During the unforgettable 2015/2016 Premier League season, a Leicester City fan made headlines when he cashed out a 5000/1 bet early — collecting just over £1,100 from bookmaker Ladbrokes after originally placing a £1 stake.
At the time, Leicester City were two points clear at the top of the table with just 12 games remaining.
For many, the whole storyline felt less like football and more like the kind of long-shot gamble you’d expect to see in an online casino — except this one played out on the real-life Premier League stage.
The fan, 20 years old, had placed the bet back in May 2015, shortly after Leicester narrowly escaped relegation.
Few could have imagined what the following season would bring.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the fan said:
“Over a grand is too good an offer to turn down and it will go towards trains and tickets to follow Leicester chase the dream in the title run-in.
Football isn’t cheap these days and the feeling of winning the league will be priceless anyway.”
Leicester's Run-In Looked Kind
At the time of his cash-out, some punters thought he’d made a mistake. Leicester’s remaining fixtures included matches against Norwich, West Brom, Watford, Newcastle, Crystal Palace, Southampton, Sunderland, West Ham, Swansea, Manchester United, Everton, and Chelsea.
On paper, it was a run-in that didn’t seem too intimidating.
If the Foxes could win their next three games — against Norwich, West Brom, and Watford — the cash-out offer could have risen even higher without much added risk.
History Made
In the end, Leicester City didn’t just chase the dream — they caught it.
Claudio Ranieri’s side stunned the football world by winning the Premier League title, finishing 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal.
It was one of the greatest sporting upsets in history and a moment that changed the landscape of English football.
Those who kept their bets running to the end collected life-changing sums. One fan famously earned £72,000 from a £50 each-way bet.
Another supporter, who placed a £5 bet at 5000/1, stood to win £25,000 but chose to cash out for £2,200.
While the fan who took £1,100 early might have missed out on a bigger reward, he still backed his team when almost no one else did — and made a tidy profit in the process.
Congratulations @WillKirwaan_ on your win, the Christmas drinks are on you… #LCFC #BookieBashing pic.twitter.com/24qnAuHaKR
— Ladbrokes (@Ladbrokes) December 19, 2015
If that wasn't enough to give you bet envy then I won't even tell you about the Leicester fan who won £2500 with a £1 bet on Leicester being top at Christmas and Jamie Vardy being the leading goalscorer!
Not the Only Lucky Fox
This wasn’t the only Leicester-related bet that season to turn heads. Back in December 2015, another supporter won a bet at 1000/1 for the team to be top at Christmas.
One more fan landed £2,500 after betting that Leicester would lead the table at Christmas and Jamie Vardy would be top scorer — both of which happened.
The 2015/16 season will always be remembered for Leicester City’s triumph. And for a handful of fans, it was a season that paid off in more ways than one.
And Now in 2025…
Fast forward to 2025, and Leicester City have experienced a dramatic downturn. After earning promotion back to the Premier League for the 2024/25 season, the Foxes struggled throughout the campaign.
They suffered a record-setting streak of nine consecutive home defeats without scoring and managed only four wins all season.
Their relegation was confirmed after a 1-0 home loss to Liverpool on April 20, 2025, marking their 13th drop from the top flight — the most in English football history.
Adding to the end of an era, club legend Jamie Vardy announced he would leave Leicester at the end of the season.
Vardy, who joined the club in 2012, was instrumental in their 2015/16 title win and leaves with nearly 200 goals to his name.
Leicester now faces another rebuild in the Championship, hoping to return stronger in the future.
