Leicester title triumph the greatest ever sporting shock as bookies are hit for £20m
*Incredible 5000/1 Success The Same Odds As Prince Harry Marrying Kim Kardashian!
Britain’s bookmakers face a £20 million hammering after Leicester City completed the greatest ever sporting upset when they were confirmed as this season’s Premier League champions following Tottenham’s draw at Chelsea last night. The Foxes were 5000/1 outsiders before a ball was kicked back in August, but defied those odds under manager Claudio Ranieri to leave punters celebrating the most expensive football payout ever.
“There has never been a sporting upset as huge as Leicester City winning the Premier League title, with their pre-season odds as big as 5000/1, and they were still priced at 1500/1 going into November, as at that stage we simply did not believe the miracle would happen,” said Coral’s David Stevens.
“However, plenty of punters did believe Leicester could go all the way, with 114 Coral customers placing bets at odds between 3000/1 and 1000/1, and they are now celebrating being part of a £20 million industry-wide payout,” added Stevens.
One coral.co.uk customer placed a £10 each-way bet on Leicester at the end of August at odds of 3000/1 – that person cashed out last week for an offer of £30,000, while other winners include Ryan Wallis and Steve Jeavons.
Wallis, a Chelsea fan from Woking, placed £4 on Leicester at 2000/1 on the Coral website on the 16th August. He avoided the temptation to cash out and has won £8000 for £4 stake.
He said: “It’s been a memorable ride this season following Leicester. They were playing really well at the start of the season so I thought they were worth having a few quid on given their long odds.”
Jeavons is a lifelong Manchester City fan and he put a £2 bet online on Leicester at 2000/1 on the 20th August. The 55-year old cashed-out his bet last Tuesday for £3700.
He said: “I cashed out as I wanted to take the stress away going into the final three games of the season. They made some really good signings in the summer and after seeing them make a good start, I felt they were a good bet at the long odds.”
Such was the unlikelihood of Leicester’s triumph, other scenarios priced at 5000/1 by Coral include the Loch Ness monster being caught, reality TV star Joey Essex becoming Prime Minister, Prince Harry marrying Kim Kardashian, and Northern Ireland winning the 2018 World Cup.
Claudio Ranieri’s men are now 33/1 with Coral to retain the title next season, and 100/1 to win the Champions League.
“Very few single bets have odds of 5000/1, and until now those that do, do not win, but having paid the price of Leicester’s incredible achievement, we will not be writing them off so quickly next season,” concluded Stevens.
Here are odds quoted by bookmakers Coral for other shocks over the
years:
:: American golfer Ben Curtis was 300/1 to win The Open Championship in 2013 before his success at Muirfield
:: Goran Ivanisevic could be backed at 250/1 to win Wimbledon in 2001, which he did so as a qualifier
:: Greece were at 150/1 to win Euro 2004
:: Jeremy Corbyn was 100/1 to win the Labour leadership contest
:: Japan’s famous victory against South Africa in the Rugby World Cup in 2015 could have been backed at 66/1
:: Boxer Buster Douglas was 42/1 in 1990 to beat Mike Tyson for the world heavyweight titles
And here are other long shot bets quoted by bookmakers:
:: Northern Ireland to win the next World Cup in 2018 – 5000/1
:: Yeovil winning the FA Cup next season – 5000/1
:: Jeremy Clarkson becoming the next UK Prime Minister – 5000/1
:: Elvis being confirmed alive – 5000/1
:: Prince harry to marry Kim Kardashian – 5000/1
:: David Moyes to become an X-Factor judge – 2500/1
:: Arsenal to sack Arsene Wenger and install Piers Morgan as boss – 2500/1
Further Information Contact
David Stevens 07720 400438
Simon Clare 07860 465139
