adminLeicester City’s 2015–16 Premier League title remains one of football’s greatest shocks. They began the season as 5000–1 outsiders after narrowly avoiding relegation.
Under Claudio Ranieri, a side led by Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez, N’Golo Kanté and Wes Morgan combined discipline, pace and belief.
They lost just three league games, led for most of the season, and sealed the title early. It was their first top-flight crown—a true underdog story against England’s richest clubs.
A decade later, everything has changed. Leicester were relegated in 2024–25 and are now battling near the bottom of the Championship after a points deduction for financial breaches. Another drop, this time to League One, is a real threat.
Poor form, managerial turnover and financial losses have driven the decline. The fall from champions to potential third-tier football in ten years is stark.
Amid the struggle a Top-talented player, Éder’s shared a story . He rose steadily in Italy before joining Sampdoria in 2012, where he scored 49 goals in 135 games and earned an Italy call-up under Antonio Conte.
Eder moved to Italy at the age of 19 and slowly worked his way up the football ladder before earning a breakthrough move to Sampdoria in 2012.
Playing as a second striker behind the main number nine, he settled quickly and became an important part of the attack, scoring 49 goals in 135 appearances.
His performances earned him a national team call up from Antonio Conte in 2015, and he was later included in Italy’s Euro 2016 squad. He contributed with his work rate and intelligence in the final third, operating as a second striker behind Graziano Pelle in Conte’s 3-5-2.
Before moving to Inter on loan in January 2016, Eder had the chance to sign for English club Leicester City, but he turned down the opportunity to join Claudio Ranieri’s side.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Eder revealed that a deal with Leicester had been completed, but his decision changed after speaking with Inter coach Roberto Mancini and sporting director Piero Ausilio.
Asked for a big regret in his career, he named the failed move to Leicester, saying: “I would have played behind Vardy, it was a done deal, but Mancini and Ausilio made me change my mind.”
Eder admitted he now regrets the choice. When he informed Ranieri that he would not be joining Leicester, the Italian manager responded with class, telling him that he would enjoy himself at the club. Eder still opted for Inter, a decision that would ultimately backfire.
He struggled for playing time at the Nerazzurri, while Leicester went on to win the Premier League. Reflecting on the moment, Eder said, “Ranieri replied like a gentleman: ‘If you want to have fun like a child, come to us.’ I went to Inter and played very little. Leicester won the championship.”
Under Ranieri, Leicester embraced a simple but highly effective style built around defensive discipline, explosive counterattacks and remarkable team spirit.
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