Nessun Dorma! Nessun Dorma! Andrea Bocelli’s powerful voice rang through the King Power Stadium. But this wasn’t an opera house. The legendary tenor stood in front of more than 30,000 Leicester City fans — not in a tuxedo, but in a Leicester City shirt.
It was May 2016. Leicester City, the biggest underdogs in Premier League history, were being crowned champions. Bocelli had been invited by then-manager Claudio Ranieri to mark the occasion. He began the performance in a zipped hoodie, but soon revealed the iconic Leicester shirt beneath — complete with the club’s unmistakable fox logo.
That day, the image of a fox was everywhere: on scarves, flags, stadium walls, and tens of thousands of shirts. But why is a fox on Leicester’s badge? Where does it come from?
The Origin of Leicester’s Nickname
Leicester City weren’t always called that. The club was originally founded in 1884 by a group of schoolboys and named Leicester Fosse — after the Roman road “Fosse Way” that runs through the area.
By 1920, the club faced financial issues and was restructured and renamed Leicester City, partly due to the town having been granted city status. Back then, the team’s early nickname was “The Fossils” — a playful nod to the old name.
But everything changed in 1948.
That year, the club introduced a new badge featuring the head of a fox. Why a fox? It wasn’t random.
A Fox for a Reason
Leicestershire, the county where the club is based, has long been associated with foxes — particularly due to the controversial tradition of fox hunting, which was historically popular in the region.
In fact, the image of a fox appears at the top of the Leicestershire coat of arms. The football club adopted the animal as a symbol of identity, resilience, and local pride. Over time, the badge evolved into the striking, forward-facing fox we know today — and the nickname “The Foxes” was born.
Legacy of the Fox
Since adopting the fox as their symbol, Leicester City have made it central to their identity.
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The club mascot is called Filbert Fox (named after their old ground, Filbert Street).
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Their motto is "Foxes Never Quit" — reflecting the animal's adaptability and persistence.
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And their unforgettable 2015–16 title win made the badge and fox emblem instantly recognizable across the globe.
Foxes are clever, tough survivors — often spotted weaving through English back gardens or living in urban areas. In many ways, they’re the perfect symbol for a club that’s overcome the odds.
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