Jonathan Northcroft - Fearless: The Amazing Underdog Story of Leicester City, the Greatest Miracle in Sports History

Copyright 2016 by Jonathan Northcroft

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A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.

LCCN: 2016952001

ISBN 978-1-56858-983-1 (e-book)

First published in the United Kingdom in 2016 by Headline Publishing Group.

First Edition

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

E3-20180223-JV-PC

For Jan: my first miraculous fox.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Five minutes after Robert Huths header put Leicester 30 up at Manchester City came a text: Hi mate, we should have a chat about a potential Leicester book. In the Etihad press box, caught in the moment, I fired back: Good idea.

Of course it is madness committing to a book when youve a young family, a sixty-hours-a-week newspaper job, are in the middle of uprooting to a new city, and have the end of the season and a European Championship coming up but David Luxton caught a split second when all that seemed to matter was the sheer wonder of a fearless football team. It is the fault of David and his message that this book exists and I owe him sincere thanks, because writing it was so much fun.

Equally culpable is Jonathan Taylor of Headline Publishing, who believed in Fearless from day one and provided such calm and wise direction. Alessandra Bastagli offered equally shrewd and important advice. Thanks to Richard Roper, Millie Seaward, Joe Yule, Rebecca Winfield, Alessandra Bastagli and Clive Priddle too.

The core of this book, indeed of Leicesters miracle, is a unique group of players. I was deeply fortunate that Kasper Schmeichel, Marc Albrighton, Robert Huth, Wes Morgan and Andy King sat down with me. Five bright, grounded and unusual footballers, whose deep love of their dressing room, their families and their craft was striking and which I hope Fearless conveys. Thank you to them.

Anthony Herilhy is owed much gratitude for helping at a time when the whole world wanted its piece of Leicester. Thanks also to Jonny Lally and John Hutchinson: your book and reflections on Leicesters history were appreciated, John.

The aim was to not just portray who and what Leicester, in 201516, were, but offer context. Leon Britton, who has future coach stamped all over him, was fascinating to listen to on the subject of playing against Leicester thanks for your time, Leon. Pat Nevin said something so sharp in passing that it just had to be stolen and used: Cheers, Pat. Peter Schmeichel offered many interesting thoughts about Leicester over the years. Thanks also to David Morgan for his insights. I owe the deepest thanks to certain friends in the game who always come through for me and did so again here. Eddy Jennings, Chris D, Chris B, Matt, David, Owen, James Skelland: as usual I owe you.

Thanks to Simon Chadwick, who opened up a whole new line of thinking with his perspective on the Srivaddhanaprabhas, and John Williams, who helped my understanding of Leicester socially and culturally. Gavan Wilmot was important here, too. Conversations with Pete Simmons and Tony Faulkner stimulated ideas about the culture of this unique football club and of sporting organisations generally.

Maybe its the Sunday journalist in me but I loved going into the back stories. Allen Bethel is, as noted in chapter eight, inimitable. I could have listened to Allen talk about Stocksbridge, his life, and Jamie Vardy, all afternoon... and pretty much did. Thanks for so much of your time, Allen.

Boubakar Coulibaly was the most generous and genial host. Im still blown away by the scale and standards of AAS Sarcelles the banlieue boys who give Paris Saint Germain a run for their money. Thanks, Boubakar and full marks for knowing Aberdeens 1983 Cup Winners Cup line up. At JS Surenses, Pierre Ville spoke so proudly and insightfully about NGolo Kant: merci from me and Jan.

Without Tor-Kristian Karlsens recollections and sharp insights the Claudio chapter would have been distinctly Ligue 2, thanks TKK. And thanks Steve Madeley for describing the mayhem at Vardy Gras.

Help from friends and colleagues was invaluable and typically generous. Chris Brereton, Rob Draper, Joe Bernstein, Rory Smith, Kristoff Terreur, Lee Marlow: you did important things for me and I hope to return the favours.

The Leicester story sparked so much brilliant journalism and pieces by Rob, Joe, Rory, Lee, Jason Burt, Henry Winter, Martin Samuel, Oliver Holt, Oliver Kay, Nick Harris, Rob Tanner, John Percy, Stuart James, Laurie Whitwell, Alan Smith, James Sharpe, Graeme Bryce, Barney Ronay, James Horncastle, Sam Wallace, Grant Wahl, James Astill and Gabriele Marcotti and many others were devoured (and probably cannibalised) in the writing of this.

Thanks for talking or telephone numbers or bits of encouragement or help and hospitality: Rob Maul, Guillem Balague, Graham Hunter, Rafael Honigstein, Neil Ashton, Ian Herbert, Phil Dickinson, Rob Hunt, Rebecca Fyfe, Francois De Pape, Jon Wilsher, Linda OBrien, Edoardo Magro, Joe Prince-Wright, David Dick, Francis Leech, Shaul Adar, Shintaro Kano, Ole Magnus Storberget, Douglas Alexander, Jim Donnelly, Chandu Dave, Andy Miller, Suhail, Beilin, Saeed and Alli.

At the Sunday Times, David Walsh, Lucy Dupuis, Nick Greenslade and especially Alex Butler always have my back. They did so again here. I cant really thank them enough.

And I certainly cant thank Jan Northcroft enough: partner, translator, interviewer, collaborator, CEO and supermum: nae bad, Jan, nae bad. Without Dad, Mum and Mat, none of this would be possible and without Jan, Ishbel and Cora, none of it would matter.

Leicester City Squad, 20152016

Leicester City, 20152016, Premier League Games