Former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson is the man who shall lead Leicester City back to the top tier of English football. He is to do what Ian Holloway, Nigel Pearson and Paulo Suosa failed to achieve. In fact there has been a long string of managers since Martin O’Neill left the club in June 2000. O’Neill took the club to the Premiership in 1996, followed by four successive top ten finishes. Under O’Neill the club won the League Cup in 1997 & 2000 and were runners-up in 1999. They were relegated after the 2001/02 season but went straight back up the next season, however the 2003/04 season is so far their last in the Premier League.

In 2002, soon after having moved into their new stadium, Leicester went into administration with debts of more than £30 million. A consortium led by former great Gary Lineker managed to get the club back on its feet. In 2008 they hit further lows as they were relegated to League One, the only time in Leicester’s long history outside the top two tiers of English football. That was the end of Ian Holloway and he was replaced by Nigel Pearson. They were promotoed back to the Championship after only one season, as League One champions. The following season the reached they play-offs for promotion to the Premier League but failed to take the step up. Pearson was then replaced by Suosa ahead of last season but they had a disastrous start to the season and he was sacked in October. Under newly appointed Sven-Göran Eriksson the club recovered to a 10th place finish.

Sven-Göran Eriksson has a solid track record and the Foxes faithfuls hope he can bring them a new O’Neill era of success. In his native Sweden he lifted IFK Göteborg to European prominence by winning the UEFA Cup in 1982. That led him to Portuguese giants Benfica, where he won several titles, followed by more titles won with Italian clubs AS Roma, Sampdoria and Lazio. After having been Lazio’s most successful ever manager, Eriksson went on to manage Manchester City and the national teams of England, Mexico and Côte d’Ivoire before his move to Leicester City.

Eriksson has had the financial backing from the Thai-based Asia Football Investments consortium who now owns the club. He has been very active in the transfer market and complemented the squad with several strong signings. He had already in January brought in Souleymane Bamba, a 26 year old Ivory Coast defender, who he knew from his recent spell as coach for the Côte d’Ivoire national side. Japan international defensive midfielder Yuki Abe had arrived at the club ahead of last season.

In this transfer window Eriksson has captured:
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel from Leeds United, a 24 year old Denmark international.
Right back Lee Peltier from Huddersfield Town, a 24 year old who can also play as a midfielder.
Right back John Paintsil from Fulham, a 30 year old Ghanaian international.
Left back Paul Konchesky from Liverpool, a 30 year old former England international.
Centre back Matt Mills from Reading, a 25 year old former England U19, named new captain by Eriksson.
Centre back Sean St Ledger from Preston North End, a 26 year old Ireland international.
Midfielder Neil Danns from Crystal Palace, a 28 year old who previously played in the EPL for Birmingham.
Striker David Nugent from Portsmouth, a 26 year old with one England cap.

He has also signed midfielder Michael Johnson on a season long loan from Manchester City and Gelson Fernandes, a Swiss international on loan from St Etienne, which could become permanent.

The squad already boasted the young midfielder Andy King, a Wales international who will turn 23 in a couple of months time. There is also plenty of experience to draw from the likes of midfielder Richie Wellens, a 31 year old and the club’s 2011 Player of the Year, midfielder Matt Oakley, a 33 year old former U21 player for England, the 33 year old former Switzerland international, Bruno Berner who plays both in midfield and defense. There is also winger Lloyd Dyer who has wowed to stay on and fight for his place, while the injury prone centre back Aleksandar Tunchev, a 30 year old Bulgarian international, has been sent on a one month loan to Crystal Palace.

Leicester played their season opener away to Coventry. They took home all three points after Lee Peltier nodded home a perfect cross from Richie Wellens. The first step of a long 2011/12 season.