1997–98 Leicester City F.C. season

During the 1997–98 English football season, Leicester City competed in the FA Premier League (known as the FA Carling Premiership for sponsorship reasons).

Leicester City
1997–98 season
ChairmanTom Smeaton
ManagerMartin O'Neill
StadiumFilbert Street
Premiership10th
FA CupFourth round
League CupThird round
UEFA CupFirst round
Player of the YearMatt Elliott
Top goalscorerLeague: Heskey (10)
All: Heskey/Marshall (10)
Highest home attendance21,699 vs Newcastle United
(29 Apr 1998, Premier League)
Lowest home attendance18,553 vs Wimbledon
(10 Nov 1997, Premier League)
Average home league attendance20,615

Season summary

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Leicester City's return to European competition for the first time since the 1960s was short-lived, and they suffered a first-hurdle defeat at the hands of Spanish team Atlético Madrid. Their challenges in the domestic cups fared little better, and a 10th-place finish in the final table was not enough for another UEFA Cup adventure. But they managed to hold on to star players like Neil Lennon and Emile Heskey, and, most importantly, highly rated manager Martin O'Neill, giving fans hope of another challenge for honours in 1998–99.

Final league table

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
8 West Ham United 38 16 8 14 56 57 −1 56
9 Derby County 38 16 7 15 52 49 +3 55
10 Leicester City 38 13 14 11 51 41 +10 53
11 Coventry City 38 12 16 10 46 44 +2 52
12 Southampton 38 14 6 18 50 55 −5 48
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
Results summary
Overall Home Away
Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts W D L GF GA GD W D L GF GA GD
38 13 14 11 51 41  +10 53 6 10 3 21 15  +6 7 4 8 30 26  +4
Results by round
Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAHAHAAHHA
ResultWWDDLWWDWLLWDLDWDLLLDDDWWDWLLLDWDDWDWL
Position54446534345457666789999999779121210101099810
Source: 11v11.com: 1997-98 Leicester City results
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Results

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  Win   Draw   Loss

Pre-season

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16 July 1997 (1997-07-16) Penzance 1–7 Leicester City Penzance
Heskey   ?', ?'
Whitlow   ?' (pen)
Fox   ?'
Skeldon   ?'
Robins   ?'
Izzet   ?'
Stadium: Penlee Park
18 July 1997 (1997-07-18) Torpoint Athletic 1–3 Leicester City Torpoint
McMahon   ?'
Guppy   ?'
Heskey   ?'
Stadium: The Mill
19 July 1997 (1997-07-19) Torquay United 3–1 Leicester City Torquay
Izzet   ?' Stadium: Plainmoor
21 July 1997 (1997-07-21) Grantham Town 0–5 Leicester City Grantham
Wilson   ?', ?', ?', ?'
Skeldon   ?'
Stadium: South Kesteven Sports Stadium
22 July 1997 (1997-07-22) Scunthorpe United 0–4 Leicester City Scunthorpe
19:30 BST Claridge   ?'
Marshall   ?'
Wilson   ?'
Robins   ?'
Stadium: Glanford Park
23 July 1997 (1997-07-23) Notts County 1–2 Leicester City Nottingham
Cunnington   ?' Oparaku   ?'
Savage   ?'
Stadium: Meadow Lane
28 July 1997 (1997-07-28) Olympiacos   3–1 Leicester City Athens
Campbell   ?' Stadium: Olympic Stadium
1 August 1997 (1997-08-01) Preston North End 0–2 Leicester City Preston
McMahon   ?'
Marshall   ?'
Stadium: Deepdale
5 August 1997 (1997-08-05) Peterborough United 2–2 Leicester City Peterborough
19:45 BST de Souza   ?', ?' Robins   ?'
Campbell   ?'
Stadium: London Road Stadium

FA Premier League

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9 August 1997 (1997-08-09) Leicester City 1–0 Aston Villa Leicester
15:00 BST Marshall   37' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,304
Referee: Stephen Lodge
13 August 1997 (1997-08-13) Liverpool 1–2 Leicester City Liverpool
19:45 BST Ince   85' Elliott   1'
Fenton   83'
Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 35,007
Referee: Jeff Winter
23 August 1997 (1997-08-23) Leicester City 0–0 Manchester United Leicester
15:00 BST Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,221
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
27 August 1997 (1997-08-27) Leicester City 3–3 Arsenal Leicester
19:45 BST Heskey   84'
Elliott   90+2'
Walsh   90+5'
Bergkamp   9', 61', 90+3' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,089
Referee: Graham Barber
30 August 1997 (1997-08-30) Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Leicester City Sheffield
15:00 BST Carbone   56' (pen.) Stadium: Hillsborough
Attendance: 24,851
Referee: Paul Alcock
13 September 1997 (1997-09-13) Leicester City 3–0 Tottenham Hotspur Leicester
15:00 BST Walsh   55'
Guppy   68'
Heskey   77'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,683
Referee: Alan Wilkie
20 September 1997 (1997-09-20) Leeds United 0–1 Leicester City Leeds
15:00 BST Walsh   32' Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 29,620
Referee: Keith Burge
24 September 1997 (1997-09-24) Leicester City 1–1 Blackburn Rovers Leicester
19:45 BST Izzet   43' Sutton   36' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 19,921
Referee: Neale Barry
27 September 1997 (1997-09-27) Barnsley 0–2 Leicester City Barnsley
15:00 BST Marshall   55'
Fenton   63'
Stadium: Oakwell
Attendance: 18,660
Referee: Graham Poll
6 October 1997 (1997-10-06) Leicester City 1–2 Derby County Leicester
20:00 BST Elliott   67' Baiano   21', 62' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 19,585
Referee: Gerald Ashby
18 October 1997 (1997-10-18) Chelsea 1–0 Leicester City London
15:00 BST Leboeuf   88' Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 33,356
Referee: Uriah Rennie
27 October 1997 (1997-10-27) Leicester City 2–1 West Ham United Leicester
20:00 GMT Heskey   16'
Marshall   82'
Berkovic   58' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,201
Referee: Mike Reed
1 November 1997 (1997-11-01) Newcastle United 3–3 Leicester City Newcastle
15:00 GMT Barnes   4' (pen.)
Tomasson   45'
Beresford   90'
Marshall   12', 32'
Elliott   54'
Heskey   90'
Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 36,754
Referee: Gary Willard
10 November 1997 (1997-11-10) Leicester City 0–1 Wimbledon Leicester
20:00 GMT Gayle   50' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 18,553
Referee: Mike Riley
22 November 1997 (1997-11-22) Leicester City 0–0 Bolton Wanderers Leicester
15:00 GMT Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,464
Referee: Graham Barber
29 November 1997 (1997-11-29) Coventry City 0–2 Leicester City Coventry
15:00 GMT Fenton   32'
Elliott   75' (pen.)
Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 18,309
Referee: Martin Bodenham
6 December 1997 (1997-12-06) Leicester City 1–1 Crystal Palace Leicester
15:00 GMT Izzet   90' Edworthy   29'
Padovano   43'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 19,191
Referee: Uriah Rennie
13 December 1997 (1997-12-13) Southampton 2–1 Leicester City Southampton
15:00 GMT Le Tissier   2'
Benali   54'
Savage   84' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 15,121
Referee: Stephen Lodge
20 December 1997 (1997-12-20) Leicester City 0–1 Everton Leicester
15:00 GMT Speed   89' (pen.) Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,628
Referee: Jeff Winter
26 December 1997 (1997-12-26) Arsenal 2–1 Leicester City London
12:00 GMT Platt   36'
Walsh   56' (o.g.)
Lennon   77' Stadium: Highbury
Attendance: 38,023
Referee: David Elleray
28 December 1997 (1997-12-28) Leicester City 1–1 Sheffield Wednesday Leicester
15:00 GMT Guppy   28' Stefanović     43'
Booth   85'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,800
Referee: Graham Poll
10 January 1998 (1998-01-10) Aston Villa 1–1 Leicester City Birmingham
15:00 GMT Joachim   87' Parker   53' (pen.) Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 36,429
Referee: Mike Riley
17 January 1998 (1998-01-17) Leicester City 0–0 Liverpool Leicester
15:00 GMT Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,633
Referee: Steve Dunn
31 January 1998 (1998-01-31) Manchester United 0–1 Leicester City Manchester
15:00 GMT Cottee   30' Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 55,156
Referee: Gerald Ashby
7 February 1998 (1998-02-07) Leicester City 1–0 Leeds United Leicester
15:00 GMT Parker   44' (pen.) Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,244
Referee: Neale Barry
14 February 1998 (1998-02-14) Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 Leicester City London
15:00 GMT Calderwood   51' Cottee   34' Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 28,355
Referee: Stephen Lodge
21 February 1998 (1998-02-21) Leicester City 2–0 Chelsea Leicester
15:00 GMT Heskey   3', 89' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,335
Referee: Paul Durkin
28 February 1998 (1998-02-28) Blackburn Rovers 5–3 Leicester City Blackburn
15:00 GMT Dahlin   11'
Sutton   25', 45', 47'
Hendry   63'
Wilson   68'
Izzet   80'
Ullathorne   81'
Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 24,854
Referee: Neale Barry
14 March 1998 (1998-03-14) Wimbledon 2–1 Leicester City London
15:00 GMT Roberts   14'
Hughes   62'
Savage   57' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 13,229
Referee: Mike Riley
28 March 1998 (1998-03-28) Bolton Wanderers 2–0 Leicester City Bolton
15:00 GMT Bergsson   26'
Thompson   52', 89'
Ullathorne   41' Stadium: Reebok Stadium
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Uriah Rennie
4 April 1998 (1998-04-04) Leicester City 1–1 Coventry City Leicester
15:00 BST Wilson   78' Whelan   80' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,137
Referee: Graham Barber
11 April 1998 (1998-04-11) Crystal Palace 0–3 Leicester City London
15:00 BST Heskey   45', 60'
Elliott   74'
Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 18,771
Referee: Alan Wilkie
14 April 1998 (1998-04-14) Leicester City 3–3 Southampton Leicester
19:45 BST Lennon   18'
Elliott   52'
Parker   90' (pen.)
Østenstad   17', 27'
Hirst   49'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,708
Referee: Graham Poll
18 April 1998 (1998-04-18) Everton 1–1 Leicester City Liverpool
15:00 BST Madar   2' Marshall   38' Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 33,642
Referee: Stephen Lodge
26 April 1998 (1998-04-26) Derby County 0–4 Leicester City Derby
16:00 BST Heskey   1', 8'
Izzet   2'
Marshall   15'
Stadium: Pride Park
Attendance: 29,855
Referee: Gary Willard
29 April 1998 (1998-04-29) Leicester City 0–0 Newcastle United Leicester
19:45 BST Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,699
Referee: Martin Bodenham
2 May 1998 (1998-05-02) Leicester City 1–0 Barnsley Leicester
15:00 BST Zagorakis   57' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 21,293
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
10 May 1998 (1998-05-10) West Ham United 4–3 Leicester City London
16:00 BST Lampard   15'
Abou   31', 74'
Sinclair   65'
Cottee   59', 83'
Heskey   66'
Stadium: Upton Park
Attendance: 25,781
Referee: Uriah Rennie

FA Cup

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3 January 1998 (1998-01-03) R3 Leicester City 4–0 Northampton Town Leicester
15:00 BST Marshall   17'
Parker   26' (pen.)
Savage   53'
Cottee   58'
Clarkson   69' Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,608
Referee: Alan Wilkie
24 January 1998 (1998-01-24) R4 Crystal Palace 3–0 Leicester City London
15:00 BST Dyer   33', 62', 66' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 15,489
Referee: Paul Alcock

League Cup

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14 October 1997 (1997-10-14) R3 Grimsby Town 3–1 Leicester City Cleethorpes
19:45 BST Jobling   68'
Livingstone   72', 78'
Marshall   17' Stadium: Blundell Park
Attendance: 7,738
Referee: Mike Riley

UEFA Cup

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16 September 1997 (1997-09-16) R1 1st leg Atlético Madrid   2–1 Leicester City Madrid
21:30 Juninho   70'
Vieri   72' (pen.)
Report Marshall   11' Stadium: Vicente Calderón Stadium
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Roy Helge Olsen
30 September 1997 (1997-09-30) R1 2nd leg Leicester City 0–2
(1–4 agg.)
Atlético Madrid   Leicester
19:45 BST Parker     59' Report López   50'
Juninho   72'
Kiko   88'
Stadium: Filbert Street
Attendance: 20,776
Referee: Rémi Harrel

Squad

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[1] Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   USA Kasey Keller
4 DF   ENG Julian Watts
5 DF   ENG Steve Walsh (captain)
6 MF   TUR Muzzy Izzet
7 MF   NIR Neil Lennon
8 MF   ENG Scott Taylor
9 FW   ENG Steve Claridge
10 MF   ENG Garry Parker
11 FW   ENG Emile Heskey
14 MF   WAL Robbie Savage
15 DF   SWE Pontus Kåmark
16 MF   SCO Stuart Campbell
17 DF   ENG Spencer Prior
18 DF   SCO Matt Elliott (vice-captain)
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 DF   ENG Robert Ullathorne
20 FW   ENG Ian Marshall
21 MF   ENG Graham Fenton
22 GK   FRA Pegguy Arphexad
23 MF   ENG Sam McMahon
24 MF   ENG Steve Guppy
25 MF   ENG Stuart Wilson
26 FW   SWE Lars-Gunnar Carlstrand
27 FW   ENG Tony Cottee [nb 1]
29 MF   ENG Stefan Oakes
30 GK   ENG Ian Andrews [nb 2]
33 DF   ENG Martin Fox
37 MF   GRE Theodoros Zagorakis
  1. ^ Issued number 8 in the UEFA Cup.
  2. ^ Issued number 13 in the UEFA Cup.

Left club during season

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 DF   ENG Mike Whitlow (to Bolton Wanderers)
9 FW   ENG Steve Claridge (to Wolves)
No. Pos. Nation Player
12 FW   ENG Mark Robins (to CD Ourense)

Reserve squad

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
- DF   ENG Guy Branston
- FW   ENG Lawrie Dudfield
No. Pos. Nation Player
- DF   SCO Gary Neil

Club staff

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Directors & Senior Management
Role Person
President   Ken Brigstock
Chairman   Tom Smeaton
Vice Chairman   John Elsom
Directors   Roy Parker
  Martin George
  Terry Shipman
  John Sharp
Chief Executive   Barrie Pierpoint
Deputy Chief Executive   Charles Rayner
First Team Management & Youth Team Management
Role Person
First Team Manager   Martin O'Neill
First Team Assistant Manager   John Robertson
First Team Coach   Steve Walford
Goalkeeping Team Coach   Jim McDonagh
Reserve Team Coach   Paul Franklin
Physiotherapist   Mick Yeoman
Physiotherapist   Alan Smith
Youth Academy Manager   David Nish
Head Coach of Youth Development   Neville Hamilton
Youth Development Officer   Steve Sims
Chief Scout   Jim Melrose
Kit Manager   Paul McAndrew

Source: Leicester City F.C.

Transfers

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Date Pos. Name From Fee
23 July 1997 MF   Robbie Savage Crewe Alexandra £400,000
8 August 1997 MF   Graham Fenton Blackburn Rovers £1,100,000
14 August 1997 FW   Tony Cottee Selangor £500,000
20 August 1997 GK   Pegguy Arphexad Lens Free transfer
5 February 1998 MF   Theodoros Zagorakis PAOK £750,000
Date Pos. Name To Fee
17 June 1997 MF   Jamie Lawrence Bradford City £50,000
22 June 1997 DF   Neil Lewis Peterborough United £75,000
23 July 1997 DF   Simon Grayson Aston Villa £1,350,000
2 August 1997 GK   Kevin Poole Birmingham City Free transfer
19 September 1997 DF   Mike Whitlow Bolton Wanderers £500,000
16 January 1998 FW   Mark Robins Ourense Signed
26 March 1998 FW   Steve Claridge Wolverhampton Wanderers £350,000
Transfers in:   £2,750,000
Transfers out:   £2,325,000
Total spending:   £525,000

Statistics

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Appearances, goals and cards

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(Starting appearances + substitute appearances)
No. Pos. Name League FA Cup League Cup UEFA Cup Total Discipline
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals    
1 GK   Kasey Keller 32 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 37 0 2 0
4 DF   Julian Watts 0+3 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2+3 0 0 0
5 DF   Steve Walsh 23+3 3 1 0 1 0 1 0 26+3 3 3 0
6 MF   Muzzy Izzet 36 4 2 0 0 0 2 0 40 4 6 0
7 MF   Neil Lennon 37 2 2 0 1 0 2 0 42 2 8 0
9 FW   Steve Claridge 10+7 0 0 0 0 0 0+1 0 10+8 0 0 0
10 MF   Garry Parker 15+7 3 2 1 0 0 2 0 19+7 4 1 0
11 FW   Emile Heskey 35 10 2 0 0 0 2 0 39 10 4 1
14 MF   Robbie Savage 28+7 2 2 1 1 0 0+1 0 31+8 3 4 0
15 DF   Pontus Kåmark 35 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 39 0 2 0
16 MF   Stuart Campbell 6+5 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 7+5 0 1 0
17 DF   Spencer Prior 28+2 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 31+2 0 2 0
18 DF   Matt Elliott 37 7 2 0 1 0 2 0 42 7 7 0
19 DF   Robert Ullathorne 3+3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3+3 1 0 1
20 FW   Ian Marshall 22+2 7 2 1 1 1 2 1 27+2 10 2 0
21 FW   Graham Fenton 9+13 3 0+1 0 1 0 0+2 0 10+17 3 1 0
22 GK   Pegguy Arphexad 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0
23 MF   Sam McMahon 0+1 0 0 0 0+1 0 0 0 0+2 0 0 0
24 MF   Steve Guppy 37 2 2 0 1 0 2 0 42 2 4 0
25 MF   Stuart Wilson 0+11 2 0+2 0 0+1 0 0 0 0+14 2 0 0
27 FW   Tony Cottee 7+12 4 0+2 1 1 0 0+1 0 8+15 5 0 0
37 MF   Theodoros Zagorakis 12+2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 12+2 1 1 0

Notes

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References

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  1. ^ "FootballSquads - Leicester City - 1997/98".