Leicester City

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The season will hardly be remembered fondly.

Relegation, a record-equalling run of defeats, division between the fans and the club, a change of manager, the departure of a legend and a season-ending profit and sustainability charge.

Ruud Van Nistelrooy replaced Steve Cooper in November and the change did not work. The Dutchman has carried himself extremely well - as you would expect for someone of his experience in the game - but failed to get results.

He lost 19 of his 27 games, winning five - with two of those coming in the last four matches when the Foxes had already been relegated.

Under him Leicester became the first Premier League team to lose eight games in a row without scoring during a run of defeats between February and April, which also equalled the club's record losing streak.

It leaves Van Nistelrooy in a fragile position, with the expectation he will leave while Russell Martin is a leading contender to replace him.

Fans called for the departure of director of football Jon Rudkin, who they view as key in their decline following two relegations in three years yet there seems to be no appetite to change at the top.

Leicester are entering a new era - one post Jamie Vardy - with the striker leaving at the end of his contract next month.

He is the last of the 2016 title winners left and the Foxes must find a new direction in the Championship next season, even as they look to avoid a points deduction.

We asked you to select your Leicester player of the season from the four candidates chosen by our fan contributor.

After taking part in your thousands, we can reveal the winner is... Jamie Vardy!

Here's what Kate Blakemore from Leicester Till I Die, external said about him:

Despite at one stage having an 11-game goal drought, Vardy is our top goalscorer this season on a tear-inducing nine goals (the bar is low this year).

His performances have fallen short of his usual high standards, but he has still brought some of his magic to the back of the net.

See the final poll breakdown

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Bournemouth and Tottenham were the most physical teams in the Premier League this season when considering the distance they covered and the number of sprints performed.

The results might explain why they had a lot of injuries.

Newcastle and Brighton were not too far behind though, with Brighton actually covering the most ground in the league, with fewer sprints.

Chelsea and Liverpool's style of play saw them sprint a lot but not cover a lot of ground, while Manchester City and Arsenal were the opposite (ran a lot but didn't sprint a lot).

Nottingham Forest very much had their own style of play this season as they both ran and sprinted the least.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Leicester goalkeeping coach Mike Stowell believes the club's players need a different style of management to what Ruud van Nistelrooy offers.

Speaking on BBC Radio Leicester's 'When You're Smiling' podcast, Stowell said he believes the Dutch boss was more of a friend than a coach to players.

He said: "It feels different this season. It was almost doomed to fail early on, and just the manner in which they've gone down is disappointing.

"Two years ago under Brendan Rodgers, that was a shock to end up going down. I wouldn't say there was inevitability about this team going down though.

"Who knows what would have happened if we didn't sack Steve Cooper. For me, he came with baggage but that shouldn't be the case.

"There was no reason for me to think Leicester were going down and they had to sack Cooper.

"I've met Ruud van Nistelrooy and he's a lovely bloke. But I get the feeling he was the players' friend rather than the players' coach.

"I feel they needed someone in there that would drive them rather than befriend them.

"He is an incredible man, but that doesn't make you a great manager."

Listen to the full podcast here

Chris Forryan
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Season rating: 1/10. I fail to think of anything positive to say about what is possibly the worst season since the Frank McLintock season of 1977-78.

Happy with your manager? Is this a trick question? I would be happier with piles. After a few games when things started to pick up and look better, we had Ruud van Nistelrooy going back to his old drawing board against Bournemouth.

Unsung hero: Luke Thomas. One-time target of the terrace boo boys and social media keyboard warriors. After torrid loans at Sheffield United and Middlesbrough, he stood up to the mark when given the chance. He does walk a bit lopsided - probably caused by still having Mohamed Salah in his pocket.

Player you would most like to sign: I am going against almost everything I have been saying all season, but I would like to sign... JAMIE VARDY!

Not his best season by any stretch of the imagination. Not since 2005-06 have we had a season with the top goalscorer having so low a number as 10. But we love his leadership, commitment and effort. Let's be honest, with the service Vardy got this season, Lionel Messi wouldn't have scored.

Right now, my overriding emotion from the season is: Anger! Anger that this owner has let the club his family turned into champions, and set the example for the likes of Brighton, Bournemouth, Brentford to follow, become a laughing stock. The big six, who said they must never let another Leicester happen again, must be celebrating our demise. Tough decisions have to be made at executive level, but can Kuhn Top make them?

Do you agree with Chris' answers? Pick one or two categories and send your views

Find more from Chris Forryan at Leicester Till I Die, external

Image source, Getty Images

Here's my quick assessment of Liverpool's Premier League season - and a return to my August predictions.

Pre-season prediction: 19th

Ended the season: 18th

Steve Cooper lasted five months after succeeding Enzo Maresca. Ruud van Nistelrooy replaced Cooper, and took Leicester down. Jamie Vardy had a more colourful phrase for it, but here I will just say it was a fiasco.

Performances were desperate. There was fan discontent. It was not the note on which Vardy wanted to end his 13 years at King Power Stadium.

Leicester's supporters are often accused of demanding too much. Whether this is true or not, they had every right to demand better than this on and off the pitch.

What I said in August: "Cooper and Leicester could defy the odds but it may well be a steep uphill struggle."

Read my assessments of the other 19 teams here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Leicester's performance against Bournemouth, and their season overall.

Here are some of your comments:

Lindsay: I feel terrible. The manager never dramatically changed his style or first XI and left out in-form academy stars that were proving themselves in their squads. Ruud van Nistelrooy has to go and we need a proven manager who can bring in fresh players and merge them with the young stars of the academy, as long as PSR allows it.

Martin: We spent far too long chasing Graham Potter, but Harry Potter couldn't have kept us up this season. If Ruud wants to stay, I'd stick with him and give him the opportunity to build something. The clearout needs to be substantial, though.

Chris: Been going down the City for over 50 years and I'm certain there were more miserable seasons - but I can't remember one. Hollywood managerial signings very rarely work out well.

Phil: The longer it takes to make the change we all know needs to come, the poorer the pool of replacements will be, and the weaker the group of free agents will be. I would get Russell Martin in quickly so he can revive the squad with fresh blood.

John: Absolutely rubbish all season. Top needs to replace both Jon Rudkin and Susan Whelan straight away so the club can start afresh next season. I feel sorry for Ruud.

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's 10 final day Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Nottingham Forest 0-1 Chelsea

• Liverpool 1-1 Crystal Palace

• Wolves 1-1 Brentford

Leicester City have made a bid to sign 18-year-old Guinean forward Abdoul Karim Traore from French club Bourg-en-Bresse. (Foot Mercato - in French, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

In what could turn out to be Ruud van Nistelrooy's final game in charge of Leicester, this was a meek performance.

They did not manage to muster any efforts on target and registered just three shots. Bournemouth kept Jakub Stolarczyk busy with 19 shots, seven hitting the target.

The Foxes managed to hold on until Antoine Semenyo finally broke the deadlock, but the goal had always seemed to be coming.

Apart from the earlier VAR intervention, only a stunning fingertip save from Stolarczyk shortly after the restart, when he denied Marcus Tavernier what would have been a superb goal, kept Leicester on level terms.

Leicester's only major chance came in the second chance when they counter-attacked after Bournemouth gave the ball away, but the hosts rapidly tracked back and Jordan Ayew eventually scuffed his effort at the back post.

Late chants of "Leicester till I die" from the visiting supporters rounded off the season before they return to the second tier after a campaign in which they finished 18th, 15 points adrift of safety.

BBC Radio Leicester's When You're Smiling podcast brings you post- match analysis with former striker Matty Fryatt as the Foxes end their season with defeat at Bournemouth - plus reaction from Ruud van Nistelrooy.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

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Ruud van Nistelrooy spoke to BBC Match of the Day after defeat against Bournemouth: "I think the turning point was the first goal because we were in the game, it was a very level match. Off the ball we controlled but we weren't able to create an awful lot but some okay spells.

"When you look at the players we had to miss today it was 10 or 12 players but the players did well and very, very young players came on. In the end, I see these positives. The run of results and run of form that we were able to show in the last five six weeks we take that into the next season, that's what we wanted. It's time to rest now."

On what he thinks will happen to his future this week: "I hope to speak with them."

On whether he would like to stay: "I would like to talk and that's the first thing that needs to happen. It's been silent and it's something towards the end of the season and get things done with and then I expect to hear something."

On whether the difference of being in the Championship to the Premier League is a worry: "It's important to start talking and to see how we look into the future. It's what you need to find out. So far there hasn't been any conversation but I'm waiting for that to happen."

Image source, Getty Images

Leicester lost 25 Premier League games this season (W6 D7), they've never lost more in a single league campaign in their history (also 25 in 1994-95 and 1977-78).

So the curtain has come down on Leicester City's season with a defeat against Bournemouth at Vitality Stadium.

After their relegation fate was confirmed over a month ago, Ruud van Nistelrooy's side will be glad to see the back of a dismal campaign which has seen them record 25 defeats in 38 league games.

The Foxes were on a three-match unbeaten run going into the final day of the season, so how are you feeling after that performance?

What are your thoughts at the end of a long campaign for the Foxes?

Have your say on Leicester City's performance and season here

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

There are three changes for Bournemouth from the side who were beaten by Manchester City in midweek.

Lewis Cook is suspended, while Dean Huijsen and Julian Araujo drop to the bench.

Marcos Senesi, Adam Smith and David Brooks replace them.

Bournemouth XI: Kepa, Kerkez, Senesi, Brooks, Evanilson, Adams, Smith, Tavernier, Kluivert, Semenyo, Zabarnyi.

Subs: Dennis, Huijsen, Scott, Soler, Jebbison, Araujo, Hill, Silcott-Duberry, Winterburn.

Patson Daka gets the nod to replace Jamie Vardy up top for Leicester after the 38-year-old bowed out in last weekend's 2-1 victory over Ipswich.

There are two more changes for the Foxes, with Victor Kristiansen and Oliver Skipp coming in for Wilfried Ndidi and Bilal El Hkannouss.

Leicester XI: Stolarczyk, Justin, Faes, Coady, Kristiansen, Ayew, Daka, Skipp, Soumare, Thomas, McAteer.

Subs: Iversen, Okoli, Pereira, Golding, Buonanotte, Braybrooke, Aluko, Evans, Monga.

All 20 teams are in action on the final day of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign, and BBC Sport will bring you every kick.

• Bournemouth v Leicester City

• Fulham v Man City

• Ipswich v West Ham

• Liverpool v Crystal Palace - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Man Utd v Aston Villa

• Newcastle v Everton

• Nottingham Forest v Chelsea - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Southampton v Arsenal

• Tottenham v Brighton

• Wolves v Brentford - Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

All kick-off times 16:00 BST

Follow all of the action and reaction here

It is a little odd that Jamie Vardy is not going to play for Leicester on Sunday after his farewell game at King Power Stadium last week.

I had only just got him in my Fantasy team, in time for his 200th goal for the Foxes, but he is coming out again now and, without him, I do not fancy Leicester to score.

Bournemouth were a bit flat against Manchester City on Tuesday and were well beaten in the end, but I am expecting a better showing from them here.

That defeat means the Cherries can no longer finish eighth so their hopes of European football are over but a win here would give them a chance of equalling their highest-ever finish of ninth place (in 2016-17). That's what I'm going for.

Sutton's prediction: 2-0

Read the full predictions and have your say here