Ben Chilwell made his England debut at King Power Stadium earlier in the season, against Croatia he was given his first start. To see such young talent from the youth academy at Leicester City coming through is just fantastic.
Sadly this is a seldom experience and why is that? In the past and going back almost 50 years, you will find only a handfull who have made the same route as Ben Chilwell. Peter Shilton, Steve Whitworth, Gary Lineker and Emile Heskey are the only other four players from the Leicester City Youth Academy to manage the equivalent.
The career path of Ben Chilwell is in a way simuler to the others, making his debut as a teenager. While the other four got their chance in the league as teenagers, Chilwell had to wait a week after his 20th birthday to get his chance in the Premier League.
Different from the earlier recruits, Chilwell made a move out on loan to Huddersfield Town in the 5000/1 season, played eight games for The Terriers and gained vital experience from his Championship adventure. His first Premier League game at Leicester City came as late as December 2016, not yet two years ago, given his debut by Claudio Ranieri in a 2-0 defeat against Everton.
Peter Shilton fought of competition from Gordon Banks, as the World number one was sold to Stoke, Steve Whitworth “outfoxed” Peter Rodrigues as his Leicester City career was cut short with a transfer to Sheffield Wednesday. Gary Lineker had stiff competition from Jim Melrose, Martin Henderson, David Buchanan and Alan Young as he managed to settle, but used a period of two to three years before it was obvious that he would be first choice. Emile Heskey was shortly after his debut seen as a first team regular, but had to play out on the flank giving space for Steve Claridge and Ian Marshall. He later forced his way into the striker position alongside veteran forward Tony Cottee.
Chilwell has over the last two seasons competed with Christian Fuchs who looks clearly the 2nd choice at the moment, retiring from international duty for Austria and also losing his place in the Leicester City side. So why is it that so few players from the Leicester City youth system makes the grade while at the club.
We have put together a list of former and current foxes, coming from the youth set up at Leicester City who all have been capped at different England levels. So why is it that so few makes the full England set up? Could be a number of reasons such as, lack of first team opportunities, change of managers, injuries, being inpatient and looking for moves too early, getting released by the club, and so on.
- England
- Peter Shilton
- Steve Whitworth
- Gary Lineker
- Emile Heskey
- Ben Chilwell *
- England U.23
- Graham Cross
- Howard Riley
- David Nish
- Steve Whitworth
- Peter Shilton
- England U.21
- Steve Sims
- Andy Peake
- Ian Andrews
- Simon Morgan
- Julian Joachim
- Paul Kitson
- Carl Muggleton
- Jordan Stewart
- Emile Heskey
- Joe Mattock
- Richard Stearman
- Liam Moore
- Ben Chilwell *
- Hamza Choudhury *
- England U.20
- Ben Chilwell *
- Tommy Wright
- Liam Moore
- Elliott Moore *
- Harvey Barnes *
- Darnell Johnson *
- England U.19
- Julian Joachim
- Joe Mattock
- Richard Stearman
- Tommy Wright
- George Taft
- Darnell Johnson *
- Jorrin John
- Ashley Chambers
- England U.18
- Emile Heskey
- Jordan Stewart
- Julian Joachim
- George Taft
- Ben Chilwell *
- Callum Wright *
- Elliott Moore *
- Harvey Barnes *
- Darnell Johnson *
- Jorrin John
- Joe Dodoo
- Ashley Chambers
- England U.17
- Richard Stearman
- Levi Porter
- Joe Mattock
- Liam Moore
- Layton Ndukwu *
- Darnell Johnson *
- Jorrin John
- Ashley Chambers
- England U.16
- Emile Heskey
- Richard Stearman
- Levi Porter
- Layton Ndukwu *
- Darnell Johnson *
- Jorrin John
- Ashley Chambers
- England Youth / Schoolboys
- David Buchanan
- Steve Whitworth
- David Nish
- Peter Shilton
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