2021/22 - Iheanacho's late penalty secures more Wembley delight
Leicester City started the 2021/22 season as winners of the FA Community Shield after a 1-0 victory over Premier League champions Manchester City at Wembley on Saturday 7 August, 2021.
The Foxes, who lifted the Emirates FA Cup for the first time last term, enjoyed another occasion to remember in the season’s curtain-raiser, courtesy of a penalty from Kelechi Iheanacho.
Now two-time winners of the Community Shield, after also being successful in the 113-year-old competition exactly 50 years ago, it adds to an honours list which includes triumphs in English football’s major competitions – the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup.
After Jamie Vardy hit the post in the first half, a defensive mix up from Pep Guardiola's men, with only three minutes of normal time remaining, handed Leicester the opportunity to win the match, as Nathan Aké tripped substitute Kelechi Iheanacho in the box and Rodgers' side were awarded a penalty.
It was, indeed, the Nigeria frontman who would take the spot-kick, dispatching it into the corner to hand his side a late lead.
While Man City were boosted by the introduction of £100M signing Jack Grealish, the Foxes' compact defence and midfield were able to deal with the opposition advances and the first piece of 2021/22 silverware went back to King Power Stadium.
1971/72 - Whitworth seals City's first-ever shield triumph
Friday 7 August marks the anniversary of City’s 1971 FA Charity Shield success over Liverpool at Filbert Street.
Bookmakers wouldn’t have even been able to offer odds on the Foxes claiming their first and only FA Charity Shield (now Community Shield) should Arsenal have opted to contest the fixture against Bill Shankly’s side.
Instead, the Gunners, who had won the first division and FA Cup in 1970/71, played in a previously-arranged pre-season tour, and so Leicester, as Division Two champions, were invited to face FA Cup runners-up Liverpool.
City had been relegated in 1969 as FA Cup finalists, and finished third the following season before gaining promotion back to the top tier as champions in 1970/71.
The FA Charity shield was played at Filbert Street, as the competition did not move to its present venue at Wembley Stadium until 1974. City’s line-up on the day was as follows: Shilton, Whitworth, Nish, Kellard, Sjoberg, Cross, Farrington, Brown, Fern, Sammels, Glover.
Liverpool, meanwhile, were managed by the legendary Shankly. In the previous 11 years they had won the Second Division title, two First Division titles, and the FA Cup. They had also played in Europe for eight successive seasons, with final and semi-final appearances in all three major European tournaments.
It was a sunny summer day, and a crowd of 25,000 fans filled Filbert Street as Steve Whitworth scored the only goal of the game – his only strike in 401 matches for the Club.
Leicester became only the second club to win the Charity Shield without ever winning the league or the FA Cup – the other was Brighton in 1910). Seven years of top-flight football followed for City, who finished seventh in 1975/76 and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup two years prior.