Leicester City began their title-winning season in 2015/16 with 5000-1 odds of lifting the trophy.
It’s probably the biggest swing from unfancied to champions we’ll ever see in the English top flight, and it’s still spoken about to this day for that very reason.
Incredibly, manager Claudio Ranieri was given the brief to reach 40 points on arriving at the club, with the Foxes having just avoided relegation the previous season.
Claudio Ranieri reveals key player to Leicester City’s title win in 2016
“Apparently the bookmakers were offering 5000-1 on us winning the title,” Ranieri tells FourFourTwo now, “and considered it more likely that aliens would land, the Loch Ness Monster would appear, that Elvis Presley was still alive, or that Bono would be elected as Pope.
“I know this because somebody told me – I don’t read newspapers, so I didn’t even realise.”
2014. Debut in Ligue1 with Caen.2015. Joins Leicester for €9m.2016. Premier League winner with Leicester.2017. Premier League winner with Chelsea.2018. World Cup winner with France.2019. Europa League winner with Chelsea.2021. UCL winner with Chelsea.N’GOLO KANTÉ. pic.twitter.com/OUkEgsynkDMay 29, 2021
What met the Italian on his arrival was, he felt, a well-drilled side left by predecessor Nigel Pearson, with players in great shape.
It’s unlikely Ranieri had designs on top spot at that stage, but already he was noticing talent beyond mere relegation battlers.
“I watched several matches and led the first training sessions,” he said. “I immediately realised that Riyad Mahrez starting from the right and cutting inside on to his left foot could be extremely dangerous. On the opposite flank I put Marc Albrighton, who usually played on the right and delivered plenty of crosses, but from the left he too could cut inside and shoot.
“Danny Drinkwater and Andy King were the two players who provided solidity in midfield. I gradually placed Danny Simpson at right-back.”
As the manager was methodically putting together the pieces of his title-winning jigsaw, however, he soon clocked who the vital cog in the machine was going to be.
“The decisive move was placing N’Golo Kante in midfield alongside Drinkwater,” Ranieri revealed.
“That boy was extraordinary. With him, it felt as though we were playing with 12 men.
“Once, I said I wouldn’t have been surprised to see him cross the ball, then head it in himself.
“He was incredible.”
