Leicester Football Formation

Creation DateAugust 13, 2024

Starting Lineup

Ndidi · Hermansen · Faes · Vestergaard · Justin · Winks · Ricardo Pereira · Vardy · Fatawu · Mavididi · De Cordova-Reid

Leicester plays a vertical style of football with a 4-2-4 formation. This lineup is built to play with high intensity and transition quickly once the ball is won. They aim to stretch the opposition and attack with numbers in the final third to create goal scoring chances.

Hermansen stands between the posts to protect the goal. The back line operates as a flat back four where Vestergaard acts as a ball playing defender with significant aerial strength. Faes provides cover and works to win the second ball in the defensive third. Justin plays as an attacking full back to push up the left side, while Ricardo Pereira overlaps from the right to add width and support the wingers. The unit works to hold a line and squeeze the space between the defence and the midfield.

The midfield is a double pivot consisting of Ndidi and Winks. Ndidi acts as the primary shield to protect the centre backs, using his pressing intensity to win it back high up the pitch and disrupt play. Winks works to connect the defensive and attacking lines by playing short from the back and finding the feet of the players in front of him. This pair must remain compact to avoid being bypassed in the centre.

Up front, Leicester employs four attackers to pin the opposition back. Mavididi acts as an inverted winger on the left to cut inside and create, while Fatawu stays wide on the right to whip it in. Vardy plays as a pressing centre forward, constantly looking to make runs in behind the defence to exploit space. De Cordova-Reid operates in the hole to link up play and provide support to the front line. This group aims to break quickly and catch the opposition during transitions to hit them on the counter.

This formation offers a massive threat through speed of transition. By having four players in the attacking line, Leicester can isolate wide players in one on one situations. The team also benefits from the ability to press high in coordinated waves, which helps to win the ball back in dangerous areas. This creates immediate pressure on the opposition goalkeeper and defenders.

Leicester relies on this 4-2-4 using high pressure to overwhelm opponents in transition. This lineup is best suited for matches against teams that play a high line or commit too many players forward.