Leicester City’s Fall: From Premier League Champions to Third-Tier Relegation a Decade After Historic Title Win

Leicester City have been relegated to League One, confirming their drop to the third tier of English football exactly ten years after their historic Premier League title win in the 2015-16 season.

The relegation was confirmed on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, following a 2-2 draw with Hull City at the King Power Stadium. The result left Leicester unable to escape the relegation zone from the Championship with only one match remaining in the season.

Oli McBurnie scored the equaliser for Hull in the 63rd minute, cancelling out earlier goals from Luke Thomas and a penalty by James Jordan that had briefly put Leicester ahead. Liam Millar had opened the scoring for Hull in the 18th minute.

This marks Leicester City’s second consecutive relegation, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2024-25 season after finishing in 18th place. Their descent from the top flight to League One within two seasons represents one of the most dramatic falls in Premier League history.

The club’s 2015-16 title triumph, achieved at 5,000-to-1 odds, remains one of the greatest underdog stories in sports history. Under manager Claudio Ranieri, Leicester defied expectations to win the Premier League, a feat celebrated across the football world.

In the years following their title win, Leicester added further silverware, winning the FA Cup in 2021 by defeating Chelsea in the final and claiming the English Super Cup later that year by overcoming reigning champions Manchester City.

Despite retaining several players from their successful era — including Patson Daka, Bobby Reid, Luke Thomas and Hamza Choudhury — Leicester struggled throughout the 2025-26 Championship campaign. The team won only one of their last 18 league matches and began the season six points adrift due to a financial fair play penalty.

Off the pitch, frustration among supporters grew, with protests targeting club owner Khun Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha and calls for the sacking of sporting director Jon Rudkin. Chants of “You’re not fit to wear this shirt!” and “sack the board” became common fixtures at home matches.

Former Leicester player Matt Piper described the relegation as “arguably the worst moment in the club’s history” in an interview with the BBC, reflecting the depth of disappointment among those associated with the club.

Leicester City will compete in League One for the 2026-27 season, marking only the second time in the club’s history that they have played in the third tier of English football. Their previous stint in League One occurred in 2008, from which they earned immediate promotion back to the Championship.