Upsets
or shock wins in any sport are what put bums on seats and drive
television audiences, whether it's a shock K.O. in the ring, or a
last-minute goal.
CNN looks back at some of sport's most memorable surprises.
Leicester City
When
bookmakers are prepared to offer you odds of 5,000-1, they're pretty
certain they won't be paying out, comfortable in the knowledge your team
has a snowball's chance in hell of winning that trophy or title. But
sometimes fairytales do happen -- seismic sporting events that defy
logic. Enter Leicester City.
Only a year ago, this team of made up of
footballing journeymen and youngsters with potential were fighting
relegation at the foot of England's Premier League. Once survival was
assured they appointed with a fairly checkered record of success, as their new manager.
Where
once he was maligned for an almost obsessive tendency to alter his
team's tactics and formation, earning him the moniker "The Tinkerman,"
this season he has demonstrated a Zen-like calmness -- his tactics were
measured and his man-management flawless.
The
likeable Italian had identified survival in a league dominated by
multi-billion-dollar behemoths like Manchester United and Arsenal as his
club's priority.
But then they
started to win games on a regular basis -- including famous victories
over free-spending Manchester City and defending champions Chelsea.
When Leicester climbed to the league's summit, no-one believed they
would stay there. But they did. Ranieri had fashioned a team with an
astonishing spirit and a buccaneering style that would not give up.
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