When Leicester City were promoted back in 2014, few thought they would be in the position they are today. After winning the Premier League title in 2016, they have managed to keep a small piece of that winning tradition alive with 4 straight seasons with winning records and a place in the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ looming. Unfortunately, these zero to hero stories are few and far between in modern day football as it seems the club with the biggest wallet is ultimately the club that is constantly extending it’s trophy case. However, Leeds United’s return to the top flight of English football has a small chance of returning some of that simple wonderment that has been missing since Leicesters magical title run, and with a quick look at some of the numbers, it’s not even that far fetched.
So before you ask - no I am not a Leeds or Leicester fan. But what I am a fan of is the underdog and in the last decade, you’d be hard pressed to find a better underdog story than that of Leicester City. In 2014, they were promoted back to the Premier League after a dominant season in the Championship, winning 31 games and losing only 6. They were unable to continue this form in 2015, finishing 14th in the league table, but what they accomplished in 2016 more than made up for it - winning the Premier League title by a staggering 10 points clear.
Now, I know it’s bold to say Leeds United may be on the same track, but it’s hard to argue with the results they have produced over the last 2 seasons. After a title winning season in 2020, Leeds earned their promotion back to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years winning 28 games and losing only 9. However, unlike Leicester, Leeds United’s return to the Premier League has been marked with giant killing wins, a potential top ten finish, and just a little bit of inconsistency. 15 wins against the likes of Man City, Spurs, and even the Foxes themselves has proven that Leeds United is a definite Premier League side.
That being said, the jump from mid-table dwellers to title leading contenders is a massive (and very expensive) one, but not if you already have a goal scoring genius already on the roster. Jamie Vardy was the man for Leicester and Patrick Bamford is well on his way to becoming that man for Leeds.
In his last Championship campaign, Jamie Vardy finished 11th in goals scored with 16 in 37 appearances. He followed up in 2015 with a subpar campaign, netting only 5 goals in 34 apperances, but his goal tally in 2016 is what put him on the map (the map of Gareth Southgate to be more precise). Vardy finished 2nd in the Golden Boot race scoring 24 goals in 36 appearances in Leicesters title winning effort.
Bamford’s story is very similar and some might even say slightly better. Like Vardy, Bamford netted 16 goals for Leeds in their capture of the Championship crown but has followed up with an even better year in 2021. In 35 appearances he has scored 15 goals (and counting) and has been the deciding factor in most of Leeds key victories over the course of the season.
Of course, football isn’t a one man game - if it was it would be a lot easier and hell of a lot cheaper. Jamie Vardy was joined by the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Ngolo Kante, players who have now gone on to become some of the best players in Europe. I know it’s unlikely to say the same is going to happen to the likes of Stuart Dallas or Kalvin Phillips - but in sport I’ve come to find nothing is impossible. Who knows, by the end of 2022 we could see Leeds at the top of the Premier League table, Bamford in the race for the Golden Boot and Marcelo Bielsa being heralded a football genius.
Some may call this article the start of my slow descent into madness but I just want to have hard copy of “I told you so” ready for next May.
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| Leeds United - forbes.com |
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