Marc Albrighton was involved in some important matches during his 10 years with Leicester City. The Birmingham-born winger was part of the squad who lifted the 2015-16 Premier League title.
Not only did Albrighton play a key role for Claudio Ranieri during the side’s title win, but he also featured heavily throughout their Champions League campaign the following season.
And reliving some of his most treasured memories from that period, Albrighton revealed which team’s fans created the loudest atmosphere he’d ever heard.
READ: Why Diego Simeone was left ‘living in fear’ when Leicester played Atletico Madrid in 2017
Marc Albrighton reveals which opposition fanbase gave him goosebumps
Albrighton’s reward for scoring Leicester City’s first-ever Champions League goal against Club Brugge in the group stage was seeing the side progress to the knockout phase.
A 3-2 aggregate win over Sevilla in the Last 16 set up an intriguing encounter against Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals. The first leg took place at the Vicente Calderon… a stadium Albrighton remembers well.
“We played Atletico Madrid, away, in their old stadium. They must have had something going on with UEFA at the time,” he said on the Under The Cosh podcast.
“You know when you go to these grounds and they’re [the fans] whistling to sort of block out the anthem? — It was the loudest thing I’ve ever experienced stood on a football pitch.
“You can’t hear yourself think. These whistles and these boo’s, they’re just so loud. I had goose pimples with just that.”
Unfortunately, after losing 1-0 away from home, the Foxes were unable to overcome the deficit at the King Power.
The 2016 Premier League winners missed out on a semi-final showdown against eventual winners Real Madrid after losing to Atletico 2-1 on aggregate.
Still nothing like the King Power Stadium
Albrighton’s experience of a jam-packed Vicente Calderon is one he’ll remember forever.
The retired winger preferred the atmosphere the near 33,000 fans inside the King Power created on special European nights though.
“The music… Especially at home, I enjoyed that more when we were at home,” he added.
“You could see how much it meant to the fans at the stadium. Everything about it was just amazing; the whole occasion.”
Unfortunately, with Leicester City likely to return to the Championship next season, it looks like it will be a very long time before they return to the European stage.
But one thing is for sure: whenever they do return to the big time, the King Power will certainly pose a threat to any travelling side.