Leicester confirmed their relegation to League One following a 2-2 draw against Hull.
In 2023, Foxes were direct rivals to Everton as both sides battled to maintain PL status.
Now, while Leicester drops to the third tier, the Toffees are pushing for a spot in Europe.
The fate of two clubs can be decided by just one kick of a football – and one save by a goalkeeper.
On 1st May 2023, James Maddison stepped up to the penalty spot with just Jordan Pickford in his way.
A goal would put the Foxes 3-1 up at halftime and leave the Toffees with an Everest-sized mountain to climb.
But England’s number one had other plans, and kept his team in the match and in the relegation fight.
Alex Iwobi evened affairs in the second period and secured a vital point for Sean Dyche’s men.
It was a draw that kept Everton’s fate in their own hands, and as fate would have it, the Blues held their nerve and sealed their place in the Premier League after Abdoulaye Doucoure’s winning strike against Bournemouth.
Meanwhile, Leicester dropped down into the second tier, just seven years after becoming champions of England, and kick-started their spiral down the footballing pyramid.
Finance mismanagement and points deduction
Under Enzo Maresca, the Foxes bounced back up in the following season and seemed to be back on even terms with Everton as they continued to battle at the foot of the Premier League.
Yet financial mismanagement did not allow them to bring in the quality needed to stay up and subsequently dropped back down to the Championship.
Their finances caught up with them again, and they were handed a points deduction for a PSR breach across the three seasons leading up to 2023-24.
This sent them plummeting down the second division and into a relegation dogfight that they ultimately succumbed to.
Leicester’s recent timeline is one that you’d likely see at the start of an inspirational sports film, where a team eventually finds themselves back in the big time, but this real-life picture may not have a happy ending.
It is glum reading for Foxes’ supporters, but it puts a lump in my throat to think this could have been Everton.
And this is why it could be wise to take a step back and remember the long-term project at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
From potential disaster to the brink of Europe
If Maddison had found the back of the net from 12 yards out on 1st May 2023, where would the Blues be?
Still at Goodison Park? Suffering back-to-back relegations? Or something even worse…
So, going from the brink of disaster to fighting for Europe in the space of three years emphasises the gargantuan transformation the club has undergone.
This season has been filled with disappointment and frustration, and that is only natural for a fanbase that rightfully expects a fine football team.
However, to be away from relegation contention and fighting at the top of the table is something to be proud of and should be celebrated.
The turnaround at Everton has been remarkable, and while some want to see more, I see a team on a path of progression and a vision to climb back to their rightful position at the top.