Looking Back To Izzet's Magical Leicester Spell

[davieG]

https://www.lcfc.com/news/1654365/looking-back-to-izzets-magical-leicester-spell/featured

 

In Martin O'Neill's life before Leicester City, the Northern Irishman would often watch Chelsea's reserves, searching for talent. In 1996, O'Neill made his move for an unknown youngster from the west London club. His name was Muzzy Izzet.

 

 

[davieG]

Happy Birthday Muzzy - one of many people's favourite player. 

 

When I think back to the MON era yours is the first face that pops into my head.

 

Muzzy who? as MrsG often reminds me of my quote.

 

 

[weller54]

What a player!!!

I'd have him in the team now over Tielemans anyday!

[Duquesne Whistle]

26 minutes ago, davieG said:

Happy Birthday Muzzy - one of many people's favourite player. 

 

When I think back to the MON era yours is the first face that pops into my head.

 

Muzzy who? as MrsG often reminds me of my quote.

 

 

We've all fallen foul of that with one player or another over the years 

To be fair to you, Muzzy was (and still is) quite an unusual name, especially when coupled with Izzet.

Cult hero and a great player.

 

 

 

25 minutes ago, weller54 said:

What a player!!!

I'd have him in the team now over Tielemans anyday!

Ooh, that's a difficult choice. Can't we just have them both instead of picking between the two?

[Nalis]

Izzet is still my favourite Leicester player of all time.

 

Since any of our current crop of recent legends havent change my thoughts I dont think anything will.

[Freeman's Wharfer]

36 minutes ago, weller54 said:

What a player!!!

I'd have him in the team now over Tielemans anyday!

We often used to say Muzzy could play for a top six side and be an international.

Tielemans IS playing for a top six side and one of the first names on the team sheet for a Belgian international side ranked as one of the best in the world.

 

Both fantastic for us but if you want to make it into an either/or thing then unfortunately Muzzy loses out.

[fox_up_north]

Muzz will 9/10 win most people's fave player, though Vards will 100% challenge that in a couple of years.

 

Always seemed down to earth

[Corky]

Vardy is our greatest player, Izzet will always be my favourite.

[BKLFox]

Saw the title and assumed someone had done the stats for how many games we had won, drawn and lost from MoN era to Rodgers to try and further highlight we are on a downward curve 🤷‍♂️ 

[Guest WarehamFox]

I think Izzet will always be one of my favourite players. Remember before every game he was always with the young mascot's playing football and keeping them entertained. Top player.

[Hamilton Fox]

A true city legend, great career with us and not what I was expecting when M Izzet from Chelsea appeared on teletext when waiting for incoming deadline day transfers.

 

Was definitely a case of who the hell is that?!

[Super_horns]

Think it was him who scored on the last day of the season when we went down and you guys got in the play offs in 1996?

 

It was the first full house at the Vic for years.

Edited 31 October 2021 by Super_horns

[PAPA LAZAROU]

My abiding memory of Muzzy was at Wembley against Crystal Palace . We were one nil down and the clock ticking. He burst into the penalty area and was bought down by Mark Edworthy. His look and jubilation was wonderful, he like the rest of us thought if this penalty goes in we will go on to win it and win it we did.

 

 

For all his great goals and appearances for us in the Prem. That one moment at Wembley changed the whole course of the club  and gave us a few years of of absolute joy under O'Neil that can never be forgotten. I wonder if Muzzy knows what he meant to us all?

Edited 31 October 2021 by PAPA LAZAROU

[Nalis]

5 minutes ago, PAPA LAZAROU said:

My abiding memory of Muzzy was at Wembley against Crystal Palace . We were one nil down and the clock ticking. He burst into the penalty area and was bought down by Mark Edworthy. His look and jubilation was wonderful, he like the rest of us thought if this penalty goes in we will go on to win it and win it we did.

 

 

For all his great goals and appearances for us in the Prem. That one moment at Wembley change the whole course of the club  and gave us a few years of of absolute joy under O'Neal that can never be forgotten. I wonder if Muzzy knows what he meant to us all?

As Top took an interested in us when we won the Coca Cola Cup vs Boro thereafter and then he convinced his dad to buy us (at least thats how the story goes), it has even greater amazing consequences again on top of the MON years.

Edited 31 October 2021 by Nalis

[Kinowe Soorie]

Fantastic player! O’Neill sure had a knack of pulling footballers, out of obscurity.

[Plastik Man]

Does anyone remember him coming out onto the pitch at Filbert Street at halftime in the rain and dancing with an umbrella? This was a game he was actually playing in! 

 

For the life of me I can't recall what game it was, or even what season, just a great memory from the MON era. 

[Guest Electric Yetis]

22 minutes ago, Super_horns said:

Think it was him who scored on the last day of the season when we went down and you guys got in the play offs in 1996?

 

It was the first full house at the Vic for years.

His first ever goal for us.

[StriderHiryu]

What a player Muzzy was! I was a teenager during the MON years and being able to watch Muzzy Izzet play as I grew up will always have a nostalgic place in my heart.

 

Not only was he a great player, he had brilliant personality too. He really clicked with the supporters and one of many reasons why he was such a legend.

[Hollyfox]

Brilliant player and will always be a favourite amongst the fans, fortunate enough to have watched him, back in the day. 

Met him once, top bloke and a right laugh. 

 

Named my dog after him as the kids wouldn't let us call it Vardy😄

[volpeazzurro]

2 hours ago, Duquesne Whistle said:

We've all fallen foul of that with one player or another over the years 

To be fair to you, Muzzy was (and still is) quite an unusual name, especially when coupled with Izzet.

Cult hero and a great player.

 

 

 

Ooh, that's a difficult choice. Can't we just have them both instead of picking between the two?

Deal!

[trabuch]

Gave some absolutely wonderful memories. Seems to be a sound bloke and that showed on the pitch. 

[MrsJohnMurphy]

3 hours ago, weller54 said:

What a player!!!

I'd have him in the team now over Tielemans anyday!

I wouldn't, what a bizarre statement

[Collibosher70]

2 hours ago, Super_horns said:

Think it was him who scored on the last day of the season when we went down and you guys got in the play offs in 1996?

 

It was the first full house at the Vic for years.

Header if I remember right...I was right behind the goal

[volpeazzurro]

Many moons ago my then young nephew got the chance of being a ball boy at a midweek Family Fun Night match.

 

As luck would have it, Muzzy Izzet, his favourite player, who was injured at the time with leg in plaster, hobbled on at half time for the Birch to ask him questions from the kids. My nephew was standing by the tunnel entrance in awe!

 

As Muzzy came back to the tunnel I shouted to him and he came over and I asked him if he minded if I took his photo with my nephew the ball boy to which he said of course I could and to just hop over. The steward refused as it was against the rules. Muzzy was a little bit miffed at this and called him a jobsworth 🤣

 

He then asked to borrow my camera, spoke to one of the other club officials who he knew and called my nephew over. Following quite a little chat to him he instructed the official to take a photo of them both before handing my camera back. He made a little boy's night.

 

Now I suppose nearly 30yrs, my nephew is quite a successful young chap in his own business in London. However, he still has the Muzzy Mousemat I later made him in his office. A family club indeed then. 

[HankMarvin]

2 hours ago, Hamilton Fox said:

A true city legend, great career with us and not what I was expecting when M Izzet from Chelsea appeared on teletext when waiting for incoming deadline day transfers.

 

Was definitely a case of who the hell is that?!

The best days, the intrigue of being linked to new players that were a mystery on club call 

Corica 

Taylor 

Lennon

 

I wonder if Izzet would have joined on a permanent if we didn’t get promoted?

 

 

a bit of nostalgia, unfortunately hard to find any containing Leicester