davieG Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 Merc When Muzzy Izzet left Leicester City after eight good years with the club, he joined Birmingham City to prolong his Premier League career. Little did he realise it would prove to be the beginning of the end of his illustrious playing days. Muzzy Izzet [/url] • • • The City favourite was coming towards the end of his contract when Leicester dropped out of the top flight at the end of the 2003-04 season, but he was informed the club could not afford to offer him a new deal and allowed him to talk to other clubs. Not wanting to leave Leicestershire, Izzet opted for Birmingham because of the ambition the club was showing under then manager Steve Bruce and the plethora of talent in the Blues squad at that time, as well as its locality. But what should have been the start of an exciting new chapter for the Turkey international quickly turned into a nightmare because of a serious knee injury which eventually forced him to hang up his boots. Izzet admits he was unable to treat the Birmingham fans with the exhilarating displays he produced so regularly in a Leicester shirt. "I didn't really want to move away from Leicester because I was, and still am, very settled here," he said ahead of Sunday's clash between his two former clubs. "I spoke to Aston Villa, Birmingham, Blackburn and a few others, but Blues and Villa were the nearest ones and it was a case of which one I wanted to join. "At the time there was a sense they were going places. They were buying more players under Steve Bruce at that time. "They were negotiating with Emile Heskey, had signed the Chelsea duo Mario Melchiot and Jesper Gronkjaer, they had Mikael Forssell, Matt Upson and David Dunn there, plus Robbie Savage. They had a good nucleus of a side. "Villa made it clear they had no money to spend. Everything they were looking to do were free transfers. That made my mind up for me." At first, everything seemed to go well for Izzet and Blues, and they made a solid start to the following campaign, but on October 3, 2004, it all started to turn sour as his injury nightmare began. "My Birmingham career started quite well and I took my form from Leicester there for a few games, and scored (against Bolton Wanderers)," he recalls. "I felt great, but then I injured my knee live on Sky against Newcastle and, from then, it was always an uphill struggle to try to get back. "When I did get back, I played one game here and one game there. I was banging my head against a brick wall really. I couldn't get myself going. "The Blues fans never saw what I was capable of. Leicester saw the best of me. "I had eight great years at Leicester, but the Blues fans saw a fraction of what I could do before the injury." After breaking down again against Everton in November that year, Izzet was ruled out for the rest of his first season at St Andrews and his second campaign was blighted by more injury woes as he battled to recapture his fitness and form. Eventually, aged 31 and after just 28 games for Birmingham, he decided enough was enough. "I was speaking to surgeons and I knew how my body was feeling," he says. "I could only get myself 70 per cent fit and you just can't play in the Premier League like that. "Other parts of my body were breaking down. I was pulling calf muscles, hamstrings, my Achilles, I had too many injections in my knee, and I thought it wasn't worth it. "I wasn't doing myself any justice on the pitch and I thought, 'I can't go on like this'." Now Izzet works in partnership with his former Leicester team-mate, and close friend, Steve Walsh on a soccer academy, and has recently launched a charity football foundation, designed to use football to help children across Leicester. "We are trying to sort some projects and raise some money for inner city kids," he said. "We are trying to put something back into the community and get kids engaged again in sport, and stop them getting into trouble. "Myself and Steve are working-class lads and we have had friends who went the other way and found themselves in trouble. "We want to pass on our experience to other kids."
Ric Flair Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 Every time I read or hear the name Muzzy Izzet, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. HERO
StanSP Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 Every time I read or hear the name Muzzy Izzet, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. HERO Me too. Absolute legend. He will always be one of my favourite players ever to don a Leicester City shirt.
Bert Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 My all time hero and favourite ever Leicester player. I'm not ashamed to admit I've a mini-shrine to him in my bedroom.
Master Fox Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 He doesn't look right wearing a Birmingham City shirt. He was brillaint for us. Hero. Long live Mustafa!
RumbleFox Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 Wowee. I think for people of around my age (yes, I know I am an Adonis but I am actually 30 don't you know!) there a certain few players who just make you want to do a little yelp of excitement and give you what I can only describe as akin to "that Christmassy feeling". I am talking about Walsh, Elliott, Taggart, Savage, Claridge, Heskey, early JJ, Marshall, etc and of course, Muzzy. The closest thing we have ever gotten to a pin up boy I reckon and scorer of some of the best goals I have ever seen from a Leicester player. I love you Muzzy and I always will. X
Corky Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 So crucial to us, even in his last season he was top assister in the league I think. What a player, who scored some sensational goals.
Freeman's Wharfer Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 My favourite LCFC player of all time. Top player and really nice bloke too. I remember watching that Bolton game he mentions when he scored and I was delighted for him, shame that injury robbed him of his final years but he achieved plenty with us. Anyone else think that Izzet never really got the wider recognition that he should have done? I remember a period when we had Guppy, Heskey and Izzet all pushing for an England call. Out of the three of them I remember Izzet really being on fire and thinking it was only a matter of time before he got a cap, but each squad came and went without him and eventually he opted to start playing for Turkey. Whenever I've talked to other football fans about Leicester and the MON era I always get the sense that they think I'm exaggerating just how good Izzet was. Personally I think he could easily have played for one of the top four. When I look at someone like Arteta playing for Arsenal or Charlie Adam playing for Liverpool there's no doubt in my mind that Izzet was that class, if not better.
Criggers Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 Heskey and Izzet v Spurs. Probably the only time we've ever had two goals in Goal of the Month? Edit Trying to find the game in thinking of and can't. Maybe my memory is completely wrong ! Wahey, found it! I thought it was at WHL for some reason...
Fox92 Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 My favourite Leicester City player as well. Managed to get a photo with him before the Southampton game this season when we saw him walking around the ground, top man, top player. Scored some wonderful goals and, without doubt, he is one of the best players to ever play for the club. My favourite Leicester goal was scored by Izzet. Its not on youtube or anything, I have it on DVD. The 2003/04 Premier League season, Leeds away. We were 2-0 down, Dickov got it back to 2-1, then Muzzy scored from 25/30 yards - I'm sure everyone knows which goal I mean. Other than that goal, I was behind the goal away at Grimsby when he popped up with the overhead kick - way better than Rooney's overhead kick!! Hero
Tielemans63 Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 My fav Leicester player of all time too. Not least for the loyalty he showed to the club when we were relegated. Without him we would never have gained an instant return to the Premiership and financially that could have been disastrous back then. A proper legend. Does he have a suite or a bar named after him? He should have if not!
RowlattsFox Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 Hero. Think I've got atleast 6 shirts with him on the back. PLus one with Savage
potter3 Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 Definitely the best video on Youtube. That Leeds goal if on there too I think.
Heart-Shaped Fox Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 My favourite Leicester City player as well. Managed to get a photo with him before the Southampton game this season when we saw him walking around the ground, top man, top player. Scored some wonderful goals and, without doubt, he is one of the best players to ever play for the club. My favourite Leicester goal was scored by Izzet. Its not on youtube or anything, I have it on DVD. The 2003/04 Premier League season, Leeds away. We were 2-0 down, Dickov got it back to 2-1, then Muzzy scored from 25/30 yards - I'm sure everyone knows which goal I mean. Other than that goal, I was behind the goal away at Grimsby when he popped up with the overhead kick - way better than Rooney's overhead kick!! Hero Oh yes it is......... 1:39
Heart-Shaped Fox Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 Thank you! Fantastic goal, love it. I remember watching that game on Prem Plus, and the clebrations round my cousins house when that went in were epic. Typically lost 3-2 though, I remember they had a dodgy offside. But that was a great goal, best in that season for him anyway.
Fox92 Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 I remember watching that game on Prem Plus, and the clebrations round my cousins house when that went in were epic. Typically lost 3-2 though, I remember they had a dodgy offside. But that was a great goal, best in that season for him anyway. Yeah. I think Duberry scored a header. They had a dodgy offside a few years later at Elland Road as well, we lost 1-2, when Kilgallon tapped it in with his backside!
blueharmie Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 one of the most technically skilled players we have ever had, if not the most! legend
adam95581 Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 When my uni played Leicester De Montfort in Leicester Muzzy was taking a training session at his soccer academy. All the boys stopped and spoke to him for ages. He made one of the lads chin a bottle of cider and then brought out a few cases of beer for the journey home. Only downside was that i weren't there...only game i missed all season because ironically i was watching Palace V Leicester at Selhurst Park. Did speak to him on the phone though and could not believe it - no surprise all the lads went away singing his praises! HERO ^^^^ that should be a pic of him and the lads from uni ^^^^^^
Bob Weasel Fox Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 one of the most technically skilled players we have ever had, if not the most! legend This
Izzet is God Posted 14 October 2011 Posted 14 October 2011 Absolute legend....still can't believe Chelsea let us have him for next to nothing! Really was a magnificent midfielder who had it all...shame injury plagued him. England should of called him up before Turkey as I think he really was much better then the likes of David Batty who got a spot at Euro 96'. Still remember that overhead against Grimsby....makes Rooney's against Man City last season look shite.
Phube Posted 15 October 2011 Posted 15 October 2011 Ahhh... Izzet, Lennon, Guppy. Best midfield 3 we've had in a long, long time!
Salieri Posted 15 October 2011 Posted 15 October 2011 I think my one and only man crush is Sir Muzzy. As many have said, my favourite ever Leicester player without a doubt, hugely talented footballer and a really nice guy.
Corky Posted 15 October 2011 Posted 15 October 2011 And he appreciates what the club has done for him.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.