The player that first comes to mind is Colin Gibson. He won the league and the European Cup with Aston Villa, moved to Manchester United and later Leicester City. Gibson could operate in midfield and at left back, but sadly injuries kept him sidelined for long periods of time. Gibson moved from Leicester to Blackpool and finished his playing days at Walsall.
Few might remember defender Brian Carey, but the Republic of Ireland international joined Leicester City from Manchester United back in 1993, signed for £100.000. He never played in the league while at Old Trafford but at Leicester City he found himself often selected, adding up 58 appearances, scoring a goal.
Not many are selected for play at Old Trafford, and few who goes out on loan returns to play and establish themselves as England internationals. Jesse Lingard and Tom Cleverley did just that, both being loaned by Leicester City, playing just a handful of games and returning to become much better players.
The move of the summer, with Harry Maguire sold for astonishing £80million to Manchester United, might be the first time any manager of that club have decided to sign a player from Leicester City. It is to our knowledge the first player ever to go from Leicester City to Manchester United.
Danny Drinkwater and Matty James are other examples of players signed from Manchester United and not really recognized much while at Old Trafford, but at Leicester City both were seen as proven professionals, playing regularly and becoming key players during special periods, being part of promotions and league title glory.
Drinkwater left for Chelsea two seasons ago, signed for £1million, sold for £35million, so a good gain there for Leicester City. Matty James is still at Leicester City, but his struggles with injuries have set him back a lot.
Danny Simpson is a player that left Leicester City this summer, being released, not seen him sign for any new club yet. He moved in his early days from Manchester United on to Newcastle and QPR, before signing for Leicester City in 2014.
Jonny Evans, of course not to forget. Manchester United sold him to West Bromwich and from there Leicester City picked him up last summer for a minor fee in today’s game, £4million. A steady performer in the back, a real quality defender.
Robbie Savage, part of the Manchester United class of 92, never appeared in a Man Utd first team shirt, but got released at Old Trafford just days after his time in the youth set up was over. Moved to Crewe, back into the top flight with Leicester City, then had some good years at Birmingham and Blackburn, before ending up at Derby County, spending his last seasons in football at Pride Park.
Ron-Robert Zieler joined Leicester from Hannover in Germany, but the goalkeeper had a bit of unknown past at Manchester United, moving to the club in 2008, playing a number of games in the reserve team, but never getting a first team league appearance. His move to Leicester City neither became great, being seen only as a cover for Kasper Schmeichel.
England international and Everton defender Michael Keane was at Manchester United when he joined Leicester City on a season long loan for the 2012/13 season, playing mostly alongside Wes Morgan, seen as a possible good partnership, looking back, you would think that it could have worked out well for a longer period, seeing Morgan as a PL winner later and Keane playing for England. Leicester reached the play-off’s of the Championship, but faulted against Watford.
Another from the past is Laurie Cunningham, who just added up a few games in both camps, being mostly remembered for his days at Orient, West Bromwich and Real Madrid. A shiny winger who helped Leicester City in that 1985-86 season, avoiding relegation.
Mark Robins started out at Manchester United and moving on to Norwich and later Leicester City. He scored vital goals in all camps, a good forward that today is manager of Coventry City.
A list of players in both camps,
- Goalkeepers
- Ron-Robert Zieler
- Defenders
- Danny Simpson
- Michael Keane
- Harry Maguire
- Jonny Evans
- Colin Gibson
- Brian Carey
- John Curtis
- Ritchie De Laet
- Louis Rowley
- Midfield
- Danny Drinkwater
- Matty James
- Jesse Lingard
- Robbie Savage
- Laurie Cunningham
- Richie Wellens
- Nick Powell
- Forwards
- Mark Robins
- Tom Lawrence
- Dion Dublin
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