After a Topsy-Turvy season that saw rank outsiders, Leicester City, claim the title, the English Premier League is all set to provide another cracking year of football
The richest, and by far the most-watched, football league in the world, the English Premier League, is back. Memories of an incredible rollercoaster last season are still fresh in the mind. Who could have predicted Leicester City, a club that returned to the Premier League in 2014 after wallowing in the lower divisions for 10 years, would go on to clinch the ’15-16 title? The Foxes clawed their way to the top of the hill right from the bottom of the pile in a span of 12 months.
The bookmakers termed one of the most celebratory sports stories of the year as the “unthinkable that turned into a reality”. Ladbrokes and William Hill offered 50,000–1 odds on Leicester City at the start of the season. By the time the final whistle was blown at Stamford Bridge on May 2, the betting industry was bracing itself to service the longest odds in Britain’s sporting history. It’s estimated that bookmakers paid out £25 million over the next few days.
Claudio Ranieri’s side brought that unknown factor, often called the X-factor, to the churnings of the last season’s Premiership. Will the Foxes be able to repeat their consistent form to defend their epoch-making champions' tag? Ranieri’s side certainly adds more ingredients to the ’16-17 title chase that has been suitably spiced up with record signings of both players and rockstar managers.
This story is from the September 2016 edition of Sports Illustrated India.
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This story is from the September 2016 edition of Sports Illustrated India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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