Leicester's Riyad Mahrez celebrates after scoring a goal during the English Premier League. Photo / AP
If Leicester City hang on for the most unlikely English football triumph of all time, it will be richly deserved. Not just because of their incredible, against-the-odds season, but also their history.
Leicester have shown amazing consistency since joining the Football League in 1894, spending just one of those 122
years outside the top two divisions. But, aside from three League Cups, success has eluded them, and they have been unlucky on big occasions.
Their best chance at a first division title was in 1928-29, when they finished just one point behind champions Sheffield Wednesday.
Their FA Cup history has also been unfortunate - no team as reached more finals (four) without winning one. They reached their first in 1949, having spent most of that season battling relegation from the second division. They faced a Wolves team full of England internationals and lost 3-1.
In 1960-61, Leicester lost 2-0 to soon-to-be-crowned league champions Tottenham. The final's pivotal moment was Leicester fullback Len Chalmers suffering a suspected broken leg after 20 minutes in an era of no substitutes.
