Leicester City relegated to League One after 2-2 draw with Hull City
Leicester City have been relegated from the Sky Bet Championship after a 2-2 draw against Hull City at the King Power Stadium. Gary Rowett's side needed to beat the Tigers to keep their survival hopes alive, but Oli McBurnie's 64th-minute strike sealed their fate and sent the Foxes down to League One.
- Date: Not specified in source (match took place prior to publication).
- Competition: Sky Bet Championship.
- Result: Leicester City 2-2 Hull City.
- Key fact: Leicester relegated to League One for only the second time in their 142-year history.
- Key fact: Leicester sat 23rd, eight points from safety, before kick-off, with just two wins in their last 19 league games.
- Key fact: Relegation comes just shy of a decade after Leicester won the Premier League title at odds of 5,000/1 under Claudio Ranieri.
How Leicester were relegated
Leicester were masters of their own downfall as they laid Hull's opener on a plate in the 17th minute. Goalkeeper Asmir Begovic, playing out from the back, passed straight to Millar, who composed himself and fired home.
But they were a completely different side after the interval and turned the game around in just 92 seconds. They were awarded a penalty when Issahaku Fatawu was tripped by Lewis Koumas, with James converting emphatically from 12 yards in the 52nd minute.
Then from the next attack Thomas got on the end of Bobby De Cordova-Reid's cross to make it 2-1 and the great escape was on. But only for all of nine minutes as Hull levelled in the 64th minute. Having seen their manager Sergej Jakirovic sent to the stands for his protests at the penalty award, Millar caused trouble down the left and teed up McBurnie, who rifled home from 16 yards.
What was said
"As chairman, that responsibility sits with me. There are no excuses. We have experienced the highest highs and now the lowest lows, and the pain is shared by all of us. I am truly sorry for the disappointment we have caused. I understand the strength of feeling among our supporters, and we do not take your support for granted, especially at moments like this. Our focus now is on what comes next. We will take the necessary decisions to move the club forward, working together to rebuild, improve, and restore the standards expected of Leicester City. Our objective is clear - to respond strongly and compete to move this club forward again. We will face this head-on. We will keep going. Together."
"It's incredibly frustrating. If I look at the game first, it's quite symptomatic in some ways. In the first half, we make a really poor mistake that gives them a lift. We've done that too many times. We didn't match the urgency or importance of the game, although we still created a couple of good moments where we should score. In the second half, we came out and were absolutely excellent. Maybe if we'd played with that urgency in the last five or six games, we'd have taken more points. We looked like a team willing to fight and created lots of chances but couldn't take them. I'm hugely frustrated with the game. The bigger picture is that you don't get relegated over three or four games, but over a season. We've missed a lot of chances, but that's not the whole story. We've only kept five clean sheets all season, so it's not just about the forwards. We've also given away poor goals, and you could see that again tonight."
"When you look back at previous relegated clubs, I can't find another one with the quality and experience Leicester have. This is a team that was tipped to win the Championship title. Falling to League One is unprecedented. A season no one saw coming. Everyone on the playing side of things at Leicester needs to take a long, hard look at themselves because this is unacceptable."
"I cannot believe what I've seen this season. I know the players care, to a degree, but what I've seen consistently through the season is they don't care enough. That's a simple fact. The people I feel sorry for are the fans and the auxiliary staff and the people that are now probably going to lose their jobs. I honestly don't know where the club goes. I think about Seagrave, one of the best training facilities in Europe, how do they keep the lights on there? Do they still have their Category One academy status? It isn't just what happens today. I genuinely worry for the state of this club and where it goes because I think this could be catastrophic."
"I can't believe we're sitting here and we've witnessed this. We've watched it all season and we've seen a Leicester side that have underperformed. Individually, collectively, they haven't been anywhere near the levels we expect from that group of players. Now it's actually come to fruition; they haven't got out of it like we thought they would. Even in-house, they'd probably have thought 'we'll be alright'. It hasn't happened and, ultimately, this is the result. You look at the quality of players that are trying to clap the few fans that are left... it's devastating for them, but it's more devastating for the fans because this is a team that got promoted two years ago with similar players and it's so harsh for them to watch that. We saw the financial issues they had in the Championship - what will happen in League One? They've got an £85m training ground that needs to keep the lights on. They've got players that are going to be on astronomical wages. I know there will be pay-cuts, but they are still going to be on astronomical wages for League One. Quality-wise, you'd say they would walk League One, but if players don't want to be there in the Championship, who is going to want to be there in League One? Whoever the manager is, in my opinion, he'd be happier to see a load of them go. That's probably for the best for them, but also for the football club to start again because there are people that will want to play for them. The rebuild is going to be massive."
The numbers
Leicester's relegation is confirmed with a 2-2 draw against Hull. The Foxes sat 23rd in the table, eight points from safety, prior to kick-off, following a run of just two wins in their last 19 league games. They have kept only five clean sheets all season. Relegation to the third tier comes just shy of a decade after they won the Premier League title at odds of 5,000/1 under Claudio Ranieri. In 2026/27, they will play in the third tier for only the second time in their 142-year history.
Financially, Leicester will see a significant hit in income next season in League One, with revenues predicted to fall by around 50 per cent compared with the Championship - and they would be earning less than a third of what they were in the Premier League this time last year. While they enjoyed annual revenues of £187m in the top division, it is likely to be just over £100m come the end of this Championship season, and would fall to a predicted £60m per year in League One. Despite the crash in income, it would still make Leicester far-and-away the biggest earners in the division next season, with the average revenues of a League One club one-sixth of Leicester's, at around £10m. Leicester's speedy fall from grace will at least mean they have some cushion financially as a result of their Premier League parachute payments, designed to soften the blow of top flight relegation in 2025. That entitlement would not change, even if the club suffers a second consecutive demotion. However, those parachute payments reduce over time.
Analysis: Hull City's role in Leicester's demise
Hull City arrived at the King Power Stadium with nothing but pride to play for, yet they delivered a performance that epitomised their own Premier League campaign: resilient, opportunistic, and clinical when it mattered. Millar's early gift from Begovic set the tone, and after Leicester's quickfire turnaround, the Tigers responded through McBurnie's composed finish. Manager Sergej Jakirovic was sent to the stands for his protests at the penalty award, but his side kept their focus to deny the Foxes the win they desperately needed.
For Hull, the result is a footnote in a season that has already seen them secure top-flight survival. But for Leicester, it is a catastrophic blow. The Foxes' relegation to League One, just ten years after their miraculous Premier League title, is a stark reminder of football's volatility. The financial implications are severe, with revenues set to plummet and questions looming over the futures of high-earning players and the club's Category One academy status.
Hull's performance also highlighted the gulf in class between a well-drilled Premier League side and a Championship outfit in freefall. While Leicester showed flashes of quality in the second half, their defensive frailties and lack of cutting edge were exposed once more. The Tigers, meanwhile, demonstrated the kind of ruthlessness that has kept them in the top flight.
Talking points
- Leicester's unprecedented fall: Relegation to League One for only the second time in 142 years, just a decade after winning the Premier League at 5,000/1.
- Financial fallout: Revenues predicted to drop by 50 per cent to £60m in League One, though parachute payments provide some cushion.
- Hull's professionalism: Despite having nothing to play for, the Tigers secured a draw that condemned Leicester, with McBurnie and Millar impressing.
What happens next
Leicester will play in League One in 2026/27. Owner Aiyawatt Shrivaddhanaprabha has promised to take the necessary decisions to rebuild and restore standards. The club faces a massive rebuild, with questions over the futures of high-earning players and the sustainability of their £85m training ground at Seagrave. Hull City, meanwhile, will continue their Premier League campaign, safe from relegation.
Frequently asked questions
What was the score between Leicester City and Hull City?
Leicester City 2-2 Hull City. Leicester's goals came from a James penalty (52') and Thomas (54'), while Hull scored through Millar (17') and McBurnie (64').
Why were Leicester relegated?
Leicester were relegated because they sat 23rd in the Championship, eight points from safety, with just two wins in their last 19 league games. They needed to beat Hull to survive but could only draw.
What division will Leicester play in next season?
Leicester will play in League One in 2026/27, the third tier of English football, for only the second time in their 142-year history.
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