Ex Players - They used to play for us

[HankMarvin]

MARC ALBRIGHTON EXCLUSIVE: I'd love to help out Leicester - as would all my title-winning team-mates... but the club have never been in touch

 

 

 

Ten-year anniversaries are often cause for celebration and for Leicester City, the one in early May will be just that.

A decade ago, the Foxes wrote one of the best football stories when they defied odds of 5,000-1 to win the Premier League title. Leicester fans were not the only ones who loved that season, with supporters of similar clubs cheering them on and wondering if their team could do the same one day.

Ten years before that triumph, Leicester had been fighting for survival in the Championship. When Wes Morgan was lifting the Premier League trophy, supporters could never have imagined the wheel might turn full circle. Yet this is exactly the position in which Leicester find themselves.

Thanks to a six-point deduction for breaking financial rules, Leicester head into the final seven games of the campaign in the bottom three of the Championship, a point adrift of safety. They have appealed against the penalty.

Leicester were confirmed Premier League champions on May 2, 10 years ago. By that date this year, the class of 2026 will know their fate, pending the outcome of the appeal. While nothing should detract from the 10-year celebrations, the mood may be a little more sombre if Leicester have dropped into the third tier.

Of those legends, only first-team coach Andy King is involved on the football side, though Robert Huth was loans manager from 2022-24 and other former players retain informal links, though not with the first team.

Winger Marc Albrighton made 38 appearances in the title-winning season, scoring twice and providing six assists. He played 313 times for Leicester across 10 years, winning three trophies. Like most of that squad, he remains hugely invested, albeit from afar.

‘We all say that if we could have a job at any of our former clubs, we’d choose Leicester,’ Albrighton tells Daily Mail Sport. ‘We didn’t all grow up supporting Leicester but we are massive fans now and we just want to help as much as possible. For whatever reason, it hasn’t materialised.

‘I’m not saying we’d go in and change the world, change everything that’s wrong with the club. Andy King is there at the moment and he is desperate for it to turn around, as we all are.

‘But people talk about Manchester United and former players at the club who know their DNA, and I feel like there’s something similar at Leicester. There was a culture there that I’d never seen anywhere else.

‘I don’t actually know what the role would be in terms of us going back. But I would have thought there must be some way we could pass on our experience and try to get that culture back.

‘There has never been any contact with me from the club regarding this. When I finished playing, Aston Villa got in touch with me. I’d played for them and grown up a Villa fan, so I was grateful for the opportunity to go and do some coaching.

‘I probably did think "I wish Leicester had done that", even though coaching perhaps isn’t for me. I’d love to be driving into Leicester every day and be in and around that.

‘They’re in a really difficult position at the moment and it seems like nothing they’re trying is working.’

Albrighton retired in 2024 but is staying sharp by competing in Baller League. A six-a-side, 15-minutes-each-way contest featuring numerous former players, Albrighton joined up for the current run and is playing for Deportrio, who are managed by Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards. ‘It’s perfect for me,’ he says. ‘That’s my fix of football and gives me that buzz.’

Baller League allows Albrighton to scratch the itch to play, though his thoughts are never far from Leicester. As he speaks on Zoom, a framed Leicester shirt and a Premier League winner’s medal are visible on one of the walls.

Albrighton regularly cites the influence of former Leicester chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who was killed in a helicopter crash in 2018. His son, Aiyawatt, has run the club since but recent years have been very difficult. The club have twice been relegated from the top flight amid supporter protests and growing dissatisfaction.

Now 36, Albrighton believes Leicester managed to find a unique spirit during the glory days and urges them to do everything possible to revive it.

‘They were simple things that brought everyone together,’ he explains. ‘There were meals arranged by the owner and the owner would be there.

‘I remember playing one game in London and we lost. Because we’d lost, we assumed we’d be going straight home on the bus but the owner said, "No, we’re going out".

‘He knew we would lose games, but told us he wanted us to try as hard as we could. There was no real pressure applied by him.

‘He would be in the changing room before every home game, just sitting among the lads and having a laugh. He had a very distinctive laugh that everyone recognised and it would create a really relaxed atmosphere. He wanted to see us enjoying ourselves.

‘And it wasn’t just the players invited to these meals. It was everyone who worked at the club – kit men, people in the offices, sports science staff, physios. It was a really good way to connect people. You could see people coming out of their shell.’

It may be easier said than done but Albrighton would like the current players and supporters to follow these principles. Over Easter, Gary Rowett’s team face Preston and Sheffield Wednesday. Win both of those games, and survival will suddenly look far more realistic. The alternative hardly bears thinking about.

Albrighton was at King Power Stadium recently when Leicester threw away a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 to Southampton. ‘I felt there was massive fear both on the pitch and in the crowd,' he recalls.

‘When they were 3-0 up, I wanted them to enjoy themselves. I know it’s difficult and these are nervous times but I’ve noticed it in a quite a few games. 

'The word "fearless" is part of the club’s identity and it’s important not to forget that.’

[lcfc81]

15 minutes ago, HankMarvin said:

MARC ALBRIGHTON EXCLUSIVE: I'd love to help out Leicester - as would all my title-winning team-mates... but the club have never been in touch

 

 

 

Ten-year anniversaries are often cause for celebration and for Leicester City, the one in early May will be just that.

A decade ago, the Foxes wrote one of the best football stories when they defied odds of 5,000-1 to win the Premier League title. Leicester fans were not the only ones who loved that season, with supporters of similar clubs cheering them on and wondering if their team could do the same one day.

Ten years before that triumph, Leicester had been fighting for survival in the Championship. When Wes Morgan was lifting the Premier League trophy, supporters could never have imagined the wheel might turn full circle. Yet this is exactly the position in which Leicester find themselves.

Thanks to a six-point deduction for breaking financial rules, Leicester head into the final seven games of the campaign in the bottom three of the Championship, a point adrift of safety. They have appealed against the penalty.

Leicester were confirmed Premier League champions on May 2, 10 years ago. By that date this year, the class of 2026 will know their fate, pending the outcome of the appeal. While nothing should detract from the 10-year celebrations, the mood may be a little more sombre if Leicester have dropped into the third tier.

Of those legends, only first-team coach Andy King is involved on the football side, though Robert Huth was loans manager from 2022-24 and other former players retain informal links, though not with the first team.

Winger Marc Albrighton made 38 appearances in the title-winning season, scoring twice and providing six assists. He played 313 times for Leicester across 10 years, winning three trophies. Like most of that squad, he remains hugely invested, albeit from afar.

‘We all say that if we could have a job at any of our former clubs, we’d choose Leicester,’ Albrighton tells Daily Mail Sport. ‘We didn’t all grow up supporting Leicester but we are massive fans now and we just want to help as much as possible. For whatever reason, it hasn’t materialised.

‘I’m not saying we’d go in and change the world, change everything that’s wrong with the club. Andy King is there at the moment and he is desperate for it to turn around, as we all are.

‘But people talk about Manchester United and former players at the club who know their DNA, and I feel like there’s something similar at Leicester. There was a culture there that I’d never seen anywhere else.

‘I don’t actually know what the role would be in terms of us going back. But I would have thought there must be some way we could pass on our experience and try to get that culture back.

‘There has never been any contact with me from the club regarding this. When I finished playing, Aston Villa got in touch with me. I’d played for them and grown up a Villa fan, so I was grateful for the opportunity to go and do some coaching.

‘I probably did think "I wish Leicester had done that", even though coaching perhaps isn’t for me. I’d love to be driving into Leicester every day and be in and around that.

‘They’re in a really difficult position at the moment and it seems like nothing they’re trying is working.’

Albrighton retired in 2024 but is staying sharp by competing in Baller League. A six-a-side, 15-minutes-each-way contest featuring numerous former players, Albrighton joined up for the current run and is playing for Deportrio, who are managed by Daniel Sturridge and Micah Richards. ‘It’s perfect for me,’ he says. ‘That’s my fix of football and gives me that buzz.’

Baller League allows Albrighton to scratch the itch to play, though his thoughts are never far from Leicester. As he speaks on Zoom, a framed Leicester shirt and a Premier League winner’s medal are visible on one of the walls.

Albrighton regularly cites the influence of former Leicester chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, who was killed in a helicopter crash in 2018. His son, Aiyawatt, has run the club since but recent years have been very difficult. The club have twice been relegated from the top flight amid supporter protests and growing dissatisfaction.

Now 36, Albrighton believes Leicester managed to find a unique spirit during the glory days and urges them to do everything possible to revive it.

‘They were simple things that brought everyone together,’ he explains. ‘There were meals arranged by the owner and the owner would be there.

‘I remember playing one game in London and we lost. Because we’d lost, we assumed we’d be going straight home on the bus but the owner said, "No, we’re going out".

‘He knew we would lose games, but told us he wanted us to try as hard as we could. There was no real pressure applied by him.

‘He would be in the changing room before every home game, just sitting among the lads and having a laugh. He had a very distinctive laugh that everyone recognised and it would create a really relaxed atmosphere. He wanted to see us enjoying ourselves.

‘And it wasn’t just the players invited to these meals. It was everyone who worked at the club – kit men, people in the offices, sports science staff, physios. It was a really good way to connect people. You could see people coming out of their shell.’

It may be easier said than done but Albrighton would like the current players and supporters to follow these principles. Over Easter, Gary Rowett’s team face Preston and Sheffield Wednesday. Win both of those games, and survival will suddenly look far more realistic. The alternative hardly bears thinking about.

Albrighton was at King Power Stadium recently when Leicester threw away a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 to Southampton. ‘I felt there was massive fear both on the pitch and in the crowd,' he recalls.

‘When they were 3-0 up, I wanted them to enjoy themselves. I know it’s difficult and these are nervous times but I’ve noticed it in a quite a few games. 

'The word "fearless" is part of the club’s identity and it’s important not to forget that.’

Absolutely get him in! Winning mentality and worked tirelessly(?).

To be honest he could probably start!! 😬

[davieG]

The Pitching In Northern Premier League ·

Follow

 

At the age of 40 years, 7 months and 19 days, AFC Rushden & Diamonds manager Elliot Sandy became the club’s oldest-ever player after featuring in their 2-0 defeat to Bedworth United on Saturday.

He becomes the second NPL Midlands Division manager to don a playing shirt in a matter of days, after Anstey Nomads FC's Conrad Logan came out of retirement and kept a clean sheet during last week's 6-0 victory over Carlton Town!

Impressive stuff from both men

 

[UniFox21]

See I don't believe this.

We are absolutely shite currently, not getting away from that at all. What I don't believe is the side winning the FA cup and consecutive 5th place finishes in the Prem didn't hold eachother accountable 

 

 

Edited 8 April by UniFox21

[Trav Le Bleu]

The Premier League winner fighting for League Two survival

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c7059r9ek45o

 

What I wouldn't give to have this guy playing for us now. Could save us almost single-handedly.

[eblair]

On 08/04/2026 at 17:58, UniFox21 said:

See I don't believe this.

We are absolutely shite currently, not getting away from that at all. What I don't believe is the side winning the FA cup and consecutive 5th place finishes in the Prem didn't hold eachother accountable 

 

 

Before he references must be the last 3 years which seems fair

 

Doubt Luton team that went up was shy of accountability too

[Mickyblueeyes]

On 08/04/2026 at 17:58, UniFox21 said:

See I don't believe this.

We are absolutely shite currently, not getting away from that at all. What I don't believe is the side winning the FA cup and consecutive 5th place finishes in the Prem didn't hold eachother accountable 

 

 

Ah, James. Definitely something I can agree with. Watching you play last season like a retarded imbecile with one leg, I was also thinking, this is worst season of my football supporting life. Especially after your 14th mistake of the season that cost us a goal. The 13th wasn’t so bad, but that 14th mistake, it really made me think.

 

Glad you’ve now found people to tell you not to just leave a ball to fly into the box when the opposition player is stood right behind you, breathing down your neck. 

 

The audacity of this twat. 

Edited 10 April by Mickyblueeyes

[Kitchandro]

On 08/04/2026 at 17:58, UniFox21 said:

See I don't believe this.

We are absolutely shite currently, not getting away from that at all. What I don't believe is the side winning the FA cup and consecutive 5th place finishes in the Prem didn't hold eachother accountable 

 

 

Really? Because I remember that side being very talented but extremely soft and fell apart at the first sign of resistance. We were never a spirited or mature side under Rodgers.

It was basically our thing to hammer opposition that was in disarray but suffer embarrassing defeats against worse teams with more spirit and organisation. We had annual collapses that lasted months. The seeds of failure were sewn in those years with a weak mentality and lack of fight.

[Gamble92]

On 08/04/2026 at 17:58, UniFox21 said:

See I don't believe this.

We are absolutely shite currently, not getting away from that at all. What I don't believe is the side winning the FA cup and consecutive 5th place finishes in the Prem didn't hold eachother accountable 

 

 

The fact he admits he didn't hold himself accountable and was such utter shit all season tells me all I need to know. Don't really care how good he's been at Leeds. Like I won't care if any of this current lot go on and do well. All it does is confirm the absolute apathy and contempt we have for this set of players is completely justified. 

[HarryDee8]

Hirst scores again, he must be shit! 😄

[davieG]

Please for Fuchs Newport beat the bottom club, Harrogate 2-1 to move 4 points clear of Barrow although they have a game in hand.

[Corky]

If Tottenham are relegated, what happens to Maddison? Obviously has been injured so no direct blame, would he want to stick around in the Championship around the age of 30? Which Premier League club would take him after a year out?

[Lad1966]

33 minutes ago, Corky said:

If Tottenham are relegated, what happens to Maddison? Obviously has been injured so no direct blame, would he want to stick around in the Championship around the age of 30? Which Premier League club would take him after a year out?

Coventry - he’s from there

[Sly]

8 minutes ago, Lad1966 said:

Coventry - he’s from there

I think he’d stay at Tottenham. They’ll be straight back up. No way they stay down. 

[Lionator]

Ademola Lookman man, wins a team the europa league single handedly then fires one of europes finest into a UCL semi, wasn’t good enough for Leicester though. 

[Tuna]

Really irrationally irritates me seeing our former stars/players that we lost due to our inept leadership in almost every game, a constant reminder of how much we have ****ed it up.

[lookwhaticando]

3 minutes ago, Lionator said:

Ademola Lookman man, wins a team the europa league single handedly then fires one of europes finest into a UCL semi, wasn’t good enough for Leicester though. 

He was, we just couldn’t afford him because some gimps spaffed the transfer budget  - and then some - on a bunch of barely benchwarming nobodies on silly salaries and didn’t think to countenance the possibility that bloating the squad in the hopes of Champions League football was maybe a tad risky. 
 

Had we not gambled so spectacularly in the summer of 21/22, we probably could’ve afforded to keep Lookman on for 22/23 and beyond. 

[foxile5]

7 minutes ago, Tuna said:

Really irrationally irritates me seeing our former stars/players that we lost due to our inept leadership in almost every game, a constant reminder of how much we have ****ed it up.

Loads of em have gone on to have careers with great football clubs. Loads.

[Tuna]

3 minutes ago, foxile5 said:

Loads of em have gone on to have careers with great football clubs. Loads.

Justin yesterday, even McAteer today (would be useful for us, limited but a grafter), just endless reminders of our incompetence even when not playing.

[foxile5]

58 minutes ago, Tuna said:

Justin yesterday, even McAteer today (would be useful for us, limited but a grafter), just endless reminders of our incompetence even when not playing.

Look upwards.

 

Maddison

Tielemans

Dewsbury-Hall

Castagne

Lookman

Fofana

 

All at Premier League level, most have played in the Champions League in the last eighteen months. We made perhaps £20m profit at best, there.  Edit - we might have made a bit more. 

Edited 14 April by foxile5

[davieG]

Five reasons Everton are 'back' and in the fight for a Champions League place

 

Five reasons Everton are 'back' and in the fight for a Champions League place

 

 

But Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, who arrived from Chelsea in a £25million deal last summer, has arguably been just as impactful as Ndiaye. The 27-year-old is Everton’s leading goal contributor in the Premier League, having found the net seven times and providing seven assists.

His quality on the ball and tireless energy has taken Everton up another level; they are much more dangerous when he is on the pitch and in form.

 

 

[Tuna]

 

 

[Adster]

1 hour ago, Tuna said:

 

 

Brb finding someone who cares 

[Stevosevic]

Looks like Fuchs might keep Newport up this season - currently outside the drop zone.

 

Weren’t they massively cut adrift when he took over? 

[moore_94]

4 hours ago, Stevosevic said:

Looks like Fuchs might keep Newport up this season - currently outside the drop zone.

 

Weren’t they massively cut adrift when he took over? 

Bottom of the table and 4 points from safety after 16 games