Leicester City’s Premier League title win in 2016 will be a story told for decades to come.
Leicester were battling relegation in the previous campaign and when Claudio Ranieri replaced Nigel Pearson in 2015, many had them as near certs to go down.
But Ranieiri’s side defeated all the odds to finish at the summit of the table, above some of the biggest spending teams in the world.
Leicester lost just three games all season and finished 10 points clear of second-placed Arsenal and 11 clear of Tottenham Hotspur in third.
Jamie Vardy was the top scorer and earned most of the plaudits whilst Riyad Mahrez scooped the PFA Player of the Year award.
Though, Kasper Schmeichel doesn’t think either were the most important player that season.
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Kasper Schmeichel says N’Golo Kante was the most important player
Speaking on The Overlap, former Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel revealed that N’Golo Kante was the most important player in the Premier League title win.
Asked by Gary Neville who the most crucial player was that season, Schmeichel said: “It would’ve been N’Golo I think.
“I remember we’re 3-0 up (against Swansea City) and he wins the ball back like down near our left-hand side, left-hand corner, and within 30 seconds he’s up in the right-hand corner and you’re thinking, that’s just ridiculous, his engine was ridiculous. It was like having an extra player.”
Kante went on to become one of the best midfielders on the planet
Kante left for Chelsea in the summer of 2016 and went on to win back-to-back Premier League titles with the West Londoners.
The French midfielder won the Champions League, Europa League and multiple domestic trophies with Chelsea and firmly established himself as one of the best players in the world.
Kante added the World Cup to his growing trophy cabinet in 2018 and came close to winning the Ballon d’Or in 2021.
He’s perhaps the most decorated former Leicester player ever, along with Riyad Mahrez.