Leicester City - Champions of England
Leicester City - Champions of England
The 2nd of May 2016 will be remembered for many, many years. This was the day that one of the biggest shocks in football, or any sport, finally happened: Leicester City became Premier League Champions. Many football fans are still rubbing their eyes in disbelief that this has happened in the biggest league in world football. Leicester City had never won a top division title before, their best result before this season was second, in 1929! Only seven years ago, Leicester were playing in League One, the third level of English football. Last season, Leicester were bottom of the table for most of the year and only seven wins in their last nine matches saved them from relegation. At the beginning of this season, Leicester City were given odds of 5000-1 to win the Premier League, there was a stronger possibility of Elvis Presley being found alive (2000-1) or the Loch Ness Monster being discovered in Scotland (500-1). How did Leicester City win the Premier League?
Was it the manager?
Claudio Ranieri was named Leicester City manager at the start of this season. Before he came to Leicester, he managed many top clubs in Europe and had finished second with Monaco (France), Juventus and Roma (Italy) and Chelsea (England) but had never won a top division title. When he arrrived at Leicester many people thought that it was a bad decision and that at 64 years old his best days were behind him. He had just been fired as the manager of the Greek national team after they lost a home match against the Faroe Islands (World Ranking: 187) and he was the favourite to be the first manager to lose his job this season. Leicester's most famous fan, Gary Lineker (the Golden Boot Winner for the 1986 World Cup), said that Claudio Ranieri was an 'uninspiring choice'. As it turned out, Ranieri's appointment was inspired. Ranieri's team has played positive counter-attacking football all season and have shown that having possession of the football is not the most important thing. Ranieri has kept the pressure off the players and his relaxed style has helped his players concentrate on football. Ranieri has had fun with the players; one example was giving them pizza for keeping clean sheets. When he was manager at Chelsea he was called 'The Tinkerman' because he changed his team so much but at Leicester he has made fewer changes than any other Premier League manager. Is it a settled unchanged team that has won Leicester the title?
"I am very happy to win because when you start as a manager you hope you can win a league. I won the most important league in Europe, I think, not just Europe but the world!" Claudio Ranieri.
Was it the players?
At the start of the season, Leicester had no superstars, not many people knew about Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy or N'Golo Kante, maybe they knew Schmeichel, but that was Peter Schmeichel, Kasper's dad, from his time at Manchester Utd. N'Golo Kante was one of the few changes that Ranieri made to last season's Leicester team, signing him for £5 million from Caen in France. Mahrez was playing in the French second division when Leicester paid £400,000 for him when Leicester were also a second division club. Nobody had heard of Mahrez and he hadn't heard of Leicester either. He thought Leicester was a rugby club! Jamie Vardy's arrival at Leicester is even more unlikely than Mahrez's. At 23, Vardy was working in a factory and playing non-league football and Leicester was his first professional club when he signed for them in 2012. Now, all three players are superstars, all three are part of their national teams with France, Algeria and England, and all three were named in the PFA Team of the Season. Mahrez won the PFA Player of the Year Award, which is voted for by players, and Vardy won the FWA Player of the Year Award, voted for by professional journalists. Maybe there is one other person that has been part of Leicester success story. Steve Walsh is head of recruitment at Leicester City and he took the decision to bring these three players to the club, in addition to players such as Danny Drinkwater, Robert Huth, Danny Simpson and Marc Albrighton who were unwanted at other clubs.
"It was brilliant, all the lads were together when it happened and it kind of sums us up as a group of lads. I’ve not known a bond like it, and I think the rest of the lads would say the same. It’s a special moment for us lot." Danny Drinkwater, Leicester midfielder.
Was it the fans?
Leicester City winning the Premier League has sent shock waves around the football world but Leicester fans have been sending their own shock waves around the city of Leicester. A team from the University of Leicester have installed a seismometer, a device that measures the strength of earthquakes, near the King Power Stadium, the Foxes home ground. Following a goal in the 89th minute by Leonardo Ulloa, which gave Leicester a 1-0 win against Norwich City, the team measured an earthquake at 0.3 on the richter scale. Leicester's support at the King Power has been fanatical this season. The atmosphere has been improved by the club giving out 30,000 cardboard clappers at every home match, which costs the club £12,000 but they make a lot of noise. The atmosphere has also been helped by the chairman giving the fans free drinks and doughnuts at some matches. Leicester have the best home record in the Premier League this season, but they also have the best away record!
"The clappers allow the supporters to make a big difference on match day. They can all join in and make as much noise as they want to support their team." Anthony Herily - Leicester Spokesperson.
Was it something else?
Leicester have had an unbelievable season but can their success be explained by a manager who did everything right, a group of players who performed better than ever before, or even an amazing atmosphere at the stadium? Maybe there are other reasons for Leicester's success this season? Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha is the Thai chairman of Leicester City and he is a believer in the power of karma, which is the belief that whatever you do comes back to you in some way. He invited a group of Buddhist monks to Leicester, from Thailand, and they have been visiting the King Power Stadium for the last three years and blessing the pitch and giving lucky charms to the players. Another reason for Leicester's success might be King Richard III (1452-1485), King Richard's body was found under a car park in Leicester in 2012. His remains were removed last year and the old king was buried at Leicester cathedral in March last year. Since last March, Leicester have only lost three out of forty five Premier League matches. Could this be the reson for Leicester's improved results?
Is Leicester's Premier League title the biggest ever sporting achievement?
Click on talk and quiz below and let us know what you think!
10 things about Leicester City
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Leicester is home to a famous crisp factory and they have named a flavour of crisp after Jamie Vardy.
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Leicester City's entire playing squad cost less than Manchester City's Kevin de Bruyne.
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The Leicester players celebrated their title win together with a party at Jamie Vardy's house.
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The day before Leicester won the title, Claudio Ranieri went home to Italy to take his 96 year-old mum to lunch.
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There are rumours that there will be a film about Leicester City and Claudio Ranieri wants Robert De Niro to play him.
- Vardy scored in 11 consecutive matches - a Premier League record.
- Riyad Mahrez has been involved in more goals than any other Premier League player this season.
- Ranieri is only the eighth manager to win the Premier League.
- Leicester hold the record for most appearances in the FA Cup Final (4) without winning.
- Wes Morgan, Leicester's captain, has played every minute of every game this season.
Quiz
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What do you think?
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Is this the biggest ever surprise in football and sport more generally? Why/why not? Can you think of any similar shocks?
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Why did Leicester win the Premier League? Was it the manager? The players? The fans? Or something else?
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Is this a one-off or can Leicester do it again next season? How will they perform in the Champions League?
Write your answers in the comments section below.
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Comentários
26/03/2021
points
I think it was one of the biggest, as it was the South African rugby national team winning the World Cup at 1996.
I think they won because of a huge amount of circunstances, such as any football victory. It demands a lot of effort, work, and commitment to achive this kind of goal, and just a single person is not abble to do that alone.
The time showed that it was a one-off as Leicester's failed to keep climbing the mountain at the Champions League or even the PL the years after.
26/03/2021 15:12
Arsenal
1512
I think it was one of the biggest, as it was the South African rugby national team winning the World Cup at 1996.
I think they won because of a huge amount of circunstances, such as any football victory. It demands a lot of effort, work, and commitment to achive this kind of goal, and just a single person is not abble to do that alone.
The time showed that it was a one-off as Leicester's failed to keep climbing the mountain at the Champions League or even the PL the years after.
25/02/2021
points
Good
25/02/2021 15:38
Wolverhampton Wanderers
100
Good
28/01/2021
points
1-It’s not only surprise but also shocks for other teams’ players and fans, commentators etc. In this manner success is consist of (%30) chance but (%70) hard-work, dedicaiton as well as belief. In (2009-10) season same thing happened in my country for Bursaspor F.C.
2- It was combine of all the factors which was mentioned in the question. As a something else recruitment is very important. Steve Walsh invented treasure of footballers from lower divisions.
3- I think it’s not one-off success.It can be repeated in the future depends on management , fiscal and sportive power of Leicester.
PHRASES
• Nowadays this team have to keep clean sheet in order not to be relegated.
• All the crimes starts from a point at which it's supposed that one-off crime could have been forgiven.
28/01/2021 17:51
Tottenham Hotspur
5560
1-It’s not only surprise but also shocks for other teams’ players and fans, commentators etc. In this manner success is consist of (%30) chance but (%70) hard-work, dedicaiton as well as belief. In (2009-10) season same thing happened in my country for Bursaspor F.C.
2- It was combine of all the factors which was mentioned in the question. As a something else recruitment is very important. Steve Walsh invented treasure of footballers from lower divisions.
3- I think it’s not one-off success.It can be repeated in the future depends on management , fiscal and sportive power of Leicester.
PHRASES
• Nowadays this team have to keep clean sheet in order not to be relegated.
• All the crimes starts from a point at which it's supposed that one-off crime could have been forgiven.
01/07/2020
points
Ok
01/07/2020 00:03
Newcastle United
1505
Ok
13/05/2020
points
I think it is one in a million and they can perform well in the Champions League but no way to win the Premier League again
13/05/2020 02:39
Manchester United
6539
I think it is one in a million and they can perform well in the Champions League but no way to win the Premier League again
13/05/2020
points
I think Leicester won it by a mix of all the manager , the players , the fans and the staff working in the club but I don't believe in superstitions like the Buddist Monks and King Richard III's corpse
For me this is nonsense
13/05/2020 02:38
Manchester United
6539
I think Leicester won it by a mix of all the manager , the players , the fans and the staff working in the club but I don't believe in superstitions like the Buddist Monks and King Richard III's corpse
For me this is nonsense
13/05/2020
points
For me it's the biggest surprise ever in English football
It's quite the same like Greece winning the European Championship back in 2004
13/05/2020 02:36
Manchester United
6539
For me it's the biggest surprise ever in English football
It's quite the same like Greece winning the European Championship back in 2004
13/03/2017
points
correct me
1. it was extremely a massive shock in football history, and if you want to know why? look at the league table of 2014/2015 and of this season (they were and are fiighting for relegation).
another shock was greek at Euro 2004, but Leiecster's was the biggest.
2. it was was a combination of all these, and the weekness of the big teams last season also helped a bit, it was only the Spurs who challenged.
3. i think it's a one-off, and i think they may knokout the spanish side sevillie if they succeeded in keeping a clean sheet at home with Mehrez and Vardy in their best forms, i know it's a difficult task but they can do it and keep the fairytail continue
13/03/2017 16:37
Liverpool
2903
correct me
1. it was extremely a massive shock in football history, and if you want to know why? look at the league table of 2014/2015 and of this season (they were and are fiighting for relegation).
another shock was greek at Euro 2004, but Leiecster's was the biggest.
2. it was was a combination of all these, and the weekness of the big teams last season also helped a bit, it was only the Spurs who challenged.
3. i think it's a one-off, and i think they may knokout the spanish side sevillie if they succeeded in keeping a clean sheet at home with Mehrez and Vardy in their best forms, i know it's a difficult task but they can do it and keep the fairytail continue
13/03/2017
points
it was even bigger than Greek 2004 and Denmark 1992 Euro trophies, because in Nation cups you only play 3 games to get to the knokout stages with just another 3 games to hold the tophy, but in any league with 38 games i think this is impossible !
13/03/2017 14:18
Liverpool
2903
it was even bigger than Greek 2004 and Denmark 1992 Euro trophies, because in Nation cups you only play 3 games to get to the knokout stages with just another 3 games to hold the tophy, but in any league with 38 games i think this is impossible !
18/11/2016
points
Next seson will be very hard!!!
18/11/2016 10:50
Arsenal
2337
Next seson will be very hard!!!
16/11/2016
points
I think this exercise was good for me
16/11/2016 16:54
Leicester City
46
I think this exercise was good for me
26/07/2016
points
It was the mix of good atmosphere in the team, good players, a doze of luck and not so good competition like we're used to for PL.
26/07/2016 16:04
Arsenal
3557
It was the mix of good atmosphere in the team, good players, a doze of luck and not so good competition like we're used to for PL.
26/07/2016
points
I think Leicester will play well in the Champions League. In the Premier League it will be more difficult than the last season. I expect them to finish 6th.
26/07/2016 16:02
Arsenal
3557
I think Leicester will play well in the Champions League. In the Premier League it will be more difficult than the last season. I expect them to finish 6th.
26/07/2016
points
One of the biggest surprises by my choice: Greece winning the European championship, Germany beating Brazil 7-1, Monaco reaching the final of Champions League..
26/07/2016 16:01
Arsenal
3557
One of the biggest surprises by my choice: Greece winning the European championship, Germany beating Brazil 7-1, Monaco reaching the final of Champions League..
26/07/2016
points
Yes, I think this was the biggest surprise of all times in sport generally.
26/07/2016 15:59
Arsenal
3557
Yes, I think this was the biggest surprise of all times in sport generally.
12/07/2016
points
Leicester story is strongly motivating.I don't know whether they'll keep on doing well next season in the Premier League/CL,but I'll be watching their matches to follow if the fantastic fairytale continues.Though they probably won't be on the tops,and for CL they lack experience,it's gonna be interesting anyway.
12/07/2016 19:57
Arsenal
90
Leicester story is strongly motivating.I don't know whether they'll keep on doing well next season in the Premier League/CL,but I'll be watching their matches to follow if the fantastic fairytale continues.Though they probably won't be on the tops,and for CL they lack experience,it's gonna be interesting anyway.
12/07/2016
points
This football year is amazingly shocking!Leicester City as England champions,Iceland in quarter-finals and Wales in semi-finals at Euro 2016.And Portugal first time have won Europe Cup,won 1 of 7 matches in main time.I can't even assume what's gonna be next...Maybe something about Champions League?
12/07/2016 19:51
Arsenal
90
This football year is amazingly shocking!Leicester City as England champions,Iceland in quarter-finals and Wales in semi-finals at Euro 2016.And Portugal first time have won Europe Cup,won 1 of 7 matches in main time.I can't even assume what's gonna be next...Maybe something about Champions League?
12/07/2016
points
Well,I've been thinking about how Leicester managed to win the Premier League,having no even theoretical chances for any top positions and being outsiders originally.Maybe the matter was the top clubs' bad perfomance also,or they just couldn't stand the pressure,considering many experts had been predicting 'top' clubs success until season 15/16.Leicester's only aim was staying at the Premier League,but how it turned out eventually...Indeed,amazing story.
12/07/2016 19:45
Arsenal
90
Well,I've been thinking about how Leicester managed to win the Premier League,having no even theoretical chances for any top positions and being outsiders originally.Maybe the matter was the top clubs' bad perfomance also,or they just couldn't stand the pressure,considering many experts had been predicting 'top' clubs success until season 15/16.Leicester's only aim was staying at the Premier League,but how it turned out eventually...Indeed,amazing story.
08/07/2016
points
the atmosphere in the club
08/07/2016 20:46
Arsenal
225
the atmosphere in the club
04/07/2016
points
Yes it's really surprising, the underdog team won the Premier League. It doesn't matter if you were an underdog team or the favorite team, the one who win the cup is the best team. So Leicester win the premier league it means they're a good team. From the manager, player, management and the fans.
04/07/2016 09:16
Chelsea
107
Yes it's really surprising, the underdog team won the Premier League. It doesn't matter if you were an underdog team or the favorite team, the one who win the cup is the best team. So Leicester win the premier league it means they're a good team. From the manager, player, management and the fans.
21/06/2016
points
Thanks a lot Leicester.
21/06/2016 10:57
Manchester City
1734
Thanks a lot Leicester.
21/06/2016
points
it's a very nice team
21/06/2016 10:52
Manchester City
1734
it's a very nice team
21/06/2016
points
This a very good surprise for Leicester congratulation for them.
All phenomenon was gathered for this won : manager, players, fans and a good chance.
If they take things seriously they can do it at least for three times.
21/06/2016 10:47
Manchester City
1734
This a very good surprise for Leicester congratulation for them.
All phenomenon was gathered for this won : manager, players, fans and a good chance.
If they take things seriously they can do it at least for three times.
22/06/2016
points
I've corrected your comment below:
This
isa verygoodbig surprise for Leicester congratulationforto them.All phenomenon was gathered for this won : manager, players, fans and a good chance. I've re-written this sentence below.
Everything came together to help them win: the manager, players, fans and good luck.
If they take things seriously they can do it again at least
forthree times.Hope this helps!
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
22/06/2016 08:06
Liverpool
594
I've corrected your comment below:
This
isa verygoodbig surprise for Leicester congratulationforto them.All phenomenon was gathered for this won : manager, players, fans and a good chance. I've re-written this sentence below.
Everything came together to help them win: the manager, players, fans and good luck.
If they take things seriously they can do it again at least
forthree times.Hope this helps!
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
30/05/2016
points
I don't know if it's the biggest ever surprise in football and sport more generally, for the simple reason that I have a poor culture about football. I remember some surprises in World Cup games, when underdog national team won the cup, but I could'nt remember countries' names.
30/05/2016 23:46
Newcastle United
3189
I don't know if it's the biggest ever surprise in football and sport more generally, for the simple reason that I have a poor culture about football. I remember some surprises in World Cup games, when underdog national team won the cup, but I could'nt remember countries' names.
15/05/2016
points
Congratulations to Leicester city. They have prove that money is not only one to help a team being successful.
15/05/2016 21:19
Arsenal
2320
Congratulations to Leicester city. They have prove that money is not only one to help a team being successful.
14/05/2016
points
I do not think they are going to win again,they will perform will if they bring profession players in the UCL.
14/05/2016 15:09
Liverpool
3705
I do not think they are going to win again,they will perform will if they bring profession players in the UCL.
15/05/2016
points
Next season Leicester will finish in big four! It will be great to watch them playing with teams like Barcelona, Bayern or Real Madrid.
15/05/2016 21:23
Arsenal
2320
Next season Leicester will finish in big four! It will be great to watch them playing with teams like Barcelona, Bayern or Real Madrid.
14/05/2016
points
I think that the manager and the players were the main factor to win the title.
14/05/2016 15:08
Liverpool
3705
I think that the manager and the players were the main factor to win the title.
14/05/2016
points
Yes it is big,but there are other shocks like Greece winning the Europan Champion chip in 2004,and Chelsea winning the 2012 UCL.
14/05/2016 15:06
Liverpool
3705
Yes it is big,but there are other shocks like Greece winning the Europan Champion chip in 2004,and Chelsea winning the 2012 UCL.
11/05/2016
points
I think it is a surprise. but the players have always done their best.
11/05/2016 13:26
Arsenal
2564
I think it is a surprise. but the players have always done their best.
11/05/2016
points
Hi Buchiy
Welcome to Premier Skills English Buchiy! Is Shinji Okazaki winning the Premier League title big news in Japan?
I hope you enjoy our website .
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
11/05/2016 14:19
Liverpool
594
Hi Buchiy
Welcome to Premier Skills English Buchiy! Is Shinji Okazaki winning the Premier League title big news in Japan?
I hope you enjoy our website .
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
11/05/2016
points
Congratulations to Leicester City FC.
11/05/2016 06:36
Liverpool
837
Congratulations to Leicester City FC.
15/05/2016
points
Congratulations! They challenged me when I was doing predictions.
15/05/2016 21:26
Arsenal
2320
Congratulations! They challenged me when I was doing predictions.
11/05/2016
points
Winning of Leicester City is never generally. Because almost champions has lot of money and famous players. I saw similar case at 2002 world cup. South Korea got a bronze in 2002 world cup. At that time i was shocked.
11/05/2016 03:20
Liverpool
122
Winning of Leicester City is never generally. Because almost champions has lot of money and famous players. I saw similar case at 2002 world cup. South Korea got a bronze in 2002 world cup. At that time i was shocked.
12/05/2016
points
Hi KopHG
I remember South Korea beating Italy and Spain, they were huge shocks and really put South Korean football on the map. I think if South Korea had won the World Cup it would have been a bigger surprise than Leicester winning the Premier League. Can you remember what teh atmosphere was like in South Korea during the World Cup?
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
12/05/2016 08:50
Liverpool
594
Hi KopHG
I remember South Korea beating Italy and Spain, they were huge shocks and really put South Korean football on the map. I think if South Korea had won the World Cup it would have been a bigger surprise than Leicester winning the Premier League. Can you remember what teh atmosphere was like in South Korea during the World Cup?
Rich - The Premier Skills English Team
10/05/2016
points
'Leicester City passed the Premier League with flying colours.'
10/05/2016 23:35
Newcastle United
3189
'Leicester City passed the Premier League with flying colours.'
10/05/2016
points
'odds', a new word and a new concept , 5000/1 odds! That's why I love this website!
10/05/2016 18:06
Newcastle United
3189
'odds', a new word and a new concept , 5000/1 odds! That's why I love this website!
10/05/2016
points
a seismometer !!!
10/05/2016 18:04
Newcastle United
3189
a seismometer !!!
15/05/2016
points
Instrument used to measure seismic motion generated by earthquakes or volcanic eruption. We still have volcanic eruption in East Africa countries
15/05/2016 21:31
Arsenal
2320
Instrument used to measure seismic motion generated by earthquakes or volcanic eruption. We still have volcanic eruption in East Africa countries
30/05/2016
points
thank you MUGEMANYI for this explanation. I know what's a seismometer, but the strange for me is that we use it in a stadium.
Fortunately, we have no volcanoes here in North Africa.
30/05/2016 23:40
Newcastle United
3189
thank you MUGEMANYI for this explanation. I know what's a seismometer, but the strange for me is that we use it in a stadium.
Fortunately, we have no volcanoes here in North Africa.
10/05/2016
points
1.I think it's the biggest ever surprise in Premier League Championship with odds down to 5000-1.
2.The players were the biggest actors of that surprise. A special mention had to be delivered for Steve Walsh the recruiter.
3.I am more likely to think that is a one-off.
10/05/2016 17:58
Manchester City
3988
1.I think it's the biggest ever surprise in Premier League Championship with odds down to 5000-1.
2.The players were the biggest actors of that surprise. A special mention had to be delivered for Steve Walsh the recruiter.
3.I am more likely to think that is a one-off.
09/05/2016
points
I don't think this is a one-off performance by Leicester just that next season will be very challenging and it would require extra work to defend the title given that the big fishes wou7be weary of their performances next season.
I see Leicester going beyond the the group stages and possibly end up after the round of 16
09/05/2016 22:25
Manchester United
4779
I don't think this is a one-off performance by Leicester just that next season will be very challenging and it would require extra work to defend the title given that the big fishes wou7be weary of their performances next season.
I see Leicester going beyond the the group stages and possibly end up after the round of 16
30/05/2016
points
Here, I’m not so sure about that. I think that this winning is a one-off, because Leicester City is no more an underdog, and the other clubs will play very well against them.
30/05/2016 23:56
Newcastle United
3189
Here, I’m not so sure about that. I think that this winning is a one-off, because Leicester City is no more an underdog, and the other clubs will play very well against them.
09/05/2016
points
Leicester city won the league with the synergy of the manager, players and the fans. Everyone played a part in the premier league win.
09/05/2016 21:55
Manchester United
4779
Leicester city won the league with the synergy of the manager, players and the fans. Everyone played a part in the premier league win.
30/05/2016
points
Yes kwesimanifest, I agree with you. It's team work, the team here are players, manager, staff and fans.
30/05/2016 23:49
Newcastle United
3189
Yes kwesimanifest, I agree with you. It's team work, the team here are players, manager, staff and fans.
15/05/2016
points
You're right @kwesimanifest, they played as team!
15/05/2016 21:21
Arsenal
2320
You're right @kwesimanifest, they played as team!
09/05/2016
points
I think this is the biggest shock in sports generally because nobody saw it coming till around Christmas. Can't guess of any other shock like Leicester city's
09/05/2016 21:53
Manchester United
4779
I think this is the biggest shock in sports generally because nobody saw it coming till around Christmas. Can't guess of any other shock like Leicester city's