Leicester City’s third kit for the 2024-25 season is in honour of their 1962-63 squad. Not everyone knows about the Foxes’ famous campaign or why they were nicknamed ‘The Ice Kings’, though.
The 1962-63 season saw the coldest winter on record in the 20th century in England and Wales.
Temperatures plummeted and football grounds all around the country battled with the elements to keep the season going.
Unlike all the other teams though, Leicester City, whose stadium was Filbert Street until 2002, seemed to love playing in the harsh conditions, and even managed to record one of their best-ever unbeaten runs.
Why Leicester City were nicknamed the ‘Ice Kings’
Although many teams’ schedules were interrupted by the cold snap, the Foxes fought on.
It proved to be the right decision after the side went on an 18-game unbeaten run, including winning 10 games in the league and FA Cup.
As a result of their incredible form during such a challenging period, the 1962-63 Leicester City team were nicknamed the ‘Ice Kings’.
And things almost got even better — the side reached the FA Cup final that season but narrowly missed out on lifting the trophy after losing 3-1 to Manchester United.
The side’s 18-game unbeaten run stood as a club record for several decades. It was eventually broken in the 2008-09 season and then again in 2019, which included Leicester City thrashing Southampton 9-0.
Inspired 2024-25 third kit
Leicester City’s third kit for the 2024-25 pays tribute to the 1962-63 side’s achievements.
The Foxes’ kit, made by Adidas, features all-white shirt and shorts, a nod to the icy conditions in 1962-63, with the club’s classic blue colours popping in a stylish trim.
Leicester City and their partners are often looking to past events as inspiration for their kits.
For example, the side’s eye-catching all pink away kit in the 2019-20 season was about The River Soar, which once turned pink due to the discharges from the city’s textile industries — a reminder of Leicester’s roots and a hat tip to the football club’s working class supporters.