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Emile Heskey is one that made a big mark at both camps, his presence had great influence at Filbert Street and Villa Park with a regular place in the England set up during his days. Heskey did add up 154 league games at Leicester and later in his years at Aston Villa playing 92 times.
Richie De Laet is today back were it all started at Royal Antwerpen in his native Belgium. His time with Leicester City was a successful one, playing 115 league games in four seasons winning promotion and also being part of the 2015/16 squad and collecting a PL winner medal. The now 31 year old joined Aston Villa in the summer of 2016, but his time at Villa Park cannot be said to have worked out well, playing only 8 league games.
Marc Albrighton is of course one to mention as he has lived the dream with Leicester City and before those days growing up and getting his professional start with Aston Villa playing at Villa Park from 2009 to 2014 and in a way one of the finest signings in the history of our club, coming in for “no fee” at all.
Julian Joachim had his start with Leicester City and being groomed as one of the brightest talents in English football he was flying high helping Leicester City up to the Premier League for the first time under the management of Brian Little. When Little jumped ship and signed for his “favorite club” Julian Joachim was one of the first signings leaving for a fee of £1.5million.
Going back a few years you will find the name Derek Dougan among those who have been seen in both colors, but as we all know Dougan’s presence is best known from another Midland neighbor Wolverhampton. Andy Lochhead and David Gibson are two other players from those days of the 60’s who have been in both camps.
Not to forget Simon Grayson and transfer record breaker Mark Draper. Grayson was as Draper one of those who followed Brian Little to Villa Park. Draper had a glorious season with Leicester City in 1994/95, but the face of relegation didn’t fancy the young and upcoming player who instead moved to Aston Villa.
Martin Keown is again one to mention as he spent three years at Villa Park playing 112 league games and scored 3 goals. He later moved to Everton and back to Arsenal before his short stint as player coach at Leicester City. Mark Bunn is today at Aston Villa, the goalkeeper had a bit of duty on loan at Leicester City in that 2008/09 season, when he helped the club win League One. Another goalkeeper to mention is Kevin Poole who has also been in both camps.
Gary Charles is a right back who played at both clubs. The England international had short loan with Leicester City, playing only 8 league games, but had a longer stay at Aston Villa ending up with 79 games in five seasons. Not forget Stan Collymore who in a way never really made it at Aston Villa and was pushed on a free showing some quality despite only lasting a few months at Leicester City.
Nathan Delfounese had a short loan spell with Leicester City coming in from Aston Villa, but his time at both clubs never really worked out. The promising youngster later moved around a bit but has settled well at Blackpool where he is in his 2nd spell at Bloomfield Road and at 28 a good and liable League One player.
League winners during their time at Aston Villa, Colin Gibson and Allan Evans both experienced to play for Leicester City later in their career. Gibson coming in from Manchester United, and contributing well for four years at Filbert Street. Evans never really became a hit at Leicester, just adding up a handful of games, but as we all know a glittering career with Aston Villa.
Not to forget Dion Dublin who maybe spent his best years as a footballer with Aston Villa and returned to his boyhood city of Leicester late in his career. Dublin played at Villa Park from 1998 to 2004 and had a couple of years after that with us. One of few forwards who also operated as a central defender at times.
Another favorite of ours Emile Heskey reunited with Martin O’Neill at Aston Villa. The England man did a good job at both clubs and of course his time with Leicester City will always be well remembered collecting two winner medals from the EFL Cup.
Brian Little and John Gregory are two who were both players at Aston Villa and involved in management and coaching in both camps. Ian Ormondroyd that tall forward played at both clubs during the 90’s. He also played for Derby, Bradford and Oldham among his clubs in football.
A list of players in both camps,
- Goalkeepers
- Mark Bunn
- Kevin Poole
- Defenders
- Gary Charles
- Colin Gibson
- Allan Evans
- Simon Grayson
- Ritchie De Laet
- Martin Keown
- Riccardo Scimeca
- Steve Sims
- Midfield
- Mark Draper
- Joey Gudjonsson
- Marc Albrighton
- David Gibson
- Franz Carr
- Danny Drinkwater
- Youri Tielemans
- Forwards
- Andy Lochhead
- Derek Dougan
- Julian Joachim
- Stan Collymore
- Dion Dublin
- Ian Ormondroyd
- Graham Fenton
- Nathan Delfouneso
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