Derby County F.C.–Leicester City F.C. rivalry

For other East Midland derbies, see Derby County F.C.–Nottingham Forest F.C. rivalry and Leicester City F.C.–Nottingham Forest F.C. rivalry.

Derby County–Leicester City rivalry
Other namesEast Midlands derby
LocationDerby
Leicester (England)
TeamsDerby County
Leicester City
First meeting10 February 1894
Latest meetingLeicester City 2–1 Derby County
EFL Championship
(29 December 2025)
Next meetingTBD
Statistics
Meetings total110
Most winsDerby County (46)
All-time seriesCounty Derby: 46
Draw: 28
Leicester City: 36
Largest victoryLeicester Fosse 6–0 Derby County
1909–10 Second Division
(26 February 1910)
Leicester Fosse 0–6 Derby County
1914–15 Second Division
(28 December 1914)
Derby County
Leicester City

The fixture between Leicester City and Derby County is a football rivalry in the East Midlands. The fixture is often called an East Midlands derby. The two clubs have a strong mutual dislike of each other, and the rivalry is keenly felt on the border between both cities and counties. However, Derby supporters generally consider Nottingham Forest to be their main rivals, while Leicester supporters generally consider both Nottingham Forest and Coventry City to be their main rivals.[1]

Historically, in a total of 110 matches between the two sides, there have been 28 draws. Derby have a better overall record against Leicester, winning 46 times, whereas Leicester have won 36 times. However, in recent years, Leicester have dominated the fixture, having won 11 of the last 13 meetings, losing just one.

Head to head

The table below demonstrates the competitive match results between the two sides.[2]

Competition Leicester City wins Draws Derby County wins
Football League 30 26 35
Premier League 4 0 8
FA Cup 1 1 1
League Cup 1 1 2
Total 36 28 46

Crossing the divide

During both Derby and Leicester's history several players have played for both clubs and a manager has managed both.

Players

Derby then Leicester

Leicester then Derby

Managers and staff

  • Nigel Pearson – managed Leicester in 2 separate spells, left Derby by mutual consent on 8 October 2016
  • Kevin Phillips – Player and coach at Leicester, later first team coach at Derby

Results since 2006

  Derby County win   Leicester City win   Draw
Date Competition Stadium Score Derby scorers Leicester scorers Attendance Ref
29 December 2025 Championship King Power Stadium 2–1 Rhian Brewster Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Jordan James 31,354 [5]
6 December 2025 Championship Pride Park Stadium 1–3 Sondre Langås Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Oliver Skipp, Jordan James 30,784 [6]
Leicester relegated to Championship 2024–25
Leicester promoted to Premier League 2023–24
Derby promoted to Championship 2023–24
Leicester relegated to Championship 2022–23
Derby relegated to League One 2021–22
8 February 2017 FA Cup King Power Stadium 3–1 (a.e.t.) Abdoul Camara Andy King, Wilfred Ndidi, Demarai Gray 31,648 [7]
27 January 2017 FA Cup Pride Park Stadium 2–2 Darren Bent, Craig Bryson Darren Bent (o.g.), Wes Morgan 25,079 [8]
Leicester promoted to Premier League 2013–14
10 January 2014 Championship King Power Stadium 4–1 Ritchie De Laet (o.g.) Ritchie De Laet, David Nugent (2), Jamie Vardy 23,140 [9]
24 September 2013 League Cup King Power Stadium 2–1 Chris Martin Anthony Knockaert, Danny Drinkwater 14,043 [10]
17 August 2013 Championship Pride Park Stadium 0–1 Lee Grant (o.g.) 23,437 [11]
16 March 2013 Championship Pride Park Stadium 2–1 Richard Keogh, Chris Martin Jeff Schlupp 23,123 [12]
1 December 2012 Championship King Power Stadium 4–1 Theo Robinson Zak Whitbread, Martyn Waghorn, David Nugent (2) 20,806 [13]
23 February 2012 Championship Pride Park Stadium 0–1 Neil Danns 28,205 [14]
1 October 2011 Championship King Power Stadium 4–0 David Nugent, Darius Vassell, Jeff Schlupp, Lloyd Dyer 22,496 [15]
12 February 2011 Championship Pride Park Stadium 0–2 Yakubu, Andy King 26,142 [16]
13 November 2010 Championship Walkers Stadium 2–0 Andy King, Steve Howard (pen.) 25,930 [17]
27 March 2010 Championship Pride Park Stadium 1–0 Andy King (o.g.) 30,259 [18]
17 October 2009 Championship Walkers Stadium 0–0 28,875 [19]
Leicester promoted to Championship 2008–09
Leicester relegated to League One 2007–08
Derby relegated to Championship 2007–08
Derby promoted to Premier League 2006–07
6 April 2007 Championship Walkers Stadium 1–1 Craig Fagan Matty Fryatt 24,704 [20]
25 November 2006 Championship Pride Park Stadium 1–0 Jon Stead 28,315 [21]
14 February 2006 Championship Walkers Stadium 2–2 Mounir El Hamdaoui, Richard Stearman (o.g.) Iain Hume, Alan Maybury 23,246 [22]

Notable results

First Division play-off final
Leicester City2–1Derby County
Walsh 41', 84' [23] Johnson 28'
Attendance: 73,671
Referee: Roger Milford
Leicester Fosse0–6Derby County
Referee: Unknown
Leicester Fosse6–0Derby County
Referee: Unknown
Leicester Fosse0–0Derby County
Referee: Unknown

Honours

Team League FA Cup League Cup FA Charity Shield/

FA Community Shield

Total trophies
Leicester City 1 1 3 2 7
Derby County 2 1 0 1 4
Total 3 2 3 3 12

Hooliganism

The fixture between the two teams, like the majority of local derbies in English football, has resulted in a number of football hooliganism related incidents.

In 1985, after a League Cup match between the two sides which saw Leicester eliminated at the hands of Derby, there was a widespread "riot".[24]

In 2009, James Underwood, a Derby supporter aligned with the firm Derby Lunatic Fringe, was involved in an incident with Leicester supporters. In 2010, Underwood was then banned from attending football matches for three years for his role in that incident, among other separate clashes involving supporters of Everton, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday.[25]

Miscellaneous

  • The highest scoring game between the two sides ended 5–2 to Derby County in the 1928/29 season, in which year Leicester achieved their second highest ever league finish.[26]
  • The last fixture played away from both clubs' home stadiums was in 1994, in the play-off final at the old Wembley Stadium. Leicester won the match 2–1 to gain promotion to the Premier League.[26]
  • The last time Derby have won against Leicester away from home was in 2002 at Filbert Street, the year both clubs were relegated from the Premier League. Leicester won the reverse fixture 3–2.[26]
  • According to the Football fan census, Leicester and Derby are 'traditional' rivals.
  • Leicester as well as Forest refer to Derby as 'the sheep', a reference to their nickname being the Rams.[26]
  • Of the two clubs, Leicester have a better record against Nottingham Forest.[26]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Manutdweb.com - Football rivalries: The ultimate consensus!". Archived from the original on 26 June 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2011.
  2. ^ "Bet on Leicester vs Derby County". SoccerBase.com. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  3. ^ "Oakley secures Leicester switch". BBC Sport. 11 January 2008. Archived from the original on 15 January 2008. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  4. ^ "Dickov secures Derby County move". BBC Sport. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  5. ^ "Leicester City 2-1 Derby County: Foxes ease pressure on boss Cifuentes". BBC Sport. Retrieved 29 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Derby County 1-3 Leicester City: Foxes beat Rams to relieve pressure on boss Marti Cifuentes". BBC Sport. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  7. ^ "Leicester City 3–1 Derby County". BBC Sport. 8 February 2017. Archived from the original on 9 February 2017. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  8. ^ "Derby 2 – 2 Leicester". BBC Sport. 27 January 2017. Archived from the original on 27 January 2017. Retrieved 27 January 2017.
  9. ^ "Leicester 4 – 1 Derby". BBC Sport. 10 January 2014. Archived from the original on 23 October 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
  10. ^ "Leicester 2-1 Derby". BBC Sport. 23 September 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  11. ^ "Derby 0 – 1 Leicester". BBC Sport. 17 August 2013. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  12. ^ "Derby 2 – 1 Leicester". BBC Sport. 16 March 2013. Archived from the original on 18 March 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  13. ^ "Leicester 4 – 1 Derby". BBC Sport. 1 December 2012. Archived from the original on 3 December 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  14. ^ "Derby 0-1 Leicester". BBC Sport. 22 February 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Leicester 4 -0 Derby". BBC Sport. 1 October 2011. Archived from the original on 8 March 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2018.
  16. ^ "Derby 0 – 2 Leicester". BBC Sport. 12 February 2011.
  17. ^ "Leicester 2 – 0 Derby". BBC Sport. 13 November 2010. Archived from the original on 21 November 2020. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  18. ^ "Derby 1 – 0 Leicester". BBC Sport. 27 March 2010.
  19. ^ Leicester 0–0 Derby, BBC News, 17 October 2009
  20. ^ "Leicester 1–1 Derby". BBC Sport. 6 April 2007. Archived from the original on 16 August 2007. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  21. ^ "DERBY 1–0 LEICESTER". Sunday People. 26 November 2006. Archived from the original on 28 October 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  22. ^ Rae, Richard (15 February 2006). "Luck deserts Kelly as Leicester are held in relegation battle". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 21 September 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  23. ^ "Walsh's double does it for Leicester". The New Straits Times. 1 June 1994. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  24. ^ "British 'hooligans' riot after soccer loss". The Herald. Rock Hill. Associated Press. 9 October 1985. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  25. ^ "Football ban for hooligan as he is told to hand over his passport". Derby Telegraph. 22 May 2010. Retrieved 21 January 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  26. ^ a b c d e LTD, Digital Sports Group. "Derby County vs Leicester City Complete Head to Head Statistics – Footymad". footymad.net. Archived from the original on 25 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
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