Looking Back To Izzet's Magical Leicester Spell

[davieG]

Muzzy who?

 

On this day, (8 July) 26 years ago, an initial loan deal was made permanent. It's a story which began with O'Neill inheriting a tense situation at Filbert Street, four days before Christmas in 1995, after Mark McGhee's departure to join First Division rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers. 

Leicester's future hinged on several key events. Firstly, the Club's decision to hire O'Neill - and not former Everton manager Mike Walker - but also the new man's decisions in the transfer market.

Izzet's arrival on loan led to his debut for the Club on 30 March and would become a defining moment, alongside the acquisitions of Steve Claridge, Neil Lennon and Julian Watts over the winter months. 

 

 

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

[Corky]

Hero.

[davieG]

One of the best to don an LCFC shirt.

[LcFc_Smiv]

As a young kid he made me fall in love with football. I remember watching him thinking he  was magical with the ball at his feet, what a player.

[RoboFox]

Every time I watch old matches on YouTube he somehow looks even better than I remember. 

 

Probably too good for us at the time. Glad he stuck around. Legend.

 

[Nalis]

Like most 90s kids he was my favourite Leicester player for years

[SemperEadem]

So fun to watch.

[burleighfox]

My all time favourite player, in spite of who have come and gone since. Probably deserved a lot more in his career from the ability he had but blimey were we lucky to have him for those eight years. 

[foxfanazer]

Only echoing what others have said but a childhood favourite of mine. Was capable of doing things that no other Leicester player could do at the time. Loved that his shirts were always too big for him as well

[HankMarvin]

Remember checking Clubcall on teletext most days and seeing us linked to Chelsea Youngster. Similar time as Taylor and Corica  

[copunk]

Was and still is my favourite all time Leicester player, we knew how good he was but it's interesting hearing ex team mates describe in interviews just how many bigger teams he would walk into, the man had everything you want from a midfielder 

[Sir Shep]

My favourite player, fantastic ability and always seemed so humble. 

[coolhandfox]

Just a shame he couldn't finish with us. Without his ill-fate season at Birmingham, he would have been a one-club man as he never made an appearance for Chelsea. 

[MrSpaM]

Used to give us free tickets to games when we were playing football at the community center in Markfield where he lived, used to walk there with his dog and just watch us play sometimes, what a guy

[Tielemans63]

My favourite ever Leicester player too

 

The season after we got relegated and were promoted as runners up to Portsmouth....it was frankly indecent that he was playing at that level. He was a top end premier league footballer playing in the championship. He was head and shoulders above everyone else in the league that season (alongside Paul Merson for Pompey) and the biggest influence in that promotion.

 

That season we were on the brink of oblivion and that promotion effectively saved the club IIRC. If Muzzy had left (and he was more than entitled to) and we'd been marooned in the Championship then God knows what might have happened to us. He is not only the best but also possibly the most significant player we've ever had. 

 

He's the epitome of a legend in my eyes; massively talented, loyal, selfless and a top bloke too - Muzzy was everything you could wish for in a Leicester player.

[Fox92]

I'm gonna roll it out as I always do but he scored the best City goal I've ever seen live at Grimsby.

[Corky]

Great set piece taker, quality passer, lovely balance, great header of the ball and excellent finisher.

 

My favourite player and will always be.

[wokinghamfox]

I will never forget the corker against Tottenham at home. We were flying high then and MON had just announced that he was staying. Muzzy hit his peak that night. 

 

Great time to support City.

[Fox92]

51 minutes ago, Corky said:

Great set piece taker, quality passer, lovely balance, great header of the ball and excellent finisher.

 

My favourite player and will always be.

I think he will be a lot of favourites for people our age, even topping Vardy.

[Kinowe Soorie]

Class player.

[baldeagle]

Loved him, probably the only real flair player we had at the time . Completely blanked that Julian Watts playing for us even had to google his name to check  as thought it was a mistake don’t remember it at all . 

Edited 9 July 2022 by baldeagle

[enmac]

Up there with Weller, Wortho and Vardy. Great player and just such a happy character. Never met him but I'm sure he's a top bloke. 

[FoxyJim1987]

My favourite player growing up, fell in love when he scored at Watford in 96 to clinch a play off place. So many memories, the karate kick of the corner flag after scoring v Forest at home, the stutter and finish to clinch a 3-1 win at villa park, diving header v Brighton at home to clinch promotion, the 'Leeds lob' in the cup the Spurs volley, and of course I will never ever forget being behind the goal at Grimsby when he scored probably our all time best ever goal by any city player, the best goal I've ever seen live.

 

Could have left several times and decided to stay, almost single handedly got us promoted in 02/03 by being just a whole class above the rest of the league. Still lives and works locally. An absolute legend of the club, and if it wasn't for Vardy would still be my all time favourite player.

Edited 8 July 2022 by FoxyJim1987

[FoxyJim1987]

1 hour ago, baldeagle said:

Loved him, probably the only real flair player we had at the time . Completely blanked that Julian Watts playing for us even had to google his name to check  as thought it was a mistake don’t rem it at all . 

Played a fair bit until we signed Matt Elliott and then became very much a fringe player. Without looking it up I'm sure he scored against Chelsea at home in the 96-97 season.

[FoxyJim1987]

12 hours ago, HankMarvin said:

Remember checking Clubcall on teletext most days and seeing us linked to Chelsea Youngster. Similar time as Taylor and Corica  

Wow. Club all on Teletext. I remember those days. When the premier season preview was on Teletext and we were on it it felt big time. What a hark back that was thanks for the reminder.