Club Historian John Hutchinson continues his analysis of the 140-year history of Leicester Fosse and Leicester City through the careers of 100 of the best players to represent the team. One of the best midfielders of his time, N’Golo Kanté, comes back for the second game of the series.
Kanté’s only season at Leicester City was in 2015/16, when the Foxes memorably became Premier League champions, but he will go down in history as one of the Club’s best-ever players.
His box-to-box play was characterised by relentless energy, effective tackling, initiating counter-attacks and tactical awareness. His ability to disrupt opponents’ possession play was phenomenal. His energy and work-rate was such that Steve Walsh, City’s Head of Recruitment, said that Leicester’s midfield consisted of Danny Drinkwater in the centre with Kanté on either side.
His career began at Boulogne when he made an appearance for the second-tier club in 2011/12 when they were relegated. He was a virtual ever-present the following season in the third tier. He then spent two seasons at Caen, winning promotion to Ligue 1 in 2013/14 and helping establish the club in the top flight in 2014/15.
N’Golo was bought by Leicester’s new manager Claudio Ranieri in August 2015 for a reported sum of £5.6 million, after Walsh’s recommendation.
That season, his continuously outstanding performances played a major role in City’s victory as Premier League winners. In the Premier League, he made 175 tackles (31 more than any other player) and 157 interceptions (15 more than any other player). The great former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson called him the best player in the Premier League.
N’Golo made his debut for France in March 2016 and went on to win seven more caps before moving to Chelsea in July 2016 for a rumored sum of £32 million, just as Leicester was drawing closer to the championship.
He received numerous honors for his accomplishments throughout his brief season at Leicester. He was included in the Premier League Team of the Year and the PFA Team of the Year. He was one of three City players nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award, and he was also Leicester’s Player of the Year.
He went on to win the FIFA Club World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League, the FA Cup, the Premier League, and the UEFA Super Cup while at Chelsea. He was a member of the French national team that won the UEFA Nations League and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He also received several other honors, such as the Légion d’honneur, France’s highest decoration.
He signed with Al-Ittihad in July 2023 and is presently a player in the Saudi Pro League.
