Update: This was initially published back in March when, let's be honest, we still all expected Leicester to blow up sooner rather than later. Here we sit on May 3rd and rather than the inevitable implosion, they went from strength to strength and blew the competition out of the water.
Enough has been said and will be said about what an astonishing achievement it is, but we have no interest in that. Instead, given the nation of horrible bandwagoners that we are, it's only right that we come up with a few reasons that will allow you to wear your 2016/17 Leicester kit with pride while simultaeneously keeping a straight face when you say 'when you think about, Leicester are the team that all Ireland fans should be supporting'.
The Board Are Virtually Entirely Irish
The Chief Executive, Susan Whelan is Irish, from Dublin. She presided over both the appointment and sacking of Nigel Pearson and she also hired Claudio Ranieri. As well as that, the Commercial Director Ian Flanagan is Irish also. So a win for Leicester is a win for all of Ireland, really.
Martin O'Neill
O'Neill is a legend at Leicester City, presiding over a promotion and two League Cup victories. He even made Emile Heskey prolific.
Steve Guppy
Former Leicester winger who has joined the Irish coaching staff. If we are claiming Carlo Cudicini and Ruud Dokter, we are claiming Guppy.
A Host Of Irish Ex-Players
Included in this list are Damien Delaney (2000-02), Greg Cunningham (a 13 game loan deal in 2010-11), Alan Maybury (2005-08), David Kelly (Member of Italia '90 squad and made 66 appearances between March 1990 and December 1991) and, er, Conor Clifford.
Geordan Murphy
Admittedly, Murphy played an entirely different sport, but he is a legend at Leicester Tigers. He made 316 appearances and captained the side from 2008, a season which ended in him touching the ball down to confirm an Irish Six Nations Grand Slam. Murphy still lives in Leicester, and is employed as a coach with the club. The rugby comparison is entirely fair to draw, as Riyad Mahrez confirmed when he told FourFourTwo that he didn't know there was a football team in Leicester:
I didn’t know Leicester. In France we didn’t really [know them] because they were in the Championship. I thought they were a rugby club. I was like: ‘I don’t know...’ But then I came here to see the facilities and they were good. I do not regret signing for them, it’s the best club I’ve ever been at.
Claudio Ranieri's Mum's Love Of Damien Duff
Ranieri managed Duff at Chelsea, and as Ranieri's reign edged towards its end, he was asked whether Roman Abramovich had been trying to influence the tactical side of the game. Ranieri rejected the claim, and in doing so, revealed the depth of affection his mother had for Duff:
My only technical adviser is my mother. When I told her that Damien had injured his shoulder again, she said 'Oh no! Who should replace him?' I will call her before the game to ask.
Damien is Damien. When I don't put him in the squad my mother, who's 84, asks 'why isn't Damien playing?' She kills me about it and that's true.
My mother says he is like Nedved.
A fitting tribute to the great man. Also, on Duff...
There Is A Side Called Leicester Celtic From Rathfarnham In Dublin
The club compete in the Leinster Senior League, with the youth teams taking part in the Dublin District Schoolboy League and the FAI Youth Cup. Leicester Celtic are arguably more successful than their Premier League counterparts, having produced a number of Irish internationals, including Richie Sadlier, Barry Roche and, most notably, Duff.
Kasper Schmeichel Probably Learned All He Knows From Richard Dunne
Granted, you might expect Schmeichel to have picked up a thing or two from his Dad. But Schmeichel played alongside Dunne at Manchester City, where it is inconceivable (particularly unlikely in the further extension of this list) that he didn't pick up a few tips on communication with his defenders and how to command his area from Dunne.
...are you still with us? Great. We have a few more...
Gary Lineker's Twitter Defining Moment Occurred Against Ireland
Yep, former Leicester striker Gary Lineker's infamous on-pitch defecation happened against Ireland at Italia '90. Virtually none of his numerous twitter replies omit this incident.
Dion Dublin Was Born In Leicester
The fact a man whose surname is Dublin was born in Leicestershire is an inextricable link between Ireland and the champions-elect.
Kevin Myers Is From Leicester
Chief among Ireland's cultural tastemakers, controversial columnist Kevin Myers was born in Leicester. Myers would seem to be more supportive of the right-wing rather than the left, meaning he would likely be supportive of the ubiquitous (on this list at least) Damien Duff.
Kasabian Once Headlined The Second Stage At Oxegen
Kasabian are from Leicester, and headlined the second stage at Oxegen in 2010. Ok, we admit that we are beginning to stretch these a small bit...
There Are A Lot Of Foxes In Dublin
Okay we're done, promise. But there are a lot of foxes about Dublin. Is this a kind of Patronus charm being cast on Ireland, as confirmation of our deep-seated support for Leicester? Perhaps not, but we are pretty sure we nailed this earlier with Dion Dublin.
