# 2005–06 Leicester City F.C. season

During the 2005–06 English football season, Leicester City F.C. competed in the Football League Championship.

## Season summary

In the 2005–06 season, Leicester's dismal form continued which saw some fans call for Levein's resignation as the team were near the bottom of the table after ten matches, and fell into the relegation zone in January, ultimately leading to his sacking on Wednesday 25 January 2006, despite a 3–2 FA Cup win over Premiership club Tottenham just 17 days earlier.
After winning three out of four games as caretaker manager and moving the club five places up the league, Rob Kelly was appointed to see out the rest of the season. Kelly steered Leicester to safety and in April 2006 was given the manager's job on a permanent basis. Jim McCahill retired as chairman on 1 June 2006 and was replaced by Andrew Taylor.

## Kit

Leicester City's kit was manufactured by English sports retailer JJB Sports and sponsored by Narborough-based bank Alliance & Leicester.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
| 14 | Plymouth Argyle | 46 | 13 | 17 | 16 | 39 | 46 | −7 | 56 |
| 15 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 53 | 66 | −13 | 56 |
| 16 | Leicester City | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 51 | 59 | −8 | 54 |
| 17 | Burnley | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 46 | 54 | −8 | 54 |
| 18 | Hull City | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 49 | 55 | −6 | 52 |

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Source: 2005-06 Football League Championship table

### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 |
| Ground | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A |
| Result | L | W | D | D | L | D | W | L | D | L | D | D | W | L | W | D | D | L | D | W | L | L | D | D | L | L | L | L | L | L | W | W | W | D | D | L | W | W | W | D | L | W | L | D | W | L |
| Position | 24 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 15 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 15 | 16 |

## Results

Leicester City's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |

### Football League Championship

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| 6 August 2005 | Sheffield United | A | 1–4 | 18,224 | Connolly |
| 9 August 2005 | Stoke City | H | 4–2 | 20,519 | De Vries, Connolly (3) |
| 13 August 2005 | Ipswich Town | H | 0–0 | 21,879 | |
| 20 August 2005 | Crewe Alexandra | A | 2–2 | 7,053 | Tiatto, Guðjónsson (pen) |
| 27 August 2005 | Luton Town | H | 0–2 | 22,048 | |
| 29 August 2005 | Hull City | A | 1–1 | 20,192 | McCarthy |
| 10 September 2005 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 2–0 | 22,618 | De Vries (2) |
| 13 September 2005 | Cardiff City | A | 0–1 | 9,196 | |
| 17 September 2005 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 0–0 | 24,726 | |
| 24 September 2005 | Queens Park Rangers | H | 1–2 | 20,148 | Hammond |
| 27 September 2005 | Brighton & Hove Albion | H | 0–0 | 20,296 | |
| 1 October 2005 | Derby County | A | 1–1 | 25,044 | Hume |
| 15 October 2005 | Watford | A | 2–1 | 16,224 | De Vries, Kisnorbo |
| 18 October 2005 | Burnley | H | 0–1 | 23,326 | |
| 23 October 2005 | Coventry City | H | 2–1 | 22,991 | De Vries (2) |
| 29 October 2005 | Preston North End | A | 0–0 | 13,904 | |
| 5 November 2005 | Southampton | H | 0–0 | 21,318 | |
| 19 November 2005 | Burnley | A | 0–1 | 12,592 | |
| 22 November 2005 | Watford | H | 2–2 | 18,856 | Guðjónsson (2, 1 pen) |
| 26 November 2005 | Sheffield United | H | 4–2 | 22,382 | Hume (2), Smith, Hammond |
| 3 December 2005 | Leeds United | A | 1–2 | 21,402 | Guðjónsson (pen) |
| 9 December 2005 | Stoke City | A | 2–3 | 11,129 | Guðjónsson, Hammond |
| 17 December 2005 | Crewe Alexandra | H | 1–1 | 24,873 | Hume |
| 26 December 2005 | Millwall | H | 1–1 | 22,520 | Guðjónsson (pen) |
| 28 December 2005 | Reading | A | 0–2 | 22,061 | |
| 31 December 2005 | Norwich City | H | 0–1 | 21,072 | |
| 2 January 2006 | Crystal Palace | A | 0–2 | 20,089 | |
| 14 January 2006 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 1–2 | 25,398 | Stearman |
| 21 January 2006 | Cardiff City | H | 1–2 | 20,140 | Fryatt |
| 24 January 2006 | Plymouth Argyle | A | 0–1 | 12,591 | |
| 31 January 2006 | Queens Park Rangers | A | 3–2 | 11,785 | Fryatt, Stearman, Hughes |
| 4 February 2006 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–0 | 21,385 | Fryatt |
| 11 February 2006 | Brighton & Hove Albion | A | 2–1 | 7,187 | McCarthy, Hume |
| 14 February 2006 | Derby County | H | 2–2 | 23,246 | Hume, Maybury |
| 18 February 2006 | Leeds United | H | 1–1 | 25,497 | Hume |
| 25 February 2006 | Ipswich Town | A | 0–2 | 24,861 | |
| 4 March 2006 | Hull City | H | 3–2 | 22,835 | Hume, Guðjónsson (2) |
| 11 March 2006 | Luton Town | A | 2–1 | 9,783 | Fryatt, O'Grady |
| 18 March 2006 | Millwall | A | 1–0 | 10,523 | Hughes |
| 25 March 2006 | Reading | H | 1–1 | 25,578 | Hume |
| 1 April 2006 | Norwich City | A | 1–2 | 24,718 | Williams |
| 7 April 2006 | Crystal Palace | H | 2–0 | 23,211 | Welsh, Hughes |
| 15 April 2006 | Preston North End | H | 1–2 | 21,865 | Fryatt |
| 17 April 2006 | Coventry City | A | 1–1 | 26,672 | Stearman |
| 22 April 2006 | Plymouth Argyle | H | 1–0 | 22,796 | Fryatt |
| 30 April 2006 | Southampton | A | 0–2 | 26,801 | |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R3 | 8 January 2006 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 3–2 | 19,844 | Hammond, Hughes, De Vries |
| R4 | 28 January 2006 | Southampton | H | 0–1 | 20,427 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| R1 | 23 August 2005 | Bury | A | 3–0 | 2,759 | Hamill, Stearman, Guðjónsson (pen) |
| R2 | 20 September 2005 | Blackpool | H | 2–1 | 7,386 | De Vries (2) |
| R3 | 26 October 2005 | Cardiff City | A | 1–0 | 8,727 | Johansson |
| R4 | 30 November 2005 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 1–2 | 13,067 | Williams |

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | SCO | Rab Douglas |
| 2 | DF | IRL | Alan Maybury |
| 3 | DF | AUS | Patrick Kisnorbo |
| 4 | MF | SCO | Stephen Hughes |
| 5 | DF | IRL | Paddy McCarthy |
| 6 | MF | SCO | Gareth Williams |
| 7 | MF | GUI | Mohammed Sylla |
| 8 | FW | CAN | Iain Hume |
| 11 | DF | AUS | Danny Tiatto (captain) |
| 12 | FW | ENG | Matty Fryatt |
| 13 | GK | AUS | Paul Henderson |
| 14 | DF | ENG | Rufus Brevett (on loan from Plymouth Argyle) |
| 15 | DF | SWE | Nils-Eric Johansson |
| 16 | MF | ISL | Joey Guðjónsson |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 17 | DF | ENG | Richard Stearman |
| 18 | FW | GHA | Elvis Hammond |
| 22 | DF | IRL | Alan Sheehan |
| 23 | MF | SCO | Joe Hamill |
| 24 | DF | SWE | Patrik Gerrbrand |
| 25 | MF | SCO | Andy Welsh (on loan from Sunderland) |
| 26 | FW | ENG | Chris O'Grady |
| 27 | GK | IRL | Conrad Logan |
| 28 | FW | ENG | Louis Dodds |
| 29 | FW | ENG | Levi Porter |
| 30 | MF | AUS | James Wesolowski |
| 32 | DF | ENG | Jay Smedley |
| 34 | FW | ENG | Ashley Chambers |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 8 | FW | IRL | David Connolly (to Wigan Athletic) |
| 21 | DF | SCO | Peter Canero (to Dundee United) |
| 19 | FW | ENG | Tommy Wright (to Barnsley) |
| 12 | DF | WAL | Peter Gilbert (to Sheffield Wednesday) |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Jason Wilcox (to Blackpool) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 9 | FW | ENG | Dion Dublin (to Celtic) |
| 10 | FW | NED | Mark de Vries (on loan to SC Heerenveen) |
| 31 | FW | ENG | James Graham (Released) |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Ryan Smith (on loan from Arsenal) |
| 20 | MF | ENG | Lee Morris (to Yeovil Town) |

### 2005–06 backroom staff

* This section lists members of staff who were in Leicester's first team squad at any point during the 2005–06 season
* Asterisks indicate member of staff left mid-season
| Position | Name |
| Manager | Craig Levein* |
| Assistant manager | Rob Kelly |
| First Team Coach | Peter Houston* |
| First Team Coach | Kenny Black* |
| Head physio | David Rennie |
| Academy manager | Jon Rudkin |
| Academy coach (Under 18s) | Steve Beaglehole |
| Academy coach (Under 16s) | Trevor Peake |

## Statistics
### Appearances, goals and cards

    (Starting appearances + substitute appearances)
| No. | Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | Rab Douglas | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Alan Maybury | 40 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| 3 | DF | Patrick Kisnorbo | 36+1 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 37+4 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 4 | MF | Stephen Hughes | 28+6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 31+7 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Paddy McCarthy | 37+1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2+2 | 0 | 41+3 | 2 | 12 | 2 |
| 6 | MF | Gareth Williams | 26+5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 30+5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | Mohammed Sylla | 24+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 25+5 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 8 | FW | David Connolly | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | FW | Iain Hume | 28+9 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29+9 | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Dion Dublin | 15+6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17+6 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Mark de Vries | 20+9 | 6 | 1+1 | 1 | 3+1 | 2 | 24+11 | 9 | 5 | 0 |
| 11 | DF | Danny Tiatto | 11+7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 14+7 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| 12 | FW | Matty Fryatt | 18+1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18+1 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | Peter Gilbert | 4+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Paul Henderson | 14+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 17+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | DF | Rufus Brevett | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Jason Wilcox | 3+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 3+5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Nils-Eric Johansson | 39 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 45 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | Joey Guðjónsson | 40+2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 46+2 | 9 | 12 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | Richard Stearman | 31+3 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 36+3 | 4 | 5 | 0 |
| 18 | FW | Elvis Hammond | 15+18 | 3 | 1+1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 19+19 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | Ryan Smith | 10+7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12+7 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 22 | DF | Alan Sheehan | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 23 | MF | Joe Hamill | 7+5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12+5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | DF | Patrik Gerrbrand | 14+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | MF | Andy Welsh | 4+6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4+6 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | FW | Chris O'Grady | 0+13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+13 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | James Wesolowski | 3+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | FW | Ashley Chambers | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Pos | Name | From | Fee |
| 1 June 2005 | MF | Mohammed Sylla | Celtic | Free transfer |
| 6 June 2005 | GK | Rab Douglas | Celtic | Free transfer |
| 29 June 2005 | GK | Paul Henderson | Bradford City | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2005 | DF | Patrik Gerrbrand | Hammarby | £250,000 |
| 6 July 2005 | DF | Nils-Eric Johansson | Blackburn Rovers | Free transfer |
| 26 July 2005 | DF | Peter Gilbert | Plymouth Argyle | £200,000 |
| 11 August 2005 | MF | Joe Hamill | Hearts | Signed |
| 31 August 2005 | FW | Iain Hume | Tranmere Rovers | £500,000 |
| 31 August 2005 | FW | Elvis Hammond | Fulham | £225,000 |
| 9 January 2006 | FW | Matty Fryatt | Walsall | £750,000 |

### Out

| Date | Pos | Name | To | Fee |
| 1 June 2005 | GK | Lars Hirschfeld | Tromsø | Free transfer |
| 1 July 2005 | MF | Jordan Stewart | Watford | £125,000 |
| 8 July 2005 | DF | Matt Heath | Coventry City | £200,000 |
| 14 July 2005 | GK | Ian Walker | Bolton Wanderers | Free transfer |
| 1 August 2005 | MF | Stephen Dawson | Mansfield Town | Free transfer |
| 2 August 2005 | DF | Chris Makin | Reading | Free transfer |
| 5 August 2005 | MF | Keith Gillespie | Sheffield United | Free transfer |
| 31 August 2005 | FW | David Connolly | Wigan Athletic | £2,000,000 |
| 5 September 2005 | DF | Peter Canero | Dundee United | Signed |
| 1 January 2006 | FW | Tommy Wright | Barnsley | £50,000 |
| 5 January 2006 | DF | Peter Gilbert | Sheffield Wednesday | Free transfer |
| 27 January 2006 | MF | Jason Wilcox | Blackpool | Free transfer |
| 30 January 2006 | FW | Dion Dublin | Celtic | Free transfer |
| 23 March 2006 | MF | Scot Gemmill | Oxford United | Free transfer |
    Transfers in: £1,925,000
    Transfers out: £2,375,000
    Total spending: £450,000

### Loans in

| Start date | End date | Pos. | Player | From club |
| 30 September 2005 | 10 March 2006 | MF | Ryan Smith | Arsenal |
| 27 February 2006 | 1 May 2006 | DF | Rufus Brevett | Plymouth Argyle |
| 1 March 2006 | 1 May 2006 | MF | Andy Welsh | Sunderland |

### Loans out

| Start date | End date | Pos. | Player | To club |
| 18 August 2005 | 1 January 2006 | FW | Chris O'Grady | Rushden & Diamonds |
| 31 August 2005 | 31 December 2005 | FW | Tommy Wright | Blackpool |
| 24 December 2005 | 7 May 2006 | GK | Conrad Logan | Boston United |
| 31 January 2006 | 31 May 2006 | FW | Mark de Vries | SC Heerenveen |