To pick the best ever XI is much more exciting. We have done this bringing different aspects to the table. Results achieved, climbing levels in performance, transfer fee paid and transfer fee gained.
The goalkeeper is surely difficult, but looking at medals and development you surely will get the idea. Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton were both rated among the best goalkeepers in the World. Banks even a World Cup winner with England in 1966. Mark Wallington was a long servant, so was Kasper Schmeichel. So with that in mind from a Leicester perspective, Kasper Schmeichel will be the winner of this position. Kasper Schmeichel is rated the most important and best goalkeeper ever at this football club. Signed by Sven Goran Eriksson for a £1million from Leeds. Premier League and FA Cup winner with Leicester. No other goalkeeper at this club has achieved that. Position: Goalkeeper, Seasons: 2011 to 2022, League Games: 414, League Goals: 0, Transfer Fee In: £1million, Transfer Fee Out: 0, Nation: Denmark, Manager: Sven Goran Eriksson
On the right back we have picked Steve Whitworth. This was a close one. Competition included two of the players at the club today, Ricardo Pereira and James Justin. Peter Rodrigues was also in contention. Rodrigues was a player that introduced the modern thinking of a full back, pushing forward. He played for Wales at international level. Played in the 1969 FA Cup final, later a winner of the same tournament with Southampton. To chose Steve Whitworth was not difficult. He established himself in the Leicester team as a teenager and took the level of top flight football with ease. He later also played at full international level for England. A real quality right-back from own ranks Position: Right-Back, Seasons: 1970 to 1979, League Games: 353, League Goals: 0, Transfer Fee In: 0, Transfer Fee Out: £120.000, Nation: England, Manager: Frank O’Farrell
The left back position was also a battle. David Nish became the choice. He was a natural, played 228 league games for Leicester. When sold to Derby for £225.000 in 1972, this became a British transfer record fee. He was captain of the Leciester side reaching the 1969 FA Cup final. He performed at the highest level for Leicester, and broke into the England team during that time. Christian Fuchs, Ben Chilwell and Dennis Rofe were other players to chose from in this category, Position: Left-Back, Seasons: 1967 to 1972, League Games: 228, League Goals: 25, Transfer Fee In: 0, Transfer Fee Out: £225.000 Nation: England, Manager: Matt Gillies
In central defence we a number of players in competition. Harry Maguire and Wes Morgan would probably be the natural pick. We will go for those two. Morgan as a captain and long servant, Maguire becoming an England international while at the club and of course his massive £80million transfer to Manchester United. Wes Morgan is a symbol of that rise to the Premier League title, as well as being in the squad and getting on the pitch for the FA Cup final a few years later. Position: Central-Defence, Seasons: 1991 to 1997, League Games: 277, League Goals: 11, Transfer Fee In: £1million, Transfer Fee Out: 0, Nation: Jamaica, Manager: Nigel Pearson
Harry Maguire made the most out of his time at Leicester. He grew from being in a relegated Hull team to become one of the finest central defenders in English football. He was one we would have hoped had stayed longer, but the monumental fee Man Utd were willing to pay, never questioned the clubs decision, Seasons: 2017 to 2019, League Games: 64, League Goals: 7, Transfer Fee In: £12million, Transfer Fee Out: £80million, Nation: England, Manager: Craig Shakespeare.
Matt Elliott and Steve Walsh were of course great players in this position for Leicester. Larry May and John O’Neill also played a great part in their days, adding up a number of great appearances. Graham Cross and Frank McLintock are other players from an earlier era also considered.
Signed #OnThisDay in 2014, Esteban Cambiasso! 🇦🇷 🤩 pic.twitter.com/cAFYTf4WrC
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 28, 2023
Keith Weller is one of the best ever players at this football club. He was crucical in the making of Jimmy Bloomfield’s entertaining Leicester team. He excelled to become an England international. A wizard and pacy winger, setting up goals for Frank Worthington as well as scoring himself. Other players to look at out wide are e Davie Gibson, Mike Stringfellow, Steve Lynex, Marc Albrighton and Harvey Barnes, but at this point we do not believe are up their alongside Keith Weller and Riyad Mahrez. Position: Flank-Midfield, Seasons: 1971 to 1979, League Games: 262, League Goals: 37, Transfer Fee In: £100.000, Transfer Fee Out: 0, Nation: England, Manager: Jimmy Bloomfield
Nigel Pearson made a shrewd move when he managed to bring Esteban Cambiasso to Leicester. Maybe a bit unfair to players such as Graham Cross, Frank McLintock, Danny Drinkwater, Jon Sammels, Gary McAllister and Ian Wilson, Youri Tielemans, Andy King, Wilfred Ndidi and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who all are great alternatives in this position. But have settled with Esteban Cambiasso. His contribution and help during that great escape season, showed what a fantastic player he was also at the age he had reached at the time. Position: Central-Midfield, Seasons: 2014 to 2015, League Games: 31, League Goals: 5, Transfer Fee In: 0, Transfer Fee Out: 0, Nation: Argentina, Manager: Nigel Pearson
N’Golo Kantè was signed from Caen. He was not a player many had hear of when signing for Leicester. A year later he had won Premier League and The Euro’s. Later a World Cup winner with France and of course all those great years at Chelsea. Sadly as Cambiasso, he just played one season for Leicester, but what a stamp he put on his envelope, just fantastic. Position: Central-Midfield, Seasons: 2015 to 2016, League Games: 37, League Goals: 1, Transfer Fee In: £6million, Transfer Fee Out: £32million, Nation: France, Manager: Claudio Ranieri
Riyad Mahrez is a natural pick, doing it all from a modest start. Coming in from Le Havre, he was not expected to do this, but what a fantastic ride. He also went on to become a regular in a Man City team winning every trophy possible. He also had a special run at international level, representing Algeria in the 2014 World Cup as well as winning 2019 AFCON, Seasons: 2014 to 2018, League Games: 158, League Goals: 42, Transfer Fee In: £450.000, Transfer Fee Out: £60million, Nation: Algeria, Manager: Nigel Pearson
Up front it was no real questions. Jamie Vardy and Frank Worthington are the two chosen. Gary Lineker and Emile Heskey are the two to challenge. Jamie Vardy is the living legend at this football club, doing what no one will do after him. What a fantastic signing as well as long term servant. Hopefully players will live up to his standard in the future, that would see Leicester in good health. Position: Forward, Seasons: 2000 to 2002, League Games: 440, League Goals: 183, Transfer Fee In: £1million, Transfer Fee Out: 0, Nation: England, Manager: Nigel Pearson
Frank Worthington has no real competition either. His standard and influence was very similar to Jamie Vardy, scoring some fantastic goals as well as delivering the goods season after season. Position: Forward, Seasons: 1972 to 1977, League Games: 210, League Goals: 78, Transfer Fee In: £90.000, Transfer Fee Out: £90.000, Nation: England, Manager: Jimmy Bloomfield
We have settled with this team. The players chosen are from different decades. They are set up in a 4-4-2, but hopefully no one feel we have left out a few that should have been in, chosing a different system of play.
Our pick, The best ever Leicester City XI;
Goalkeeper: Kasper Schmeichel
Defenders: Steve Whitworth, David Nish, Harry Maguire, Wes Morgan
Midfield: Esteban Cambiasso, Keith Weller, N’Golo Kantè, Riyad Mahrez
Forwards: Frank Worthington, Jamie Vardy
Picking a bench would mainly be with those players talked up earlier in this story. Lovely group of players, who contributed and excelled at this football club, fantastic and great.
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