The Leicester squad for 2024/25 is targeting survival first and foremost, as they make their return to the Premier League.
Suffice to say, 2016 feels long ago. The tender warbles of Andrea Bocelli are but whispers in the wind these days – or perhaps more aptly, a more worrisome stormy breeze in Leicester.
Still rolling back the years is 37-year-old Jamie Vardy, signed on for another year at the King Power. He was back to his wind-up-merchant best on the opening day against Spurs, netting the equaliser and gleefully reminding the travelling fans how many more Premier League titles he has than their club.
Eight years, an FA Cup, three European seasons, one Stadio Olimpico semi-final and a pitiful (but crucially, rectified) relegation later, the plan is very simple for this Foxes side: survive.
The reality is less straightforward. They’ll be trying to do it as a newly-promoted club with a considerable points deduction (news of which was still unconfirmed as the season kicked off), a third new manager in as many seasons, uncertainty in the transfer market and a squad that made harder work of Championship glory than casual glances would suggest. Equally, this kind of chaos – for better or worse – comes fairly standard at this club. Predictability is death.
And the first rule of last year? You don’t talk about last year. Leicester didn’t want to be in the Championship, shouldn’t have put themselves there and, mercifully for them, didn’t threaten their future by staying any longer than they needed to.
Enzo Maresca fulfilled his brief to get them straight back up, but a stubbornly dreary playing style and fretful run down the final stretch meant the relationship between boss and fans was always more strained than smitten.
But that was then. This year, there’s a new boss in Steve Cooper and a challenge to rally around. Positivity will therefore be essential – both team and fans will need each other to keep the mood optimistic and avoid any ill feeling at the first sign of struggle.
Subsequent defeats to Fulham and Aston Villa in the opening few games suggest there will be plenty of struggle, and that’s before news of any points deduction.
Leicester squad for 2024/25
Leicester squad for 2024/25: Steve Cooper's full team
- GK: Danny Ward
- GK: Jakub Stolarczyk
- GK: Mads Hermansen
- GK: Daniel Iversen
- DF: James Justin
- DF: Wout Waes
- DF: Conor Coady
- DF: Caleb Okoli
- DF: Victor Kristiansen
- DF: Ricardo Pereira
- DF: Jannik Vestergaard
- DF: Luke Thomas
- MF: Harry Winks
- MF: Bilal El Khannous
- MF: Hamza Choudhury
- MF: Oliver Skipp
- MF: Boubakary Soumare
- MF: Wilfred Ndidi
- MF: Kasey McAteer
- MF: Wanya Marcal
- MF: Will Alves
- MF: Facundo Buonanotte
- MF: Bobby Decordova-Reid
- MF: Michael Golding
- FW: Jamie Vardy
- FW: Stephy Mavididi
- FW: Jordan Ayew
- FW: Odsonne Edouard
- FW: Patson Daka
- FW: Abdul Fatawu
Leicester squad numbers for 2024/25
Leicester manager
Steve Cooper
Steve Cooper may be enshrined 28 miles down the M1, but the former Nottingham Forest boss must quickly attempt to foster a similar kind of atmosphere that made 23-year-old dreams come true at the City Ground. Pragmatic, progressive and fresh, he feels like a smart fit for this challenge ahead.
Leicester's key player
Mads Hermansen
Mads Hermansen’s saves prevented more goals than any other goalkeeper in the Championship last season, but his footwork and brave style should also earn the 24-year-old plenty of admiring glances this term. Given Leicester’s defensive question marks, the Dane won’t be short of opportunities to impress.
One to watch
Abdul Fatawu
Livewire winger Abdul Fatawu has made his loan from Sporting permanent, following a successful second-tier campaign lit up by his dancing feet and deadly long-range shooting. At 20, the Ghanaian entertainer is going places.
The mood
Leicester fans are doing their best to search for signs of hope amid the debris. Still miffed at club powers for taking them down, mismanaging finances and then hiking up matchday ticket prices, there’s a sense that new boss Steve Cooper and his team could do a lot to curry favour if they set a tone and start brightly. It’s also why in a perverse kind of way, starting on minus points might… not be the worst thing?
For a fanbase that’s struggling to find faith and fervour in the immediate future, giving them something tangible to rail against may be the rocket that all parties need to launch a new era. But a good start will be paramount. The mood on Cooper has been quietly growing – now it’s on him to channel this sense of us-against-the-world into something serious on the pitch.
View from the stands
David Bevan (@TheFosseWay)
Last season was job done. After a wobble, the end to the season was packed with joyous moments.
This season will be different because VAR is back! Can’t wait…
I won’t be happy unless we start to look like a well-run club again, getting back to making smart decisions off the pitch to help us on it.
Our key player will be Harry Winks, who looked like a Premier League player at Championship level and needs to prove it now.
Our most underrated player is Abdul Fatawu. The Premier League is about to find out...
Look out for Will Alves, an exciting wide player who we can’t wait to see in blue.
Fans think our owner is still hugely appreciated, but in need of help to make better long-term decisions on the football side of things.
The opposition player I'd love here is Jacob Greaves. Our biggest need is at centre-back and he looks the real deal.
The opposition player who grinds my gears is Diogo Jota, who always seems to score against us.
The active player I'd love to have back is Riyad Mahrez, who must fancy another crack at the Premier League...
The player I'd happily drive to another club is Danny Ward. We’re paying out big wages for multiple goalkeepers we don’t need.
The pantomime villain will be Enzo Maresca when we play Chelsea, although he did what was required.
The thing my club really gets right is the pre-match build-up featuring local boys Kasabian and Jersey Budd.
The one change I'd make would be bringing in more football expertise at board level.
Our season ticket prices are somewhat controversial, with a new £25 charge for a physical card sowing major discontent.
I'm least looking forward to playing Manchester City, the kind of elite club we’ve not had to bother with for the past year.
We'll finish 17th. That has to be the aim realistically, especially if we are deducted points, and I’d snatch your hand off for it.
