Friday 25 March 2016 11:27, UK
Leicester City might be just seven games away from clinching their first top-flight title in 132 years, but back in January 1981 the Foxes were hurtling towards an immediate return to the Second Division under manager Jock Wallace.
The former Rangers boss won the treble twice during his spell at Ibrox before crossing the border and leading City to their sixth second-tier title in 1980, but following a 1-0 defeat against Leeds United and an embarrassing 3-1 loss at the hands of lowly Exeter City in an FA Cup fourth round replay, Leicester looked destined for relegation at the turn of the year.
With youngster Gary Lineker on the fringe of the first team and Jim Melrose struggling to find the net, Wallace knew he needed to recruit a talismanic figure to guide his young side through their looming relegation battle.
Having won six league titles and three European Cups with Ajax, plus a La Liga crown with Barcelona, Wallace launched an audacious bid to bring three-time Ballon d'Or winner Johan Cruyff to Filbert Street.
The Dutch magician had retired from international football in 1977 with 33 goals in 48 caps for arguably the greatest team never to win the World Cup and had followed the footsteps of Pele and Franz Beckenbauer in moving to the North American Soccer League in the twilight of his career.
Cruyff joined the Los Angeles Aztecs in 1979 where he would go on to score 14 goals in 27 games and after being voted the league's Most Valuable Player, he moved east to the Washington Diplomats for his last hurrah in the US. However, the predicted popularity of the sport over the pond had failed to materialise and at the end of 1980, Cruyff was forced to leave the Diplomats after just five games before they eventually folded a year later.
With the 1982 World Cup looming and Cruyff keen to play at the highest level in Europe, Arsenal expressed their interest but it was Spanish Segunda Division outfit Levante that made the first move.
Les Granotes were chasing promotion to the top flight and, aware that Cruyff would be open to a return to sunnier climes, the Valencian side felt they could persuade the Dutchman to bolster their La Liga push.
An un-named German club also joined the race for Cruyff's coveted signature, but after defeat to Germany in 1974 he had no intention on a move to Bundesliga and word quickly spread in the East Midlands that he had agreed to join Wallace's struggling Leicester.
"Johan and I have already agreed terms. He has one or two problems to sort out, but I am very hopeful he will join us on Thursday," Wallace told The Sun.
"I would like to think that part of Johan's interest is down to our personal friendship. I have known him since 1973 when he scored a fabulous goal for Ajax against Rangers when I was at Ibrox in the first European Super Cup.
"The negotiations have been going on by telephone over the past three to four weeks and now I think I have my man. He would teach my kids so much and be a great advert for Leicester City."
Indeed, Cruyff's impending arrival seemingly helped to change fortunes on the pitch for the Foxes.
Goals from Pat Byrne and Melrose saw City clinch the league double over champions Liverpool and inflict the Reds' first home defeat in 85 games with a 2-1 win at Anfield at the end of January.
Leicester followed this up with a 1-0 home win over Manchester United before a 2-1 win against Spurs at White Hart Lane, either side of a narrow defeat against Sunderland at Roker Park, reignited their season.
But with Cruyff expected to make his debut against local rivals and European Cup holders Nottingham Forest after reportedly agreeing a £4,000-a-week deal, he was pictured at Manises airport and declared to the Spanish press that he had opted to sign for Levante.
"During the past two months I have had offers from Leicester, Arsenal and a German club, but I want to be free," Cruyff told the Spanish press.
He made his debut at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia in a 1-0 win over Palencia, while Steve Lynex's goal ensured Leicester held Brian Clough's side to a point at Filbert Street.
However, despite losing just three of their remaining 10 games, Leicester could not avoid an immediate return to the Second Division while in Spain, Cruyff's season was curtailed with a toe injury and following a 3-1 defeat at Linares, Levante's promotion push had ground to a shuddering halt.
Twenty-five years on and following the death of the Godfather of 'Total Football', Leicester lead Tottenham by five points at the summit of English football with just seven games to play as they chase another fairy-tale.
"Why couldn't you beat a richer club? I've never seen a bag of money score a goal," Cruyff once said. Perhaps the Dutchman's legacy influenced Leicester City after all.
