Foxes catch ’em napping

LEICESTER City’s fairytale Premier League title win made 2016 the year of the underdog in English football, but as 2017 approaches, the giants are emerging from their slumbers.

A team of misfits and cast-offs marshalled by Italian manager Claudio Ranieri, Leicester pulled off a 5 000-1 triumph that was one of the biggest upsets in the history of sport.

But just as Ranieri predicted, the big clubs flexed their muscles in the close-season transfer window and as the Foxes faltered, so a cast of superstars set about re-establishing the old order.

“It’s more difficult than last season,” Ranieri said – prophetically, as it would transpire – of his side’s title chances on the eve of the season.

“It’s easier that ET comes to Piccadilly Circus.”

As 2016 dawned, Leicester were in second place, below leaders Arsenal on goal difference, their surprisingly high placement seen as an aberration caused by the inconsistency of the superpowers.

But as the big guns continued to misfire, so Leicester continued to win – 1-0 at Tottenham Hotspur, 2-0 at home to Liverpool, a stunning 31 victory at Manchester City.

By the spring the unthinkable had become thinkable and although teams belatedly realised Leicester had to be taken seriously, they forged on, a run of five gritty wins carrying them to within sight of glory.

Tottenham had emerged as Leicester’s biggest rivals, but Mauricio Pochettino’s exciting young team could not last the pace, eventually conceding defeat in a bruising 2-2 draw at outgoing champions Chelsea.

Watching the game on television at the home of striker Jamie Vardy, Leicester’s players erupted into joyous celebrations captured on left-back Christian Fuchs’s smartphone and beamed around the world.

It was the most surreal title win England had ever seen. — AFP