Fairytale to nightmare: Inside Leicester City's devastating return to relegation

A decade ago, Leicester City defied impossible odds, embarking on the most astonishing period in the club’s history, winning a Premier League title, lifting the FA Cup, and competing across Europe. That legendary 2015-16 side, which former Turkish Super League champion with Beşiktaş and Başakşehir and a seasoned midfielder Gökhan İnler was a part of it, was built on unity, work ethic, dependable leadership, shrewd planning, excellent recruitment, and an unwavering spirit. This season's Leicester possessed none of these qualities, culminating in a meek surrender to relegation, punctuated by a record ninth consecutive home defeat without scoring against Liverpool.

The contrast with their triumphant past is stark. That era saw a blend of experience and emerging talent perfectly harnessed. Well, most of the times! Club spent som bitter days after their impossible championship. Title winner Italian coach Claudio Ranieri couldn't survive a full year to be sacked in February 2017 after bad results in Premier League. That was the first big signal for The Foxes... Because rumors emerged later that players had been meeting with the owners to discuss Ranieri's sacking without the Italian knowing, which sparked widespread outrage over social media, but these rumors were never proven.

However during the glorious days, key figures provided stability and quality, setting a standard that seems worlds away from the current disjointed squad low on confidence and fight. Players like Inler's experience and winning mentality sorely missed in recent times. Even his presence was a reminder of the calculated squad-building that underpinned their greatest success.

The club's Turkish connection continued with Fenerbahçe defender Çağlar Söyüncü, whose prime days during the 2019–20 season earned him a place in the Premier League PFA Team of the Year. The most recent connection was winger Yunus Akgün, who spent the 2023-24 season on loan from Galatasaray. Arriving during the Championship-winning campaign initially overseen by Enzo Maresca, Akgün experienced the subsequent managerial upheaval. His time at the King Power Stadium coincided with the instability that foreshadowed the disastrous Premier League return, highlighting the challenges loanees face adapting amidst off-field turbulence and shifting tactical demands.

Intensifying acrimony

This season, acrimony against the hierarchy intensified, with fans flying banners demanding the board's dismissal. Director of football Jon Rudkin faces significant blame for the decline, though responsibility is shared. Owner Aiyawatt ‘Khun Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha faces crucial decisions, particularly regarding Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose tenure oversaw just eight points from 20 Premier League games.

Alignment is absent, exemplified by the handling of Harry Winks, ostracized for prioritizing family time, and Jannik Vestergaard, sidelined despite a recent contract extension influenced by the departed Maresca.

Profit and sustainability rules (PSR) further complicate matters. Following their 2023 relegation, Leicester fought off an EFL attempt to impose budget restrictions. An alleged Premier League PSR breach remains in arbitration, threatening potential sanctions and hindering squad planning. Despite returning to the Premier League after a strong Championship season under Maresca – albeit one achieved with a division-leading budget – the club failed to learn from past mistakes. Chief executive Susan Whelan acknowledged relegation's long-term impact, yet new problems arose quickly.

The departure of promotion-winning manager Enzo Maresca to Chelsea triggered instability. Recruitment plans tailored to his possession style were disrupted. Leicester pursued Graham Potter but eventually hired Steve Cooper after he impressed Khun Top with his analysis. Cooper was given an £80 million transfer kitty but lasted only 12 league games. Despite picking up nine points early on and sitting outside the relegation zone, concerns over his perceived abrasive manner and a disconnect with players led to his dismissal – a shock to Cooper himself.

Concerns and hesitations during transfer window...

Recruitment proved deeply problematic. PSR concerns and potential points deductions made players hesitant, with agents demanding protective clauses. The late confirmation of no immediate deduction came after the summer window closed. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's sale funded moves for Facundo Buonanotte (loan) and Bilal El Khannouss. While winger Abdul Fatawu's permanent deal seemed sensible, Cooper's focus on perceived Premier League experience led to signing veterans Jordan Ayew and Bobby De Cordova-Reid.

Puzzlingly, £20m was spent on Oliver Skipp, £13m on Caleb Okoli, and £5m on Michael Golding (who never played). The loan signing of Odsonne Edouard, subsequently ignored by Cooper and Van Nistelrooy, proved a costly error, blocking a January loan spot. The only winter business was Woyo Coulibaly, who barely featured. Recruitment, a collective process involving Martyn Glover, Rudkin, and the manager, laid relegation's foundations, with Van Nistelrooy largely ignoring the summer signings.

Van Nistelrooy's appointment followed Cooper's sacking. Having briefly managed PSV and assisted at Manchester United, he promised pragmatism but favoured a possession-based approach similar to Maresca's. After a brief 'honeymoon,' a run of 16 defeats in 18 league games began. The statistics were appalling: eight consecutive losses without scoring, and no home league goal seen since early December. Fan protests gave way to resignation and apathy as confidence evaporated.

Van Nistelrooy appeared broken, the players' body language reflecting a defeated team. Disjointed, dejected, demotivated – it was a miserable end. Sunday's defeat wasn't just a result; it was the culmination of catastrophic decisions, marking perhaps the worst season in Leicester's history. The anger has turned to despair, and the path back to the Premier League looks significantly harder this time.