Relegation is the price Leicester have to pay for too many problems they have failed to solve, despite being warned by former coach Brendan Rodgers before this season's Premier League.
Why was a former Premier League champion relegated so quickly, just seven years after winning the title? Just 12 months ago, Leicester were in the semi-finals of the European Cup, but next season they will be playing in the English First Division.
A 2-1 win over West Ham at the King Power Stadium on May 28 was not enough to improve Leicester's situation. At the same time at Goodison Park, Everton completed their goal of staying up in the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Bournemouth. "We have completed the task of winning the game," Leicester's Twitter account posted. "But the most recent chapter of the club's history in the Premier League is over."
James Maddison (left) and Wout Faes after Leicester's relegation, in the final round of the Premier League at King Power Stadium on May 28, 2023. Photo: Reuters
Leicester are one of seven Premier League champions in the 31-year history of the Premier League. But they are the second team to be relegated, after Blackburn Rovers. Blackburn returned to the Premier League after two seasons in the lower divisions, but were relegated again in 2012 and have not returned since.
With relegated teams, many people will often blame the owners for not caring about the team. But the case of Leicester is different.
Leicester have always been an ambitious club under the ownership of the Srivaddhanaprabha family . They have invested heavily in the team, pouring more money into their pockets since winning the Premier League in 2016. They spend an average of $87 million per season on players. The Thai owners also treat their players better, causing the team's wage bill to swell to the seventh highest in the Premier League.
Leicester have also spent hundreds of millions of dollars on a new training ground at Seagrave, in the Charnwood district, funded by loans secured by future Premier League television rights. That income will be significantly reduced for them in the coming years as they play in the First Division, but the interest and principal payments will remain unchanged.
Leicester have stated that European football is their annual target, so the owners want to create the best possible facilities. Since winning the title in 2016, they have finished in the top five twice and qualified for the Europa League under Rodgers. Last season, they were just one place away from European football.
To meet the owners' spending, Leicester must show results on the field. Not being able to participate in European cups has put the team's financial situation under strain. They have had to cut spending under pressure from UEFA, because new regulations do not allow teams to spend up to 85% of their revenue like Leicester. UEFA has placed Leicester on a monitoring list, making them no longer dare to spend money on shopping in the summer of 2022.
During the nearly three-month summer transfer window, Rodgers was unable to add any players capable of competing for a starting position in the team. Leicester only bought centre-back Wout Faes on transfer deadline day for $18 million, after selling Wesley Fofana to Chelsea for $86 million.
After a disappointing transfer window, manager Rodgers said Leicester's target for the 2022-23 season was to gain 40 points - the number that would ensure they stay in the top flight. At the time, many thought he was being too pessimistic. But Leicester's performances have gradually shown that the Northern Irishman was right.
Leicester (blue shirt) in the draw with Everton at King Power Stadium on May 1, 2023. Photo: Reuters
Leicester have been in decline in all aspects, including behind-the-scenes issues such as changing the culture within the team . The Seagrave training ground cost the team $124 million. "With such a magnificent training ground, members easily feel that this team is so big that there is no risk of relegation," commented the British newspaper The Athletic .
Leicester also understand that the new training ground is of the highest standard in the Premier League. "The state-of-the-art Seagrave complex is a beacon for the club's future ambitions and marks a new phase of development for Leicester," the club's website said on the opening day of the training ground in 2020.
But when Leicester’s first team moved to Seagrave, they lost more than just cash. The family atmosphere of the club was gone. At Leicester’s old training ground, there was a canteen where everyone ate and chatted together, regardless of whether they were players, staff or chefs. That environment had fostered close friendships and it took time to recreate that at Seagrave. At their new location, the first team will eat separately from the youth team and staff in a 180-acre complex.
Transfer work has also been a problem for Leicester in recent years . They cannot sell surplus players such as center back Jannik Vestergaard, Caglar Soyuncu, midfielder Youri Tielemans or striker Ayoze Perez. Of which, Vestergaard twice refused to leave, staying until the end of his contract. Leicester cannot buy new players, if they cannot liquidate the old ones.
Leicester appointed head of transfers Martyn Glover too late, when the summer transfer window of 2022 had already closed. When the window reopened in January 2023, Glover was unable to change the team's situation, because the recruitment of defenders Harry Souttar and Victor Kristiansen was not enough to improve the squad.
Nampalys Mendy, Dennis Praet and Boubakary Soumare were also on the list of players to be sold, but they ultimately stayed. Soyuncu's form dipped and he was benched for a long time. Rodgers and his successor Dean Smith were also disappointed when rising midfielder Harvey Barnes showed signs of slowing down.
Leicester also lacked spiritual leaders on the pitch. Captain Kasper Schmeichel wanted to stay and demanded a long-term contract, but Leicester did not meet his demand. They let him go and promoted reserve goalkeeper Danny Ward to the starting position. In the 2022-2023 season, Ward had a save rate of 63%, ranking 19th out of 23 goalkeepers regularly playing in the league. His conceded rate was also 1.77 goals per game, ranking 20th.
Vice-captain Jonny Evans has struggled with injuries, leaving the team's defence without a true leader. Vice-captain Marc Albrighton has also been loaned out to West Brom, while veteran striker Jamie Vardy has suffered a dip in form and is often on the bench.
Leicester also appear to lack the same enthusiasm from the coaching staff, with Rodgers in charge for much of the season . After they took just one point from their first seven games, he said: "Leicester are not the same team they were a few years ago."
Leicester could have sacked Rodgers right away, but they still put their faith in him - the man who led the team to two consecutive European Cup spots. It was only when Leicester fell into the red zone again in early April that the owners decided to change manager.
Coach Brendan Rodgers during the match against Tottenham in London on September 17, 2022. Photo: Reuters
When Leicester appointed Dean Smith, he had just eight games to turn things around, and that was too few. Smith teamed up with former centre-back John Terry to find ways to improve the defence. Terry held meetings and analysed footage in the first-team dressing room, but Leicester kept conceding goals. They didn’t keep a clean sheet from November to May.
Leicester ended the season badly, with the Under-23s also relegated from Premier League 2. Their women's team was also nearly relegated. The end-of-season gala was also cancelled, with fans having little to praise about the team.
However, the Srivaddhanaprabha family has no intention of giving up. They continue to expand the East Stand of the King Power Stadium to increase ticket revenue. The Thai owner King Power Group is also ready to lend the team money whenever necessary.
Relegation clauses are also included in players' contracts, which will see their wages reduced. Those who refuse can leave at will. This ensures Leicester can keep their wage bill down, as revenues from the First Division will certainly not be as high as they were in the Premier League.
Leicester will be looking to return to the Premier League next season, considering this season's failure a temporary setback. However, the pressure on the team will multiply if they fail to achieve their goal of returning to the Premier League immediately.
Xuan Binh (according to The Athletic )
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