adminThe underdog story that once shook world football in 2016 is back in focus again — but this time, for all the wrong reasons.
Back then, against all odds at 5000/1, Leicester City stunned everyone by winning the Premier League under Claudio Ranieri.
They outperformed the so-called “Big Six” and pulled off one of the most unlikely achievements the sport has ever seen. It was a season built on unity, belief, and pure fight the kind of story that felt like it could never be repeated.
Fast forward 10 years, and things couldn’t look more different.
Leicester City have now been relegated to League One after a 2-2 draw with Hull City on 22 April 2026 confirmed their fate, with two games still left in the season.
It was a painful ending to a season that never really found stability. They went into the match needing a win to keep their survival hopes alive, and for a moment it looked possible after they battled back from a goal down to lead. But they couldn’t hold on, and Oli McBurnie’s goal eventually sealed their relegation.
From Premier League champions to third-tier football it’s a steep and emotional fall for a club that once stood at the very top of English football. Leicester will now compete in League One for only the second time in their 142-year history.
This season has been messy from the start. Inconsistency, defensive mistakes, and wasted chances kept piling up, and in the end, the draw against Hull simply confirmed what had been building for months.
talkSPORT report on Rowett and Maresca
talkSPORT understands that Leicester boss Gary Rowett was left irritated by the presence of Enzo Maresca in the directors’ box during the 2-2 draw with Hull City.
According to the report, Maresca’s appearance during such a crucial match didn’t sit well with Rowett, especially with the pressure already high as the club edged closer to relegation.
Financial and squad impact
Sky Sports News reports that Leicester will now face a major financial setback following relegation. Club revenue is expected to drop sharply from over £100m in the Championship to around £60m in League One.
Wage reductions of 30–40% are likely, and a major squad rebuild is expected, as many of the higher-earning players become unsustainable at third-tier level.
Even with parachute payments helping to soften the blow, the club’s income is set to keep falling in the coming years.
Leicester’s drop is now being viewed as one of the most dramatic declines in recent English football history, leaving them with a huge rebuilding job both on and off the pitch.
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Abdulhafiz Teslim
