Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast. In this week’s episode, co-hosts Jonthan Wilson and Rob Draper are joined by Sports Journalist and author Jonathan Northcroft to take a look 10 years on from that extraordinary and famous Premier League win! They frame the story around key pivot points, including the Valentine’s Day defeat at Arsenal and the self-belief it sparked, plus Ranieri’s unexpected decision to still grant the squad a holiday. Northcroft traces the longer build-up through the 2013 Watford play-off heartbreak, Nigel Pearson’s cross-department reset, the 2014 Championship-winning platform (and the later FFP breach), and the club’s smart recruitment and early data use that delivered players like Kanté, Mahrez and Okazaki. They cover Pearson’s departure after off-field incidents, the scepticism around Ranieri’s appointment, his “dilly ding” media touch, rivals’ crises, standout wins over Liverpool and Manchester City, Spurs’ chase, and the city’s all-in celebrations as the miracle became real.
Origins of the Build
FFP and the Promotion Debate
Recruitment and Data Edge
Kante and Mahrez Backstories
Pearson Great Escape and Exit
Ranieri Arrives Against the Odds
Dilly Ding and Pizza Psychology
Chelsea Chaos Unravels
Big Clubs in Crisis
Vardy Volley and City Statement
Leicester Media Frenzy
Spurs Pressure and Title Night
Leicester Celebrates as One
Bonkers Finale
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