The M69 derby is a football match played between Coventry City and Leicester City. It takes its name from the motorway that connects Coventry and Leicester, which are only 24 miles (38 km) apart.
The M69 derby made its return during the 2023–24 season after an eleven-year hiatus, following Leicester's relegation after nine seasons in the Premier League.
The rise Coventry and Leicester's traditional rivals have historically been considered to be Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest respectively. However, the fixture became increasingly significant between 2001 and 2011 with both clubs' traditional rivals often being in a different league. According to a survey by The Football Pools published in 2008, this fixture is the 26th fiercest rivalry in English football.
In the 2011–12 season Coventry were relegated to League One, meaning the M69 derby would not take place for the first time in eight seasons. A period of turmoil followed for The Sky Blues under their controversial former owners, London based hedge fund SISU Capital as they left their home at the Coventry Building Society Arena twice to play home games in Northampton and Birmingham respectively as well as suffering a further relegation to League Two in 2017.
Whilst Coventry struggled to even survive as a club, Leicester flourished and entered a golden period in their history. After winning promotion back to the Premier League in 2014, The Foxes shocked the entire footballing world by winning the 2015–16 Premier League and would go on to add another trophy to their collection after a 1-0 victory against Chelsea in the 2021 FA Cup final.
Coventry's defeat to Luton Town in the 2023 EFL Championship play-off final coupled with Leicester's relegation from the 2022–23 Premier League the very next day ensured that after an 11-year hiatus the M69 derby would return in the 2023–24 season.
The two sides played each other on the opening weekend of the 2023–24 EFL Championship, Coventry had looked set for a first ever win at the King Power Stadium before two late goals from Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall gave The Foxes a 2-1 win.
In January 2024 Coventry got their first win in the fixture since 2008 as they won a fiery encounter at The Coventry Building Society Arena. Two goals from Callum O'Hare either side of a Milan van Ewijk strike secured a comeback win after Dewsbury-Hall had put Leicester ahead.
The derby was not played in the 2024–25 season as Leicester won immediate promotion back to the Premier League under the stewardship of Enzo Maresca who led them to the Championship title, however it returned again in 2025–26 as the Foxes latest foray into the top flight lasted a solitary season and they were again relegated.
On 21 April 2026, Coventry secured their first second tier title since 1967 in a 5–1 win over Portsmouth. At nearly the exact same time, Leicester was assured of relegation to League One following a 2–2 draw with Hull City.
Crowd trouble The fixture between the two clubs has historically been marred by incidents of violence. In September 1984, a pitch invasion took place two minutes into a First Division game at Highfield Road. In October 2004, trouble broke out in Coventry with police officers pelted with missiles. In February 2008, up to 100 hooligans were involved in a brawl on a street nearby to the Coventry Building Society Arena. On 3 March 2012, supporters of both clubs clashed on a street in Leicester, with windows on a mini-bus allegedly smashed. During the 2023–24 season, offensive banners were displayed on the M69 motorway ahead of both fixtures.bbc.co.uk
Statistics The first fixture between the two clubs was a Second Division game on 27 September 1919 which resulted in a 1–0 win for Leicester. The biggest victory resulted in an 8–1 Leicester victory in the League Cup game at Highfield Road on 4 December 1964.
Coventry have been heavily beaten on two other occasions at Filbert Street, with both matches ending in a 5–1 win for Leicester. The first was in 1924–25, when Arthur Chandler scored a hat-trick, and in 1984–85, when Gary Lineker scored a brace.
Since moving to their current stadium in 2002, Leicester have never been defeated by Coventry. Coventry held the same record at the Coventry Building Society Arena from 2005 to 2011. Coventry were in the Premier League when they last won at Leicester on 7 April 2001.
Competition Coventry wins Draws Leicester wins League 25 24 37 FA Cup 2 1 0 League Cup 0 0 1 Total 27 25 38
Game list (since 1984)
Date Competition Stadium Score Leicester scorers Coventry scorers Attendance RefLeicester relegated to 2026–27 EFL League OneCoventry promoted to 2026–27 Premier League 17 Jan 2026 Championship Coventry Building Society Arena2–1 James Simms, Wright 31,410 20 Sept 2025 Championship King Power Stadium0–0 30,857 Leicester relegated to 2025–26 EFL ChampionshipLeicester promoted to 2024–25 Premier League 13 Jan 2024 Championship Coventry Building Society Arena3–1 Dewsbury-Hall (pen.) O'Hare (2), van Ewijk 29,914 6 Aug 2023 Championship King Power Stadium2–1 Dewsbury-Hall (2) McFadzean 31,763Leicester relegated to 2023–24 EFL ChampionshipCoventry promoted to 2020–21 EFL ChampionshipCoventry promoted to 2018–19 EFL League OneCoventry relegated to 2017–18 EFL League TwoLeicester promoted to 2014–15 Premier LeagueCoventry relegated to 2012–13 Football League One 3 Mar 2012 Championship King Power Stadium2–0 Nugent, Beckford 25,487 6 Aug 2011 Championship Ricoh Arena0–1 Peltier 21,102 26 Feb 2011 Championship Walkers Stadium1–1 Naughton King 25,356 11 Sept 2010 Championship Ricoh Arena1–1 King Platt 20,060 21 Mar 2010 Championship Walkers Stadium2–2 King (2) McPake, Deegan 23,093 3 Oct 2009 Championship Ricoh Arena 1–1 Waghorn Clingan 22,209Leicester promoted to 2009–10 Football League ChampionshipLeicester relegated to 2008–09 Football League One 23 Feb 2008 Championship Ricoh Arena2–0 Ward (pen.), Best 23,129 12 Jan 2008 Championship Walkers Stadium2–0 Howard, Hayles 23,905 17 Feb 2007 Championship Walkers Stadium3–0 Horsfield (2), Johnson 25,816 18 Aug 2006 Championship Ricoh Arena0–0 20,261 17 Apr 2006 Championship Ricoh Arena1–1 Stearman John 26,672 23 Oct 2005 Championship Walkers Stadium2–1 de Vries (2) McSheffrey 22,991 8 Nov 2004 Championship Walkers Stadium 3–0 Nalis, Tiatto, Heath 22,479 16 Oct 2004 Championship Highfield Road 1–1 Dublin Makin (o.g.) 18,054Leicester relegated to 2004–05 Football League ChampionshipLeicester promoted to 2003–04 FA Premier League 22 Mar 2003 First Division Highfield Road 1–2 McKinlay, Scowcroft Jansen 16,610 29 Oct 2002 First Division Walkers Stadium 2–1 Taggart, Deane Partridge 27,139Leicester relegated to 2002–03 Football League First DivisionCoventry relegated to 2001–02 Football League First Division 7 Apr 2001 Premier League Filbert Street 1–3 Akinbiyi Bellamy, Carsley, Hartson 19,545 10 Dec 2000 Premier League Highfield Road 1–0 Bellamy 17,283 27 Nov 1999 Premier League Highfield Road 0–1 Heskey 22,021 11 Aug 1999 Premier League Filbert Street 1–0 Izzet (pen.) 19,196 24 Apr 1999 Premier League Filbert Street 1–0 Marshall 20,224 23 Jan 1999 FA Cup Filbert Street 0–3 Whelan, Froggatt, Telfer 21,207 28 Nov 1998 Premier League Highfield Road 1–1 Heskey Huckerby 19,894 4 Apr 1998 Premier League Filbert Street 1–1 Wilson Whelan 21,137 29 Nov 1997 Premier League Highfield Road 0–2 Fenton, Elliott (pen.) 18,309 8 Mar 1997 Premier League Highfield Road 0–0 19,220 21 Dec 1996 Premier League Filbert Street 0–2 Dublin (2) 20,038Leicester promoted to 1996–97 FA Premier LeagueLeicester relegated to 1995–96 Football League First Division 25 Feb 1995 Premier League Highfield Road 4–2 Lowe, Roberts Flynn (2), Marsh, Ndlovu 20,633 3 Oct 1994 Premier League Filbert Street 2–2 Roberts (2) Dublin, Wegerle 19,372Leicester promoted to 1994–95 FA Premier LeagueThe 22 clubs of the Football League First Division broke away to form the Premier League in 1992; with the remaining divisions of the Football League were renumbered accordingly.Leicester relegated to 1987–88 Football League Second Division 4 May 1987 First Division Filbert Street 1–1 Ramsey Gynn 14,903 6 Dec 1986 First Division Highfield Road 1–0 Regis 12,320 8 Mar 1986 First Division Filbert Street 2–1 Smith, McAllister Pickering 10,744 6 Oct 1985 First Division Highfield Road 3–0 Gibson, Bowman, Regis 10,959 23 Dec 1985 First Division Filbert Street 5–1 Lynex, Rennie, Lineker (2), Smith Micky Gynn 18,016 1 Sept 1984 First Division Highfield Road 2–0 Latchford, Bennett 13,510
Represented both clubs
Played for Coventry, then Leicester
Brian Alderson Jeff Blockley Conor Chaplin Gerry Daly Callum Doyle Dion Dublin Marc Edworthy Tommy English Márton Fülöp Craig Hignett Jimmy Holmes Chris Kirkland James Maddison Matt Mills Nick Platnauer Kasper Schmeichel Patrick van Aanholt
Played for Leicester, then Coventry
Yakubu Aiyegbeni Pegguy Arphexad David Bell Trevor Benjamin Nathan Delfouneso Tim Flowers Matt Heath Andy Impey Matty James Julian Joachim Ken Keyworth Tony Knapp Jim Melrose Franck Moussa Lilian Nalis James Pearson David Rennie James Scowcroft Jordan Stewart David Stockdale Martyn Waghorn Steve Walsh Gavin Ward Dennis Wise
Managed Coventry, then managed Leicester
Gordon Milne
Played for and managed Coventry, managed Leicester
Micky Adams
Played for Leicester, then managed Coventry
Mark Robins Mark Venus
Played for and managed Leicester, played for Coventry
Kevin MacDonald
See also Leicester City F.C.–Nottingham Forest F.C. rivalry Derby County F.C.–Leicester City F.C. rivalry
References