The 21 greatest Leicester City players of the 21st century
As we see out a typically tumultuous year following this crazy football club, the TFW writing team have this week been pondering who deserves a place in a list of the 21 greatest Leicester City players of the 21st century so far.
Following some fierce debate and mathematical gymnastics (including one person devising a complex scoring system taking into account talent, contribution and impact), here we are.
Alternatively, “the GOAT at the top and 20 from anywhere else please, Carol”.
And yes, there is a comments section…
21: Matty Fryatt
“Didn’t he once win a BBQ set?” Look, I’m not going to try to argue that Matty Fryatt should be considered worthy of walking among those who lifted Premier Leagues or FA Cups, but…
Fastest goal in a Leicester City shirt? Fryatt. First player in 83 years to score successive hat-tricks? Fryatt. First player in a generation to score 20 before Christmas? Fryatt. First in 52 years to score more than 30? Yep, you guessed it.
Arguably, without his 27 league goals in the 2008-09 campaign, Leicester City may still be in a position where scoring 27 goals in a league campaign would place someone firmly close to the top of this list. You could even realistically say that without those 27 goals, everything in the decade that followed would still be a pipedream.
That alone certainly deserves him much more recognition than just being the guy who won a bloody BBQ set.
Ryan Hubbard
20: Lloyd Dyer
The ultimate exhilarating left winger who provided chaos from 2008 to 2014. With crucial contributions in 2 title winning teams; the only travesty is that Dyer didn't play for us in the Premier League. 42nd in the all-time appearances list, he deserves his spot among this century's elite.
Opposition players knew Lloyd was going to push it past them and run, but it didn't mean they could stop him. His pace was unrivalled as he terrorised defences throughout this key transitional period.
Probably the most left-footed player to wear the shirt, but it's his right-footed screamer to seal Leicester as Championship champions that's the iconic pick of his moments. What a guy.
Becky Taylor
19: Wesley Fofana
Oh Wesley, why did it have to end like that?
There are lots of ways to define a great player, such as contribution to the club, influence on those around them, trophies won and so on.
But if you boil it down to its purest form, simply being good at football, then Fofana is easily one of the best players to pull on the royal blue shirt.
As a player he was part Rolls-Royce, part Ferrari and part Land Rover, he’d got it all. It’s just a shame that A) He’s a (add your own expletive in here, dear readers) and B) he’s been so desperately ravaged by injuries.
Iain Wright
18: Harvey Barnes
I'm very glad he's on this list because I think there is a number of our fanbase who massively underappreciate what he brought to the team.
Regularly getting into double figures for goals in the Premier League is incredibly difficult. There are many highly-rated strikers who don't manage it. And there's a danger among the successful season we're having to forget about the drop in 'level' to the Championship.
Harvey Barnes was consistently performing when we were mixing it right at the top of the Premier League. He also had possibly his best season amid the shambles of last season when most of the others disappeared.
I suspect there will be a few out there who will be reminded of how difficult it is to produce what Harvey did, if and when we return to the big league.
Iain Wright
17: Danny Drinkwater
At the 2013/14 club awards night, Nigel Pearson famously called Drinkwater a "complicated character".
What followed in the years to come proved that statement to be very true. Drinky had done well in that promotion season, but had shared the limelight with Andy King and Matty James. It was a similar story the following season with Esteban Cambiasso added to the mix and even Dean Hammond preferred at times, but it was 2015/16 where Drinkwater really came to the fore.
He was fortunate to play in a midfield 3 that season (Drinky in the middle and Kanté either side!) and his performances were incredible, leading to a handful of England caps. He makes this list primarily for the title season and then the Champions League run where he was a real driving force.
Sadly that's where his career peaked and he made next to no positive impression anywhere else, with that "complicated character" making the wrong sort of headlines. But for those 4 years or so with us, particularly the Premier League title one, he was excellent and an important part of our success.
Iain Wright
16: Wilfred Ndidi
The fact that Ndidi's one poor season happened to be the one in which the team collapsed around him is probably not a coincidence. Before that, he was one of the best players in the Premier League, never mind just at Leicester.
How much of Youri Tielemans' greatness relied on having Ndidi alongside him? How many centre back reputations were built upon his presence in front? For three years between 2018-2021, Ndidi made more tackles than any other player in the division, and the interceptions weren't far behind. His ability to cover ground and nip the ball away with a telescopic leg is legendary.
By the end of the season, he'll be around 35th on our all-time appearance list. He has been reinvented as a box-to-box midfielder, where his footballing intelligence is on full display. And even after all this time, his absence still seems to coincide with Leicester defeats.
Put some respect on the man's name.
James Knight
15: Matt Elliott
A club record signing in 1997 who went on to become an inspirational player during one of the clubs most successful and memorable eras. Elliott made a positive mark in his early years at Leicester, but his biggest achievement was the 2000 League Cup Final where he captained us to victory and scored both goals.
At a time when most centre backs relied on dark arts defending and simply getting rid of the ball, Elliott was a bit of a rogue in his day. He was comfortable on the ball, deceivingly quick, and was often used as an emergency striker.
Injuries troubled him later in his career, but he stuck with Leicester through some difficult years, captaining the team back to the Premier League in 2003. A true Leicester great.
Matt Jedruch
14: Ricardo Pereira
The first ever Leicester player you could have seen playing for Real Madrid. After his initially slow start, Ricardo became the archetypal modern right-back.
Quick, skilful and defensively sound. Injuries sadly hit - rather badly. However he comes across as a very decent guy with the added bonus he made Stoneygate his home.
His late winner at PSV felt like a deserving moment for all the hard effort in recovery or somehow surviving Brendan Rodgers’ shuttle run training on the A46 with a newly-recovered leg.
A legend at Vitoria Guimaraes for scoring a cup final winner; he won’t be far off considered that if he lifts the Championship trophy for Leicester City and showing back the faith for the support through his injuries.
Harry Gregory
13: Christian Fuchs
We’ve probably all had toxic work colleagues, so we probably all understand the importance of those individuals who are the complete opposite. The 2015/16 team was packed with them, but Christian Fuchs always came across as the best example of all.
He was more than just a personality though. He’s possibly the best left-back we’ve ever had: there were few weaknesses to his game. You trusted him to do the basics, heading crosses clear at the back post or challenging a tricky winger in a one-on-one. His set piece delivery was superb. He scored a couple of crackers and should have had more, given his ball-striking ability.
It was his assists that stand out though: not just the famous no-look through ball for Vardy’s eleventh heaven but the inch-perfect corner that Robert Huth powered past Hugo Lloris to see off Tottenham.
David Bevan
12: Esteban Cambiasso
Show me a player who has made such an impression in just one season.
Cambiasso arrived with a monstrous reputation, and did not take long to dispel any doubters. He led from the front and played a clear and key role in one of the Greatest Escapes in Premier League history. But more than this, and more than his clearly abundant quality, was the connection he forged with the fans.
He may have been used to playing for Europe’s biggest teams, but he gave his everything to our club and he was adulated for it. Cuchu rightly has his place as one of our greatest ever.
Jamie Thorpe
11: Robert Huth
Others may have been blessed with more talent or contributed more over a longer period of time, but it's hard to summarise the impact and influence of Robert Huth on the most successful period in Leicester City's history.
You could play a game of 'Rock or No Rock' depending on whether he was at the heart of the defence or not. He was the partner Wes Morgan needed and the main catalyst for the great escape, solidifying the backline when we were in last chance saloon.
Perhaps most impactful of all were his absolutely vital goals in the title-winning season, managing to trump his bullet header of a winner at White Hart Lane by famously being on a hat-trick at the Etihad.
Now back at the club working as the loans manager, perhaps he will help oversee the rise of Leicester City's next granite-hewn centre-back from the Seagrave production line.
David Bevan
10: Youri Tielemans
My feelings towards Youri remain conflicted, with his time with us ending in acrimonious circumstances. But despite this, you cannot ignore his achievements.
He was the cog that made us tick, the perfect foil for Maddison and Ndidi in arguably our best ever midfield trio. When on form he was imperious. Class personified, but with a passion that belied his cool exterior.
There is of course the small matter of THAT goal too, one of the biggest moments in our club’s history and one that surely cements his legacy as an all-time Leicester great.
Jamie Thorpe
9: Marc Albrighton
The Tamworth Pires. 'Sharky' was picked up on a free by Pearson when he was inexplicably released by his beloved Villa, and he's never looked back.
A genuine fan favourite who most would describe as a model of consistency and graft, but those descriptors ignore and under-appreciate his quality. He had some monumental individual moments, specifically the Bruges and Sevilla Champions League goals, which will live on as LCFC folklore.
He also overcame personal tragedy to play a crucial role in our Premier League title win. A club legend and a fully warranted member of the top 10 in our list.
Matt Jedruch
8: James Maddison
Some players' greatness is measured in how they make you feel. Maddison's Leicester career, for the most part, represented promise and hope, a brighter future built around a young team.
During the good times, the incredible swag the team had seemed to flow from his right boot. You felt like anything was possible with him around, particularly at the start of every season when he'd come out like a man possessed.
In the end, the career never quite lived up to to the hype, but he was truly the heir to the Mahrez throne. The one player you wanted on the ball, who got you out of your seat, who might suddenly produce something amazing, and it was fun to have him around.
James Knight
7: Andy King
Outside of the obvious two, Kingy was the one you had nailed on to make the top ten.
An unfortunate victim of how successful we got, he was Mr Leicester for a long time. What's not to love about a lad who's been at the club for years, works his socks off and enjoyed numerous goals against all of our local rivals?
He was an endearing player, intelligent on the ball, liked by all and a real mainstay of the team for years. The fact that he did it all with Leicester City, from the dark days to the Champions League makes him a very worthy member of the list.
Helen Thompson
6: Muzzy Izzet
It speaks volumes that Muzzy is the highest of the O’Neill era players. I once played against him in a charity football game, tripped him and then apologised with a ‘sorry Muz’. I wanted him to be my mate, not my opponent.
His loyalty was unquestionable when the club hit administration, choosing a deferred salary over a four-year deal at Middlesbrough. He incredibly played at two major tournaments (Euro 2000 and World Cup 2002) when that was a rare occurrence for a Foxes player.
Really, those appearance should have been for England rather than Turkey. He was every bit as good, if not better, than Nicky Butt, Trevor Sinclair or Dennis Wise (who appeared in those tournaments). He could score with regularity whether it be a long-range strike or a clever run onto a flick-on.
He further matured in the administration season as captain: slightly less attacking and more refined with his passing, his free kicks particularly underrated. During the Premier League season of 2003/04, there were bids from Villa and Blackburn across the season. Why? Because he managed more assists than any other Premier League player that season (14 - setting up 29% of our goals) while playing for a team due to be relegated.
‘Sorry Muz’ - it’s just a shame others came along.
Harry Gregory
5: Wes Morgan
If at first you don’t succeed, move to Leicester and win the Premier League!
Big Wes is an inspiration for many footballers who aspire to reach the very top. Success came late in his career, but what an Indian summer he had.
Premier League title, scoring in a Champions League knockout game and even seeing the game out in the FA Cup Final. He was a very good player, difficult for opponents to come up against, solid as a rock… but he’s in this list because of who he is: CAPTAIN.
A leader in every sense of the word.
Iain Wright
4: N’Golo Kante
There is surely no better footballer than one who makes you laugh out loud through sheer audaciousness. In recent years, it was most commonly Riyad Mahrez who achieved that but there was one season when a defensive midfielder managed it.
N'Golo was more than just a defensive midfielder though. He was a defensively-minded player who bossed the entire central third of the pitch, and often the other two thirds as well. He would lose the ball in the opposition half, we'd win it back forty yards deeper five seconds later and then you'd realise, as he started motoring through midfield, it was N'Golo who had won it back.
Mahrez and Vardy stole the headlines but Kante was the most important individual in 2015/16. A true phenomenon and probably, length of service aside, the best player ever to play for Leicester City.
David Bevan
3: Kasper Schmeichel
You'd have witnessed an online re-enactment of the infamous “don't start on me” moment if Kasper had been omitted from this list.
Until our new Danish keeper, no other goalkeeper had stayed long enough or performed well enough to linger positively in Foxes fans’ memory. No other came close in terms of leadership and passion either.
At the height of his Leicester career, he was one of the greats. Iconic saves that spring to mind will always be that penalty save against Sevilla and the FA Cup one. But he saved us games and points on countless occasions, something overlooked by those who bemoaned his distribution.
His tenure at the club ended strangely and it does feel like there's something left to complete, though maybe no longer between the sticks. A true legend and a leadership presence we sorely missed.
Helen Thompson
2: Riyad Mahrez
There are not enough superlatives to describe Riyad Mahrez, he's simply an all-timer.
The bargain of the century, who provided us with fairytale moments of a lifetime. His unbelievable technical ability and partnership with the inevitable number 1 were complete magic.
The best first touch I've ever seen, 86 goal contributions in 179 appearances and countless key moments including winning PFA player of the year as a Leicester player!
He's someone I'd never tire of watching and we've never really recovered from losing.
Some of our fans don't deserve to have had him play for us with the slander he receives.
Becky Taylor
1: Jamie Vardy
He needs to be respected. He’s finished. He’s perfect. He’s unreliable.
And that’s all just from this year.
The mess Leicester City have made of the inevitable decline in Jamie Vardy’s effectiveness over the past couple of years merely underlines his status as the most important player ever to play for the club.
Vardy’s Premier League goalscoring record is extraordinary. His showreel matches almost anyone - there have been so many ingenious finishes. Backheels and flicks of the boot, sweeps into the far corner, volleyed lobs. You can picture each one of those now, can’t you?
And then there’s the race clear of the opposition defence and the inevitability of a goal. The array of opposition grounds he’s graced with that trademark sight: the Stadium of Light, Bramall Lane, Stamford Bridge, St Andrew’s, Ewood Park, The Hawthorns (multiple).
Scroll back up through the rest of this list - no other strikers whatsoever. We’ve had some decent ones, but Vardy set the standard so high it was impossible for anyone else to come close.
Elsewhere, the story was Vardy’s meteoric rise from non-league part-timer to England international. Among Leicester fans, it was more nuanced. Vardy certainly didn’t hit the ground running in the Championship and there have been a couple more blips along the way, particularly as he got to grips with top flight football.
But he, more than anyone, came to define the most successful period in the club’s history. He made it happen. The player and the team: the ultimate underdogs.
David Bevan
12 Days of Christmas at The Bridge
For the past 10 years, The Bridge Homelessness to Hope has served a 3-course Christmas Dinner with all the trimmings to hundreds of people in Leicester who are experiencing homelessness.
This year, they want to go one better and offer their guests (service users) not just one day of celebrations but 12 days of festive events over the month of December.
If you’re enjoying The Fosse Way, please consider donating to The Bridge’s Christmas appeal:
