Christian Fuchs knows a thing or two about great escapes. The Austrian defender is forever etched in Premier League folklore for his role in Leicester City's miraculous 2015-16 title win, one of sport's ultimate underdog stories. But a decade later, he's orchestrating a survival battle of a very different kind, fighting to keep Newport County in the English Football League.

Fuchs took the managerial reins at Newport last November, inheriting a team rooted to the bottom of League Two and staring at non-league oblivion. After a winless start, the challenge was immense. Yet, showing the same resilience that defined his playing career, Fuchs has galvanized his squad. Newport have clawed their way out of the drop zone, sitting 22nd and just one precious point above the relegation places with four games left.

"The boys' mentality is such a big strength," Fuchs says, highlighting the grit required for this fight. "Despite all the adversity, despite all the setbacks, they are up for it and they keep going." The stakes are crystal clear, with a crucial match against fellow strugglers Harrogate Town this weekend and a potentially decisive final-day trip to Barrow looming.

For a player who lifted the Premier League trophy, earned 78 caps for Austria, and graced the Champions League, the frantic scramble of a League Two relegation dogfight is a world away. But the competitive fire burns just as brightly. Fuchs ranks the potential achievement of keeping Newport up among his finest, a testament to the unique pressures and rewards of management. It's a stark reminder that in football, glory isn't confined to the top—sometimes the most meaningful battles are fought to simply stay in the game.