Leicester City In The 21st Century: 1999/00
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01
A fourth consecutive year in the top flight
Martin O'Neill's successful Leicester City side was bolstered in the summer of 1999 by the signings of Tim Flowers and Phil Gilchrist. Kasey Keller, on the other hand, departed Filbert Street. Optimism was high as the Foxes approached a new millennium in healthy shape.
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02
Cottee on the scoresheet
City almost made an extraordinary start to the 1999/00 campaign as Tony Cottee put the visitors ahead against Arsenal at Highbury on the opening day. A strike from Dennis Bergkamp and Frank Sinclair's own goal, however, meant it ended in defeat in north London.
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03
Up and running
It didn't take long for Leicester to get points on the board, though. Muzzy Izzet's penalty at Filbert Street was enough to secure a 1-0 success over Coventry City four days later in the Club's first home game of the season.
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04
Zagorakis in nets!
After both Pegguy Arphexad and Tim Flowers were forced off with injury in a League Cup Second Round tie at Crystal Palace, Greek International Theo Zagorakis was forced to go in goal for the Foxes. They were leading 3-1 at the time, but it ended 3-3 at Selhurst Park. City would win out in the end.
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05
Building momentum
Martin O'Neill's men would go on to secure wins over Middlesbrough and Watford later in August, before a loss at Sunderland and a 2-2 draw with Liverpool on home soil. Leicester then enjoyed a three-game winning spell afterwards, overcoming Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton.
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06
A final league win in the 20th century
When the Foxes left Highfield Road with another one-goal victory over Coventry City on 27 November, few among the Blue Army thought they'd be watching their last Premier League win of 1999. Leicester, though, were about to embark on a seven-game winless streak.
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07
Recognition for the manager
After a month which included two wins and one loss (vs. Man Utd) for the Foxes, Martin O'Neill picked up the Premier League's Manager of the Month award.
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08
Ending 1999
Leicester played out their last game of 1999 in a 2-1 reverse to Newcastle United at Filbert Street on 28 December.
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09
Redemption for Walsh
After an earlier error left City on the brink, Steve Walsh recovered to send a League Cup Fifth Round tie with Fulham to extra-time. It ended 3-3 after another half an hour, but it was the home side who won the shootout. They also later beat Leeds on penalties to advance to the semi-finals.
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10
Speculation and turmoil
There was a lot going on off the field in early 2000. Fans were unhappy with the ownership at Filbert Street, Martin O'Neill's future was less than certain and the squad attracted unwanted headlines on a trip to La Manga. It didn't seem to impact their form too much later on in the season, though.
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11
The Birch being the Birch
Away from City's League Cup exploits, the Premier League was offering little joy. The Birch, however, could always be relied upon for some light-hearted moments ahead of kick-off at Filbert Street.
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12
Arphexad the shootout hero
After 0-0 draws both at Highbury and Filbert Street, an FA Cup Fourth Round tie with Arsenal went to penalties on 19 January. Pegguy Arphexad made two saves to deny Lee Dixon and Gilles Grimandi from the spot and Leicester advanced via the shootout. They would lose the quarter-final, however, to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
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13
Wembley-bound again!
Matt Elliott's athletic header ultimately settled a tight and tense semi-finals tie with Aston Villa in the League Cup - sending the Foxes back to Wembley.
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14
'Boring, boring Leicester'
Villa's supporters - and indeed some others - had criticised Leicester City for a 'boring' brand of football. When they confirmed their place in the final of the League Cup, edging closer to a second win in the competition in three years, this is how the players reacted....
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15
An exciting but bold move
Stan Collymore was signed by the Club in February 2000 in an effort to inject more goals into the side. Fans purred at the prospect of his potential partnership with either Tony Cottee or Emile Heskey, but it wasn't to last very long.
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16
Heskey's emergence
For some years, Leicester fans had known all about Emile Heskey's qualities. As he continued scoring and performing well in 1999/00, others started to take notice. Before the season was done, the England forward would leave the Club, joining Liverpool for a reported £11M.
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17
Back on track in the league
Andy Impey forced an own goal from Mark Schwarzer to end Leicester's wait for three points in the Premier League, sealing a 2-1 win over Boro on 5 February. Injuries certainly played a role in City's league problems.
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18
Glory in London
A duo of headers from captain Matt Elliott secured the League Cup for the Foxes, who beat First Division side Tranmere Rovers 2-1 in the final at Wembley. Despite City's off-field strife and their underdogs tags for much of the late 1990s, that was their second triumph in three seasons.
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19
O'Neill's legacy
It was a victory which also underlined Martin O'Neill's place in Leicester City folklore. The Northern Irishman had guided the Club to promotion in 1996 and was on course to add a fourth successive top-10 Premier League finish to his two League Cups.
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20
Collymore's Sunderland hat-trick
The good feelings just kept flowing for the Foxes as Stan Collymore's hat-trick - just a month after he joined the Club - helped the home side to a 5-2 success over Sunderland. The Blue Army were dreaming about what could be in one of the best-ever performances under Martin O'Neill.
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21
Sav sinks the Magpies
After Tony Cottee's opener, Robbie Savage also found the net in a memorable 2-0 triumph over Newcastle United at St. James' Park in mid-April.
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22
Stunning the Reds on Merseyside
Leicester's top goalscorer, Tony Cottee, added another at Anfield before Phil Gilchrist made sure for the Foxes in a brilliant 2-0 win over Liverpool in their second-last away game of the 1999/00 season.
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23
Signing off with three points
For City's final home game of the season, Martin O'Neill's men signed off in style. A brace from Matt Elliott and Tony Cottee's solitary strike registered a 3-0 success over Bradford City at Filbert Street.
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24
Hope for the future
Although Leicester would lose on the final day at Sheffield Wednesday, there was much optimism around the place when the players did a lap of the pitch after their last home game. City would end the season in eighth place - their highest league finish in 24 years. Speculation remained, though, that Martin O'Neill could depart the Club in the summer.