Leicester secured promotion to the Premier League thanks to Leeds United’s shock 4-0 defeat at Queens Park Rangers on Friday. Leicester currently has 94 points, returning to the top English league after one year.
Leicester, who sit top of the Championship with 94 points and two games to spare, knew a win at Preston North End on Sunday would secure their promotion back to England’s top flight regardless of the other weekend’s results.
But Leeds’ loss to QPR on Friday night meant Leicester fans could start celebrating early as the result mathematically confirmed the Midlands club could not finish lower than second in the league, securing automatic promotion to the Premier League.
It’s been an impressive campaign for Leicester, who have managed to keep the core of their relegated Premier League side together and add some significant signings.
Legendary striker Jamie Vardy is still a mainstay of the team and has scored 16 goals so far this season in the Championship. He is ably assisted by wings Issahaku Fatawa (6 goals) and Stephy Mavididi (12 goals).
Coach Enzo Maresca was also significantly involved in the process, for whom this is only the second engagement in the role of head coach. The former Juventus and Sevilla player, who worked as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, joined Leicester after last season and turned the team into one of the most offensive teams in the Championship.
“I am very proud, we have turned all the hard work throughout the season into promotion to the Premier League. We should all enjoy the success, it means a lot to the owners, players and also the fans.” Maresca declared.
“It was not easy, there is huge competition in the League Championship and more clubs are thinking about promotion, but we did an honest job and turned the dream into reality. Of course we will celebrate promotion, but we still have some work to do. We are determined to finish in first place and after the last home game match will lift the trophy at the King Power Stadium in front of our fans,” he added.
Czech goalkeeper Václav Hladký can also secure direct promotion. Ipswich have three games to spare and if they take five points from them, they will go into the Premier League from second place at the expense of Leeds.
Sheffield United will be relegated from the Premier League to the Championship if they lose to Newcastle on Saturday.
Table
1
Leicester City
44
30
4
10
86 : 39
94
2
Leeds United
45
27
9
9
80 : 41
90
3
Ipswich Town
43
26
11
6
85 : 53
89
4
Southampton F.C
44
25
9
10
85 : 61
84
5
West Bromwich Albion
44
20
12
12
67 : 44
72
6
Norwich City
44
21
9
14
77 : 61
72
7
Hull City
44
19
12
13
65 : 56
69
8
Coventry City
43
17
12
14
68 : 55
63
9
Middlesbrough F.C
44
18
9
17
64 : 60
63
10
Preston North End
44
18
9
17
56 : 61
63
11
Cardiff City
44
19
5
20
50 : 61
62
12
Bristol City
44
16
11
17
51 : 47
59
13
Sunderland AFC
44
16
8
20
52 : 51
56
14
Swansea City
44
15
11
18
57 : 62
56
15
Watford F.C
44
12
17
15
59 : 58
53
16
Queens Park Rangers
45
14
11
20
45 : 57
53
17
Millwall FC
44
14
11
19
43 : 55
53
18
Stoke City
44
13
11
20
44 : 60
50
19
Blackburn Rovers
44
13
10
21
58 : 74
49
20
Plymouth Argyle
44
12
12
20
58 : 69
48
21
Sheffield Wednesday
44
13
8
23
39 : 68
47
22
Birmingham City
44
12
10
22
48 : 64
46
23
Huddersfield Town
44
9
17
18
47 : 74
44
24
Rotherham United
44
4
12
28
32 : 85
24
Tags: honest work turned dream reality Maresca rejoices progress
