After Leicester City’s EFL fate was sealed at the end of the 2022/23 Premier League season the Foxes discovered their Championship schedule on Thursday morning. Leicester kick-off their campaign against Coventry at the King Power Stadium and host Blackburn in the final game of the season. Out of the 46 games in the 2023/24 season we picked out five key fixtures to keep your eye on.
Leicester City Vs Coventry City (H) – The M69 derby
Sunday 6th August
The importance of this game is huge, not only is it Enzo Maresca’s first game in charge of the Foxes, but it sees the return of the M69 derby. Off the back of Maresca’s appointment and the confirmation of the opening fixture many fans have renewed optimism and almost every Leicester fan will be up for the game and ready to back their team and new manager. The atmosphere should be immense, almost similar if not better than when City hosted Nottingham Forest at the King Power Stadium in October.
This will be the first time in more than 11 years that the two Midlands teams have gone head-to-head, there hasn’t been a longer wait since a 13 year gap between 1952 and 1965. This is the perfect game to set Leicester up nicely for their tough Championship season ahead.
Previous M69 derby fixtures:
3rd March 2012: Leicester 2-0 Coventry (David Nugent 11′ and Jermaine Beckford 80′)
6th August 2011: Coventry 0-1 Leicester (Lee Peltier 52′)
26th February 2011: Leicester 1-1 Coventry (Kyle Naughton 45′)
11th September 2010: Coventry 1-1 Leicester (Andy King 76′)
21st March 2010: Leicester 2-2 Coventry (Andy King 4′ and 19′)
3rd October 2009: Coventry 1-1 Leicester (Martyn Waghorn 71′)
Bristol City (H) – The return of King ‘Nige’
Saturday 23rd September
Former Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson will return to the King Power Stadium alongside Matty James and club legend Andy King. It’s without a doubt that Pearson will receive a very warm welcome from the City fans, his time at Leicester was memorable in more ways than one. Not only did he lay the foundations of the team that went on to win the Premier League, but who could forget his famous ‘Ostrich rant’ and the time he choked McArthur on the side-lines.
Andy King will definitely receive a standing ovation as he returns to the East Midlands for the first time since he left the Foxes at the end of the 2019/2020. The Welshman moved to Bristol City in July 2021 just over four months after joining Leicester’s sister club OH Leuven. The legendary number ten made 26 Championship appearances and scored one goal for The Robins in the 2022/23 season.
Leeds (H) – Two teams in a similar boat
Saturday 4th November
Leicester kickstart a tough run of November fixtures against fellow relegated side Leeds United. The Championship looks to be a tough league to get out of this season and this game adds to that, it’s a massive game due to the size of the two clubs. No game will be an easy one, but this could be one of the worst out of the bunch. Like Leicester, Leeds will also be under new management after the club confirmed Sam Allardyce would leave his role following the completion of the 2022/23 season, but the Whites are yet to confirm a new head coach.
The two sides are in a very similar situation and will be looking to keep as many of their top players as possible and tempt them away from a move to a top-flight side. Parachute payments from the Premier League could give the sides a big advantage in helping to rebuild their squad over the other Championship sides and possibly help them to an immediate Premier League return.
The East Midlands side face three promotion hopefuls in a row as they travel to Middlesborough after facing Leeds at the King Power Stadium before returning back to Leicester to host Watford.
West Brom (A) – Jamie Vardy’s favourite place to score
Saturday 2nd December
The Hawthornes is always a ground where Jamie Vardy is guaranteed to score. This is a must for anyone thinking of attending an away game this season, not only is it just under 50 miles away, but it is highly likely that Vardy will score a goal or two. The number nine has netted six goals in all five away games he’s played against West Bromwich Albion.
Previous away fixtures:
13th September 2020: West Brom 0-3 Leicester City (Jamie Vardy 74′ and 84′)
10th March 2018: West Brom 1-4 Leicester City (Jamie Vardy 21′)
29th April 2017: West Brom 0-1 Leicester City (Jamie Vardy 43′)
31st October 2015: West Brom 2-3 Leicester City (Jamie Vardy 77′)
11th April 2015: West Brom 2-3 Leicester City (Jamie Vardy 90′)
Blackburn (H) – Trophy lift day?
Saturday 4th May
This game could become very significant if everything goes to plan for Enzo Maresca’s men. Not only is this the final game of the season it could also be trophy lift day. Leicester are currently favourites to win the title and with the right backing and squad overhaul this could be a very realistic outcome. Elsewhere second favourites Leeds will play Southampton as the two former Premier League sides go head to head to potentially fight for promotion back to the top flight of English football.