One of them handed over a underdog story foreverwinning the title at preseason odds of 5,000-1 in 2016.
Another was a mainstay of the league for 11 years, riding on its famous conveyor belt of young talent.
The other’s history in England’s top flight goes back practically a generation, but should not be overlooked – from consecutive runners-up in the 1980s to almost qualifying for the Champions League in 2001.
Leicester, Southampton and Ipswich – whose most famous fan is pop star Ed Sheeran – are all big names in their own right as they return to the Premier League following promotion from the Championship.
Everyone arrives with an attacking, easy-on-the-eye style of play that has become the norm these days.
And everyone will, without a doubt, have their challenges this season. Just like the three teams promoted from the Premier League last year – Burnley, Luton and Sheffield United – who ended up being relegated after just one season.
Here’s a look at the latest promoted clubs:
Leicester
The club from central England – the author of that famous Premier League title triumph eight years ago – had a turbulent summer, having lost the manager who led the team to promotion as Championship winners. Enzo Maresca joined Chelsea in June and was replaced at Leicester by Steve Cooper, who was fired from Nottingham Forest in December. Leicester could also soon receive a points deduction after becoming the latest team to breach Premier League financial rules, dating back to the club’s time in the top flight in the three years up to and including the 2022-23 season. Leicester have appealed the charge – if that fails, a points deduction could be applied for the season. Some things don’t change, however. The team returns to the Premier League with Jamie Vardy, the former England striker, now 37, still their main goalscorer. Vardy could miss the start of the season – which for Leicester will be on Monday, at home to Tottenham – because of injury.
SOUTHAMPTON
Southampton were in the Premier League from 2012 to 2023, a period notable for the club producing an abundance of talented academy players who followed in the footsteps of the likes of Gareth Bale and Theo Walcott. The club’s ability to buy cheap and sell big diminished, leading to relegation, but the team was reinvented in the Championship as a heavily possession-based team under Russell Martin, who guided Southampton back to the Premier League through the playoffs to defy preseason expectations. The Saints have been strengthened by the signing of Chilean striker Ben Brereton Diaz and the return of experienced midfielder Adam Lallana, who left in 2014 and has since played for Liverpool and Brighton. Martin’s side will be outclassed, but that won’t stop Southampton from maintaining their style of play, even if it means an immediate return to the Championship after a profitable year in the top flight.
IPSWICH
Expect plenty of Sheeran sightings at Ipswich’s Portman Road ground for the club’s first Premier League season since 2002. The British pop star is Ipswich’s most famous fan and has sponsored the team’s shirts for the past three seasons. In fact, he is an honorary member of the squad, with the number 17 shirt reserved for him. On the field, Ipswich – nicknamed the “Tractor Boys” in a nod to the region’s rural location – will start among the likely relegation candidates, but should be one of the most entertaining teams to watch after back-to-back promotions have put them way ahead of schedule. than anticipated under their American owners in the Gamechanger 20 investment group. Ipswich have been revitalized since Kieran McKenna became manager in December 2021, with the team sitting 12th in Division Three – a level not seen since 1957. McKenna is a former -Northern Ireland youth national team player who retired early due to injuries and preaches expansive, attacking football as a coach. He was part of the coaching team at Manchester United.
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This story originally appeared on ABCNews.go.com read the full story
