In May 2015, Leicester City pulled off one of the greatest escapes in Premier League history but within twelve months, the Foxes made history for a second time by becoming the most unlikely Premier League champions of all time where are that squad now?
For context, instead of going through every single player individually, I have decided to select the players that had the biggest effect on their title-winning squad. I will take an in-depth look at where each player is now and what happened off the back of earning their Premier League winner’s medals.
Following their Premier League success, the Foxes reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, enjoyed both FA Cup and Community Shield success and suffered a shock relegation to the Championship where they currently sit top of the table.
Enzo Maresca’s men have won seven of their eight league matches this season and fly high at the top of the standings, with their only defeat coming against Hull City.
The Foxes also beat both Burton Albion and Tranmere Rovers in the EFL Cup, setting up a third-round clash against Premier League giants Liverpool but despite Kasey McAteer’s opener, the Reds came back to win 3-1 and knocked the Foxes out of the competition.
With all that said, let’s take a look at the key members from Leicester’s 2016 Premier League triumph and where they are now…
Goalkeeper – Kasper Schmeichel
Danish international Kasper Schmeichel followed in his fathers footsteps by helping to guide the Foxes to Premier League success. During the title-winning season, Schmeichel conceded just 36 goals in the club’s 38 matches.
Schmeichel went on to become captain for the Foxes, helping them to other silverware before leaving Leicester in the summer of 2022. The Dane was sold to French side Nice for a small undisclosed fee, but after a single campaign in France, Schmeichel was released. He has recently joined Belgium side RSC Anderlecht but has only made one appearance to date.
Right-Back – Danny Simpson
Kicking off the defence we have full-back Danny Simpson who played a crucial role for the Foxes and remained as the club’s first-team number-one option until the 2018 arrival of Portuguese defender Ricardo Pereira.
Simpson was released by the Foxes in June 2019 after his contract expired and spent three months without a side until he arrived at Huddersfield Town. He finished the 2019/20 season with the Terriers before having a year out. He arrived at Bristol City in March 2021 but was released after a year and has been a free agent ever since.
Centre-Back – Robert Huth
German defender Robert Huth built an outstanding defensive pairing with the Foxes, helping the side to achieve the unlikely dream. Despite various other arrivals such as Harry Maguire, Huth remained at the King Power Stadium until June 2018.
However, after his contract came to an end, Huth confirmed his retirement from professional football with immediate effect. Following the announcement of his retirement, Huth has kept a low profile and despite returning to Germany in 2021, not much is known about his life post-football.
Centre-Back – Wes Morgan
Leicester City’s captain Wes Morgan became a household name during his time at the King Power Stadium. Following the title-winning season, Morgan opted to remain with the club and signed consistent one-year deals under Brendan Rodgers.
However, the former Jamaican international called time on his career in June 2021, just a year short of his ten-year anniversary with the side. Following his retirement, Morgan has become a pundit on Sky Sports, regularly featuring whenever the Foxes are on television.
Left-Back – Christian Fuchs
In terms of fans favourites, it will be tough to find a player that was adored as much as Christian Fuchs was. The Austrian defender arrived at Leicester City in 2015 and spent six years with the Foxes, despite being replaced by Ben Chilwell in the season following the title triumph.
After calling time on his career in England, Fuchs moved to the USA, joining Charlotte Independence and then Charlotte FC who play in the MLS. Fuchs announced his professional retirement in January 2023 but has remained as a coach for the MLS side.
Right-Midfield – Riyad Mahrez
Onto one of the best deals in Premier League history, Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez arrived at Leicester for just £500,000 in 2014. In the title-winning season, Mahrez won the PFA Players Player of the Season award as well as contributing to 28 goals in 39 appearances.
Mahrez remained at Leicester City until the Summer of 2018 when he completed a £62 million move to Manchester City. At the Eithad Stadium, Mahrez won multiple Premier League and FA Cup medals as well as helping the club to their first ever Champions League win. However, he was sold to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli in the summer and has three goals in seven matches so far.
Central Midfield – N’Golo Kante
From one bargain to another, French midfielder N’Golo Kante was the unsung hero of Leicester City’s title triumph with his impressive individual performances under Claudio Ranieri. He made 40 appearances for the Foxes and contributed to five goals.
However, following the conclusion of the season, Kante completed a move to Premier League rivals Chelsea where he initially played a starring role and won the Champions League before falling out of favour. During the summer, Kante left Stamford Bridge and joined Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, contributing to three goals so far this season.
Central Midfield – Danny Drinkwater
Alongside N’Golo Kante was English midfielder Danny Drinkwater. The midfielder arrived in 2012 and spent five years at the King Power Stadium and made over 280 first-team appearances but he left the football club in 2017.
The midfielder signed for Chelsea for roughly £35 million but this was the beginning of a sad decline for the player as his spell at Chelsea failed to impress. He had loan spells at Aston Villa and Burnley as well as a spell in Turkey but his career continued to decline. He spent last season with Reading but currently remains a free agent.
Left-Midfield – Marc Albrighton
Winger Marc Albrighton arrived at the King Power Stadium on a free transfer from Aston Villa and remains as one of just two players from this squad that are still at the club. The 33-year-old wasn’t the most recognisable name within the squad but his presence and effect will forever remain.
Albrighton has made 300 first-team appearances for the Foxes, contributing to 66 goals in all competitions so far. He spent the second half of last season with West Bromwich Albion on loan but has returned to the King Power Stadium and has made five appearances so far this season under Enzo Maresca.
Striker – Shinji Okazaki
Japanese forward Shinji Okazaki arrived at the Foxes in 2015 for just under £10 million but despite a ‘hit-and-miss’ spell in Germany, he proved to be the perfect strike partner for our next entry, even chipping in with several goals and assists himself.
Okazaki remained with Leicester until his contract expired in 2019 and moved to Malaga before having his contract cancelled within a month due to financial issues. Instead, he joined Huesca and helped them to promotion into La Liga. He currently plays for Belgium side Sint-Truiden at the age of 37.
Striker – Jamie Vardy
Proving to be one of the bargains in English football history, Leicester City star man Jamie Vardy broke a long-standing Premier League record on his way to netting 24 league goals as the Foxes clinched the Premier League title.
He’s since helped the club to win the FA Cup, Community Shield as well as starring in the Champions League and remains with the Foxes to this day. Despite several injuries, Vardy has made nine appearances this season, scoring three goals and assisting another as the Foxes sit top of the Championship.
Honourable Mentions – Demarai Gray, Leonardo Ulloa, Andy King, Nathan Dyer, Jeff Schlupp
In this blog, I have focussed on the main eleven members of the title-winning squad but there are five players that deserve a mention following their impressive stand-in/substitute appearances which I will discuss now.
Winger Demarai Gray arrived from Birmingham City in January 2016 and after making 169 appearances, he moved on to Everton but now plays for Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq where he is managed by Steven Gerrard.
Argentinian striker Leonardo Ulloa arrived in 2014 and played a crucial substitute for the Foxes. Four years after his arrival, Ulloa was loaned out to Brighton before being sold in August to Pachuca in Mexico. He had a brief spell with Rayo Vallecano before retiring in 2021.
Welsh midfielder Andy King was another popular figure within Leicester City’s squad and remained with the Foxes for 13 years before leaving in 2020 after his contract came to an end. After remaining as a free agent for six months, King joined Belgium side OH Leuven but has since reunited with former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson with Bristol City.
English winger Nathan Dyer was another unsung hero for the Foxes and provided key competition for Riyad Mahrez and Marc Albrighton. However, after his loan spell expired, Dyer returned to Swansea City where he remained until 2020 when his career came to an end due to retirement.
Finally, versatile forward-turned-defender Jeff Schlupp arrived from Brentford in 2011 and spent six years with the Foxes. This led to a £10 million switch to Premier League rivals Crystal Palace where he remains to this day, having made over 200 appearances including eight so far this season.
Will we ever see a moment like this ever again?
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