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Koke

What happened to Paulo Sousa's 8 Leicester City signings

By Koke, in Leicester City Forum

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Koke

Koke

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From Miguel Vitor to Yuki Abe, here is what became of Sousa's recruits

 

He has won league titles in Hungary, Israel and Switzerland, and is now in charge at French side Bordeaux, but Paulo Sousa's managerial career was not always been so successful.

Back in 2010, the suavely-dressed two-time Champions League winner lasted just 12 games at Leicester City before being replaced by Sven-Goran Eriksson.

As such, Sousa had just one transfer window while at the King Power Stadium, the Portuguese bringing in eight players.

Below, we take a look at what became of Sousa's octet.

 

Miguel Vitor

Signed from: Benfica (loan, July 2010)

City career: 17 apps, three goals (2010-11)

 

For Sousa’s first signing, he headed to his homeland and former club Benfica, securing highly-rated young centre-back Vitor on loan.

 

Despite arriving with Champions League experience, Vitor struggled at first, earning a red card on his Championship debut, a 6-1 defeat to Portsmouth.

 

Initially unfancied by Sousa’s replacement Eriksson, Vitor broke back into the line-up for the final few months of the campaign, producing energetic displays at the back and proving a threat in the opposition’s box.

 

After his City loan, Vitor returned to Benfica but failed to establish himself at his boyhood club, eventually moving to Greek side PAOK.

 

From there, he joined Israeli outfit Hapoel Be’er Sheva, winning back-to-back league titles and featuring in the Champions League again.

 

A serious knee injury has hampered Vitor, now 29, over the past 18 months and Be’er Sheva have been unable to claim a third straight crown. They sit fourth with a few games remaining.

 

Leon Crncic

 

Signed from: Atalanta (free, August 2010)

City career: No apps, no goals (2010-11)

 

Mainly remembered for the lack of vowels in his name, Crncic was spotted by Sousa while City were on a pre-season tour in his home nation Slovenia, and so was snapped up from Italian side Atalanta, for whom he’d spent a season playing under-21 football.

 

A senior run-out in Leicester colours never materialised though, with the youngster making just two appearances as an unused substitute.

 

Released from his contract by Eriksson after one year at City, Crncic returned to Slovenia and to top-flight side Rudar Velenje, where he has been ever since.

 

Crncic has racked up more than 200 appearances and 22 goals as an attacking midfielder for Rudar, but has no trophies to his name.

 

Their best league finish in Crncic’s time at the club was third, in 2013-14, a season in which they also reached the semi-finals of the Slovenian Cup.

 

Moreno

 

Signed from: Vitoria de Guimaraes (£350k, August 2010)

City career: Six apps, no goals (2010)

 

Sousa’s second buy from Portugal was midfield enforcer Moreno.

Having spent six seasons in the Portuguese top flight, expectations were high for Moreno, but he was both slow to adapt and limited in his opportunities to adjust to Championship football.

 

He made six appearances under Sousa, but was never more than an unused substitute for Eriksson.

 

Initially on loan, and then permanently, Moreno joined Nacional da Madeira back in his homeland before eventually rejoining Guimaraes.

While Moreno's influence on the pitch slowly waned, he remained club captain and was considered a key member of the dressing room until he hung up his boots last summer.

 

In his two spells at the club, Moreno made more than 200 appearances for Guimaraes, even featuring in the Europa League last season. He now works as a coach at the club.

 

Michael Lamey

 

Signed from: Arminia Bielefeld (free, August 2010)

City career: Seven apps, no goals (2010)

 

Released by Arminia Bielefeld but once of PSV, Lamey arrived at City with three Dutch titles and a Dutch Cup to his name.

 

The right-back convinced Sousa of his ability with an impressive showing in a pre-season friendly against Sunderland, and was signed up with the intention of challenging Robbie Neilson.

 

However, what Sousa saw in Lamey, Eriksson did not, the Swede bringing in Kyle Naughton on loan to take the right-back spot.

 

Lamey made just one appearance under Eriksson and quickly moved on to Wisla Krakow in Poland.

 

He concluded his career with first club, RKC Waalwijk in the Netherlands, retiring in 2014.

 

Franck Moussa

 

Signed from: Southend (free, August 2010)

City career: 15 apps, one goal (2010-11)

 

Relegated from League One with Southend, City took a gamble on free agent Moussa and while he seemed a talented prospect, he never became more than a fringe player at the club.

 

A play-making central midfielder by trade, Moussa was forced to the wing for most of his City career and while he scored for caretaker bosses Chris Powell and Mike Stowell in a win over Scunthorpe, a few games into Eriksson’s tenure and he was out of the side.

 

Moussa went to Doncaster on loan, then to Chesterfield where he won the 2012 Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Released by City, a good spell with Coventry earned the Belgian a move back to the Championship with Charlton before stints at Southend, Walsall and Gillingham.

 

He has been without a club since summer 2018, failing to earn a deal after going on trial at Cambridge last November.

 

Carl Ikeme

 

Signed from: Wolves (loan, August 2010)

City career: Five apps, no clean sheets (2010)

 

Brought in on an emergency loan after injury to Chris Weale, Ikeme did not embarrass himself at City, despite failing to keep a clean sheet in his five outings.

 

Instead, he saved the embarrassment for a year later, fumbling in Lee Peltier’s cross as City beat another of Ikeme and Doncaster 4-0.

 

Nevertheless, Ikeme became Wolves’ first-choice keeper and made more than 200 appearances for the club, was named in the 2013-14 League One team of the season, and earned 10 caps for Nigeria.

 

In 2017, Ikeme was diagnosed with acute leukaemia. He missed the club’s promotion campaign but after a year of chemotherapy, he announced he was in remission.

 

Shortly after, he announced his retirement from football. He remains much-loved at Wolves, where goalkeeper Rui Patricio took the number 11 shirt, leaving number one free in honour of Ikeme.

 

Yuki Abe

 

Signed from: Urawa Red Diamonds (£2m, August 2010)

City career: 59 apps, two goals (2010-12)

 

Intelligent and hard-working, Japan international Abe, a star of the 2010 World Cup, quickly silenced the cynics who suggested his transfer from Urawa Reds was purely to boost the club’s profile in Asia.

 

His work-rate in defensive midfield and composure on the ball earned him favour with City fans and with managers Sousa, Eriksson and Nigel Pearson before homesickness took hold and he returned to Japan in 2012.

 

Back to Urawa he went and Abe has re-established himself as one of the club’s greats.

 

Although a J-League title still eludes him, Urawa finishing runners-up in 2014 and 2016, Abe has captained the club to the Japanese League Cup, the Emperor's Cup and the Asian Champions League, having also won the latter in his first spell.

 

Still playing at the age of 37, Abe has now reached 460 matches for Urawa.

His career is winding down though, the midfielder playing in just one of the Reds’ 10 league matches so far this campaign.

 

Martyn Waghorn

 

Signed from: Sunderland (£2m, August 2010)

City career: 116 apps, 20 goals (2009-14)

 

A huge hit in his loan spell under Pearson, Sousa signed Waghorn permanently in a deadline-day deal.

Unfortunately for the striker, his 12-goal loan season remained his most fruitful at City.

 

Sidelined by Eriksson, Waghorn went on loan to Pearson’s Hull where he picked up a serious injury. By the time he returned, Pearson was back in charge at City, but Waghorn’s career at the King Power Stadium never took off again.

 

He eventually moved to Wigan, where he suffered relegation to League One. But rather than run out in the third tier, Waghorn joined Rangers, reviving his career and scoring 44 goals in 78 games to earn himself a move back to the Championship with Ipswich.

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Another productive season, this time netting 16 goals in 46 games for the Tractor Boys, saw Frank Lampard’s Derby come calling with a £5m offer.

And at Pride Park, Waghorn has gone from strength to strength, scoring 13 goals, and is set to play a key role as the Rams look to return to the Premier League through the play-offs.

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/what-happened-paulo-sousas-8-2856989.amp?__twitter_impression=true

Koke

Koke

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Some proper names there singed from Southend United and Arrminia Bielefeld on free transfers.

Alf Bentley

Alf Bentley

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Miguel Vitor looked good and Yuki Abe decent at Championship level.

Ikeme was fine but didn't stay long, as I recall.

Waggy has done surprisingly well recently, particularly given his injuries. Seems to have turned himself into a decent Championship striker, despite lacking both pace and height.

....Less said about the others the better! :D

ThaiFox

ThaiFox

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I was quite excited at him coming, and I thought he signed some useful players, 

 

But all I remember from Sousas short reign is how unfit we were. The players all looked shattered after 30 minutes.

 

 

Tuna

Tuna

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Remember us losing 6-1 at Fratton Park under Sousa, with Michael Morrison conceding a penalty with the most ridiculous handball you'll ever see.

AylestoneRaider

AylestoneRaider

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Whenever you feel negative, please read this thread. This is where we have been for most of my life; scrapping around in the second tier.

 

I can’t believe I am actually thinking we have an outside chance of breaking into the top six now. What is even more surprising is that people aren’t laughing out loud when I say that we’re gonna have a good old go next season!!

Fox92

Fox92

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Vitor was good while he last here for a season. I don't count Waghorn as I think he was Mandaric signing more than anything just to please us / cover up the mistake of Pearson going to Hull.

 

I remember going to Burnley away and I think it was Lamey's debut. We lost 3-0 and he conceded a pen.

 

TheSomersetFox

TheSomersetFox

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9 minutes ago, Steve_Walsh5 said:

Genuinely can’t remember Carl Ikeme ever playing for us. 

I remember him playing in the opener against QPR, think we lost 0-2?

 

Ikeme was ****ing crap

Soar Fox

Soar Fox

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4 minutes ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

didnt he concede a half way line goal in the cup and never got picked again?

I don’t know, I can’t remember him playing for us.

Langston

Langston

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31 minutes ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

didnt he concede a half way line goal in the cup and never got picked again?

 

Waghorn bagged from the halfway line against him in 09/10, could be a different thing entirely though 

Guest Electric Yetis

Guest Electric Yetis

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2 minutes ago, PAULCFC said:

Remember Yuki coming on for his debut and looked lost,then went to take a throw in and foul throwed it.

The worst debut I've seen. Ben Mee ran him close.

LCCFox96

LCCFox96

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Pretty rank list. Waghorn was no brainer after his success the previous season and Abe was okay but there are some real shockers in there. Moreno and Lamey are two of the worst players I've ever seen in a Leicester shirt.

SouthStandUpperTier

SouthStandUpperTier

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4 hours ago, The Horse's Mouth said:

didnt he concede a half way line goal in the cup and never got picked again?

Never played a cup game for us. Just the 5 league appearances. He was beaten by a 45-yard Lee Naylor (mishit cross?) shot against Cardiff, but that wasn't his last game for us.

Vlad the Fox

Vlad the Fox

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10 hours ago, Steve_Walsh5 said:

Genuinely can’t remember Carl Ikeme ever playing for us. 

He spontaneously combusted, that season we went through keepers like spinal tap did drummers. 

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