Champions League to Championship: What went wrong at Leicester City?

Fall from grace
Gone wrong
Prior success
Where did it go wrong?
Didn’t replace Schmeichel
What they were missing
Conceding goals
No investment
Different objectives
Lack of evolution
Managerial mess
Failing to act
Dean Smith
Can they quickly return?
Overhaul
How long will it take?
Fall from grace

The end of the Premier League season marked a season to forget for Leicester City, who made a remarkable fall from grace from playing in the Champions League to now playing in the Championship.

Gone wrong

A lack of investment and managerial stability were the main reasons three coaches lost 22 of 38 Premier League fixtures.

Prior success

Since being promoted in 2014, Leicester City has been one of the highest-performing teams in the country, famously winning the Premier League in 2016 and securing an FA Cup.

Where did it go wrong?

From consecutive top-eight finishes to relegation, where did it all go wrong for Leicester City?

Didn’t replace Schmeichel

Before the managerial mix-ups or lack of investment, Leicester City got one thing wrong straight off the bat, letting 11-year servant Kasper Schmeichel leave to join Nice in France.

What they were missing

The Danish goalkeeper was the leader of the dressing room and ever present in the club's toughest times, like when the former owner died in a helicopter crash.

Conceding goals

Welsh keeper Danny Ward struggled as the first-choice keeper, conceding on average 1.8 goals a game. Leicester let in 68 goals during the season, the fourth worst in the league.

No investment

After an eighth-place finish and the heartbreak of missing out on getting the club to a European final, the club's spending was stagnant due to a poor business year for the King Power Duty-free.

Different objectives

Former manager Brendan Rodgers had his eyes set on a top-four finish for the season just gone, but with only one true signing (£15m for Wout Faes), Rodgers had to adjust his expectations.

Lack of evolution

In the Premier League, a squad must evolve to continue to compete, and with the sale of key personnel and the drop off from key players like Jamie Vardy, the manager aimed to survive.

Managerial mess

Brendan Rodgers led the club to one win in ten before steering the club to 12th prior to the World Cup break. Even then, the fans knew a change should have been made, but the owners stuck to their guns and kept Rodgers in charge.

Failing to act

Leicester fans started displaying 'Rodgers out' banners after continued poor results. Rodgers stayed in post for the two-week international break before being sacked after the first game back, losing to Crystal Palace, with the club sinking into the drop zone.

Dean Smith

The two-week break would have been perfect for a manager to implement his ideas in the group, but with poor planning, Dean Smith was appointed with eight games to go.

Can they quickly return?

On the surface, Leicester looks as though they can quickly return to the Premier League, possessing top-ten caliber players. However, with seven players out of contract in June and Youri Tielemans already moving on, the club make take some time to move back up.

Overhaul

A further eight players have their contracts expire next year, and expect 50% cuts in their wages with the club being relegated. This Leicester team may have a completely new squad by the time 2024 comes around.

How long will it take?

Leicester was last relegated from the Premier League in the 03/04 campaign, taking them ten years to return. Fans and players alike will be hoping it won't take that long again.

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