with a 3-0 triumph at Newcastle United on 21 November, 2015 - and Jamie Vardy scores in his 10th consecutive Premier League game, equaling a record secured by former Manchester United forward Ruud van Nistelrooy in 2003.

08

Eleven-heaven for Vardy!

Quite remarkably, Jamie Vardy scores again in a 1-1 draw with Manchester United a week later - breaking the Premier League record. Leicester City are quickly becoming the biggest talking point in English football.

09

Beating the champions

A 3-0 win at Swansea City is followed by a 2-1 victory over champions Chelsea. Jamie Vardy, who missed out in front of goal in Wales, opens the scoring before Riyad Mahrez follows up his hat-trick at Liberty Stadium with another goal to secure a 2-1 win.

10

A Christmas no.1

The Foxes confirm their spot at the top over the festive period with a 3-2 success at Everton on 19 December, with Riyad Mahrez netting twice and Shinji Okazaki also getting in on the act. Twelve months previously, Leicester had been bottom of the pile.

11

Dilly-ding, dilly-dong!

Claudio Ranieri, now famed for his 'dilly-ding dilly-dong' expression - used in training to keep his players alert - gifts his squad all with a bell at Christmas, with the Foxes sitting top of the league.

12

A big win in London

A loss and two draws temporarily dampens the spirits over New Year, but Robert Huth's late winner books a 1-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur on 13 January, 2016.

13

Gray wings in

Youngster Demarai Gray is signed from Sky Bet Championship side Birmingham City as Claudio Ranieri adds a splash of flair to his squad during the January transfer window.

14

Vardy's at it again

A brace from Jamie Vardy - including a breathtaking volley from distance - consigns Jürgen Klopp's Liverpool to a 2-0 reverse at King Power Stadium on 2 February.

15

The day people took notice

If there were still some doubts about Leicester City's Premier League title credentials, they were banished on 6 February, 2016 as the Foxes stunned Manchester City at Etihad Stadium. Robert Huth popped up with a duo of goals, while Riyad Mahrez scored a belter, as Claudio Ranieri's men defeated their illustrious hosts 3-1.

16

European Foxes

In April, a 2-0 win at Sunderland - thanks to a Jamie Vardy double - keeps the Foxes top of the Premier League and confirms their qualification for the UEFA Champions League. It's all starting to feel very real for the Blue Army.

17

The PFA Player of the Year

After scoring in a 4-0 win over Swansea City, Riyad Mahrez travels down to London, where he discovers he is the winner of the 2015/16 PFA Player of the Year prize.

18

Vardy scoops an award

Jamie Vardy, meanwhile, picks up the FWA Footballer of the Year award, voted for by the leading sports journalists in the country.

19

Ranieri's recognition

Claudio Ranieri wins his third and final Manager of the Month award in April with his side staggeringly sat top of the Premier League with three games to go.

20

Leicester hit back like champions

The Foxes head to the Theatre of Dreams without suspended Jamie Vardy knowing three points will win them the Premier League title. Anthony Martial puts the Red Devils in front, though, before Wes Morgan hits back. Leicester are clapped off the pitch at full-time by the home fans, but a draw is not quite enough... yet.

21

Champions of England

Fans crowd around TVs and large screens across the country as title rivals Tottenham travel to Chelsea. Anything less than a win for the north London outfit will crown City as champions. Despite taking a two-goal lead, Spurs conceded twice late on... turning lounges and pubs across Leicester upside down. Leicester City are champions of England.

22

Vardy gets his party!

Across town, on the other hand, Jamie Vardy has gathered Leicester City's first team squad to watch the game too. The full-time whistle is greeted by euphoric celebrations, captured on LCFC TV, which go viral around the world as City defy pre-season odds of 5,000/1 to win the title.

23

Bocelli's magical performance

Italian tenor and friend of Claudio Ranieri, Andrea Bocelli, pulls at the heartstrings inside King Power Stadium, providing the soundtrack for the Club's greatest day.

24

The champions win again

On their coronation day, the Foxes beat Everton 3-1 at King Power Stadium - with Jamie Vardy scoring twice and Andy King once in the early summer rain on a day no Foxes fan will ever forget.

25

Lift off!

It was all real - Leicester City really did become Premier League champions - and now the fans believe it as the Foxes receive the trophy after that success over Everton.

26

Hands on the trophy

Manager Claudio Ranieri and captain Wes Morgan hoist the famous trophy to the heavens as Foxes hearts burst around the world.

27

A guard of honour at Chelsea

Former Chelsea midfielder Alan Birchenall addresses the Stamford Bridge crowd before Claudio Ranieri - an ex-Blues manager - and his Leicester squad are afforded a Guard of Honour by the home side on the final day of the season. Danny Drinkwater's stunner secures a 1-1 draw in the capital, leaving City 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal.

28

The celebrations continue

An open-top bus tour - concluding with a party at Victoria Park - sees a quarter of a million Foxes fans head to the streets of Leicester to toast their title heroes. The newly-crowned champions go into the summer still delirious with pride... and excitement for their first-ever campaign in the UEFA Champions League.