League Cup Glory, Promotions & European Adventures

Promotion from both second and third tiers in the English football pyramid, a valiant UEFA Champions League performance, Europa Conference League progress and the Club's second League Cup triumph all occurred between 14-20 April.

2025-04-14T17:00+00:00

by Sam Stevens

Published

14 Apr, 2025

League Cup Glory, Promotions & European Adventures

Promotion from both second and third tiers in the English football pyramid, a valiant UEFA Champions League performance, Europa Conference League progress and the Club's second League Cup triumph all occurred between 14-20 April.

Sam Stevens

2025-04-14T17:00+00:00

League Cup Glory, Promotions & European Adventures

Promotion from both second and third tiers in the English football pyramid, a valiant UEFA Champions League performance, Europa Conference League progress and the Club's second League Cup triumph all occurred between 14-20 April.

Sam Stevens

2025-04-14T17:00+00:00

League Cup Glory, Promotions & European Adventures

Promotion from both second and third tiers in the English football pyramid, a valiant UEFA Champions League performance, Europa Conference League progress and the Club's second League Cup triumph all occurred between 14-20 April.

Sam Stevens

2025-04-14T17:00+00:00

League Cup Glory, Promotions & European Adventures

Promotion from both second and third tiers in the English football pyramid, a valiant UEFA Champions League performance, Europa Conference League progress and the Club's second League Cup triumph all occurred between 14-20 April.

Sam Stevens

2025-04-14T17:00+00:00

A last-gasp equaliser from Emile Heskey at Wembley Stadium had took the League Cup Final to a replay at Hillsborough, on 16 April, 1997, as Leicester City and Middlesbrough resumed rivalries in Yorkshire.

The replay was as tight an affair as the first meeting between Martin O'Neill's Foxes and Bryan Robson's Boro, with the showpiece event once again going into extra-time after a goalless 90 minutes.

For City, who had only lifted the famous trophy once before, in 1964, it turned into an evening of joy, however, as Steve Claridge's bundled effort, in the 100th minute, gave us the lead.

Steve Walsh & Steve Claridge - League Cup 1997.jpg

We were able to hold onto it, too, capping off an excellent first campaign back in the Premier League, which ended with an incredibly respectable ninth-placed finish for O'Neill's side.

The Northern Irishman's tenure would include another three top-10 finishes in the top-flight standings, plus a further League Cup success in 2000, but the Club was in a different place in the summer of 2002.

Relegated back to the old First Division, Micky Adams was the man tasked with securing an immediate return to the Premier League and overseeing our transition into their new Filbert Way home.

Even with the distractions of administration hitting the Club midway through the 2002/03 season, Adams expertly guided us through choppy waters ahead of Brighton's visit on 19 April, 2003.

Muzzy Izzet & Paul Dickov - Leicester City promotion 2003

Goals from Muzzy Izzet and Jordan Stewart sealed a 2-0 victory over Adams' former side, mathematically confirming City's promotion back to the top tier after just one year away.

In 2008/09, on the other hand, promotion from League 1 was the focus for Nigel Pearson's men. On 18 April, 2009, we were in Southend knowing victory would seal both promotion and the third-tier title.

A brace from Matty Fryatt, netting his 30th and 31st goals of the campaign, were enough for victory, ending our first-ever stay in the third division and limiting it to just the one year.

Nigel Pearson & Matty Fryatt - League 1 promotion 2009

The celebrations were particularly memorable for the Blue Army, who had backed Pearson's men in numbers all season.

Despite only earning promotion from League 1 in 2009, Leicester were at the top table of European football just eight years later on 18 April, 2017.

Atlético Madrid were the visitors to King Power Stadium for a UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final tie against the Foxes, who were the reigning Premier League champions.

Leicester City vs. Atletico Madrid - UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals

Antoine Griezmann's penalty during the first leg gave the Spanish giants a one-goal advantage over City, who had overcome Club Brugge, Copenhagen and Porto on their way to the last-eight.

Our intrepid European adventure did come to an end, with Saúl Ñíguez's netting an away goal before Jamie Vardy's later effort for the home side, but we can forever be proud of our showing.

Five years later, on the other hand, we were in the UEFA Europa Conference League, bidding to reach the semi-finals of a European competition for the first-ever time. On 14 April, 2022, it was a trip to PSV Eindhoven for City.

Ricardo Pereira - PSV Eindhoven vs. Leicester City - UEFA Europa Conference League Quarter-Finals

After a goalless stalemate in Leicester, PSV were ahead inside half an hour as Eran Zahavi appeared to put them on course for victory. Late goals from James Maddison and Ricardo Pereira, however, flipped the game on its head, and fired the Foxes into the last four. José Mourinho's AS Roma awaited in the semi-finals.

LATEST HEADLINES

Page, James & Braybrooke Win Seasonal EFL Honours It was a memorable evening for Louis Page, Jordan James and Sammy Braybrooke at the EFL Awards as they picked up seasonal honours for their displays during the 2025/26 campaign.

3 Hours 5 Mins Ago

Rowett ‘Deeply Frustrated’ After Pompey Defeat Gary Rowett expressed his frustrations following Saturday’s 1-0 away defeat to Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

16 Hours 5 Mins Ago

U18s Lose Out To Norwich Norwich City claimed all three points in Saturday's U18 Premier League South clash at LCFC Training Ground.

18 Apr, 2026

City Fall To Defeat At Fratton Park Portsmouth came away with a 1-0 success over Leicester City in Saturday’s crunch Sky Bet Championship clash at Fratton Park.

18 Apr, 2026