Retro Leicester City Shirts – The Foxes' Greatest Kits

Leicester City was founded in 1884 as Leicester Fosse, taking the name Leicester City in 1919 after entering the Football League. For most of their history, the Foxes oscillated between the top two tiers of English football, calling Filbert Street home for 111 years before moving to the Walkers Stadium (now King Power Stadium) in 2002. The 1960s brought a golden era under Matt Gillies, with four FA Cup final appearances – though all ended in heartbreak. Gordon Banks tended goal during this period before his World Cup heroics with England. The 1970s saw flashes of brilliance under Jock Wallace, while the 1990s under Martin O'Neill produced two League Cup triumphs in 1997 and 2000, alongside spirited UEFA Cup runs. Financial collapse in 2002 nearly destroyed the club, but a Thai consortium led by Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha rescued Leicester in 2010, sparking an astonishing transformation. The 2013-14 Championship title was followed by the 'Great Escape' of 2014-15, when Leicester clawed back from the brink of relegation. Then came 2015-16: the impossible Premier League title under Claudio Ranieri, with Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kanté immortalised forever. FA Cup glory followed in 2021 under Brendan Rodgers. Bitter rivalries with Nottingham Forest, Coventry and Derby County continue to define East Midlands derbies, while Leicester's 9-0 demolition of Southampton in 2019 stands as a Premier League record-equalling masterpiece.

Leicester City's legend list is packed with characters who became cult heroes and household names alike. Gordon Banks, perhaps England's greatest goalkeeper, kept goal at Filbert Street between 1959 and 1967 before the famous Pelé save in Mexico 1970. Peter Shilton followed him into the gloves and onto greatness. Frank Worthington brought flair and flamboyance in the 1970s, while Gary Lineker emerged from the Leicester academy to become a Golden Boot winner and one of England's finest strikers. Steve Walsh, the towering centre-half, embodied the spirit of the O'Neill era alongside Muzzy Izzet, Matt Elliott and Emile Heskey. The 2015-16 title squad has reached mythical status: Jamie Vardy's 11-game scoring streak, Riyad Mahrez's mesmerising left foot, N'Golo Kanté's tireless engine, Wes Morgan's iron leadership, and Kasper Schmeichel's commanding presence between the posts. Manager Claudio Ranieri, dubbed 'The Tinkerman', became a beloved figure across world football. Brendan Rodgers later guided Leicester to FA Cup glory in 2021 with Youri Tielemans' stunning Wembley winner. Harry Maguire became England's defensive lynchpin before his Manchester United move, while James Maddison and Caglar Söyüncü continued Leicester's tradition of unearthing top-tier talent. Behind it all, the late Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha remains the soul of modern Leicester – a chairman whose tragic death in 2018 united football in mourning.

Leicester City retro shirts chart a stylish journey through English football fashion. The 1970s kits, manufactured by Admiral, featured bold royal blue with crisp white trim and the classic fox-head badge. The 1980s brought Ind Coope sponsorship and angular Bukta designs that today are highly collectible. The early 1990s Fox Leisure shirts, especially the 1992-94 home kit with its distinctive blue collar and yellow trim, are cult favourites. Walkers crisps became the iconic shirt sponsor in 1987, a partnership that lasted decades and defined Leicester's visual identity. The 1996-98 home shirt worn during the League Cup triumph remains hugely sought after. The Le Coq Sportif designs of the late 1990s carry serious nostalgia. But the holy grail for any retro Leicester City shirt collector is undoubtedly the 2015-16 Puma home jersey – the kit that conquered the Premier League against all odds, complete with King Power branding and the iconic blue, white and gold detail. The 2020-21 FA Cup-winning shirt is also climbing the collector charts.