Leicester City’s FA Cup success is a feel-good football story

When Leicester City won the Premier League title in 2016, nobody could quite believe it. Five years on, the club’s triumph in the FA Cup is altogether more believable, but there is still a real feel-good factor about Brendan Rodgers’ side lifting the trophy.

Perhaps it’s down to the fact that they defeated Chelsea, and ended a run of seven years where both the FA Cup and League Cup had been won each year by one of Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United or Manchester City. Or perhaps it’s because it was a poignant moment for chairman Aiyawatt ‘Top’ Srivaddhanaprabha, whose father, former Leicester City owner VichaiSrivaddhanaprabha, so tragically lost his life three years ago. Perhaps it was the fact that the club had lost the FA Cup final on four prior occasions, or indeed the simple truth that Youri Tielemans’ winning strike was a goal worthy of winning any trophy.

Getting one over

Indeed, it is a mixture of all those things that makes Leicester’s triumph so enjoyable for the neutral. At a time when there is a notable amount of animosity towards the Premier League’s ‘Big Six’ clubs in the aftermath of the European Super League debacle, it was a refreshing sight to see someone different pick up one of England’s major trophies.

Chelsea have been FA Cup specialists over the last two decades or so, reaching 10 finals and winning it six times since the turn of the millennium, and were favourites in the odds on football, but coach Thomas Tuchel got his tactics wrong on the day. It was a missed opportunity for Tuchel to win his first trophy as Chelsea boss, but Rodgers was the beneficiary, earning his first piece of silverware in the English game.

Stopping the rot

Leicester’s tale of woe in the FA Cup had been well documented in the build-up to the match. The club had been in four previous finals, including three in the 1960s, and lost every one of them, the most recent being the 1969 defeat to Manchester City. It was no surprise that Chelsea were backed in the free football tips to inflict more pain on Leicester, but Rodgers’ Foxes had other ideas.

In winning at Wembley, they’ve gone a long way to ending those years of hurt, and certain generations of Foxes fans would have been tearful as Wes Morgan and Kasper Schmeichel held the FA Cup aloft.

A worthy goal

Youri Tielemans’ sensational strike into the top corner was one of those moments in football that makes you jump out of your seat. The final was a relatively nervy affair, with no side creating too many clear-cut chances. That was until Tielemans received the ball in space in the 63^rd minute. After a couple of touches to set himself, he unleashed a piledriver past Kepa Arrizabalaga in the Chelsea goal.

It was a goal to go down among the great FA Cup Final goals, with the likes of Steven Gerrard’s thunderous volley against West Ham United in 2006, and Roberto Di Matteo’s stunning strike for Chelsea in 1997. Tielemans’ name will certainly go down in Leicester City folklore.

A poignant tribute

No matter where your footballing allegiance lies, you couldn’t help but be moved by the sight of Khun Top celebrating with his players. The tragic death of Khun Vichai in 2018 was a devastating blow for the club, but the team delivered a trophy which their owner would have been proud of.

The emotion was clear to see on Khun Top’s face after the final whistle, and to see him embrace Rodgers and the players in the post-match celebrations was a moment that transcends footballing rivalries. It’s fair to say that no Leicester fan will ever forget the 15^th of May 2021.