Leicester sign Felix Baumgartner as they prepare for top four freefall

Leicester City have signed Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner as the club prepares for its high-speed descent down the Premier League table.

Baumgartner joins the Foxes until the end of the season and becomes manager Brendan Rodgers’ first signing of the January transfer window.

The 50-yr-old, nicknamed ‘Fearless Felix’, became the first person to break the sound barrier without the use of a vehicle when he skydived from space in October 2012.

DOVER, ENGLAND – JULY 31: In this handout photo, Felix Baumgartner, world-renowned B.A.S.E jumper, is pictured in flight over Dover on July 31, 2003. Baumgartner became the first person to skydive across the strait between England and France, free falling from 9,000 metres above sea level at temperatures of minus 55 degrees with nothing more than a 1.80 metres carbon fibre wing and his parachute. (Photo by Helmut Tucek via Getty Images)

Rodgers believes Baumgartner’s experience will prove invaluable while Leicester continue to plummet towards the Europa League spots.

‘Felix is a wonderful human, has great character and balls like a Mongolian yak’, gushed Rodgers before a packed pressroom.

‘Hopefully with Felix’s help, we can drop down the table at Mach speed’.

It’s alleged the Foxes fought off stiff competition from Newcastle who were hoping Baumgartner would help them hurtle towards the relegation zone.

‘There was a lot of interest in Felix from other clubs so we’re delighted he’s signed for us’, added the 46-yr-old.

Journos were treated to a montage of Baumgartner’s most death-defying stunts, including the time he leapt from the hand of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro using an ASDA bag-for-life as a parachute.

Baumgartner, known for his extraordinary feats, believes turning Leicester from potential title-chasers into top-six also-rans would rank with some of his greatest ever achievements.
‘With 3 defeats in their last 5 games, Leicester are building up the required momentum for a supersonic drop down the Premier League table. I can’t wait to be a part of that’, said Baumgartner while adjusting his goggles.

Leicester players arrived at training this morning where they were greeted by a fleet of skydiving instructors.

Players including Kasper Schmeichel and Jamie Vardy were loaded onto a small aircraft and told to jump out once it reached 13,000ft.

‘This will prepare the lads for what it feels like when we drop out of the top four’, explained Rodgers.

Meanwhile, the signing of Baumgartner set tongues wagging in the SkySports studios, with pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher expressing differing views on the 50-year-old.

MIDDLESBROUGH, UNITED KINGDOM – JANUARY 03: Emanuel Pogatetz of Middlesbrough in action with Andy Bond of Barrow during the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON 3rd Round match between Middlesbrough and Barrow at the Riverside Stadium on January 3, 2009 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

‘When you think of some of the sh*te Austrian signings we’ve had down the years: your Pogatetzs; your Weimanns; your Jurgen Machos – he’s got to be the worst of the lot,’ argued Neville while showing a highlight reel of the Central European stars.

However, his colleague Jamie Carragher disagreed.

‘Are we gonna be sitting here in a few years’ time saying Baumgartner was as sh*te as Paul Scharner? Only time will tell I guess’.