Unsung hero for Leicester: Robert Huth

Jamie Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante may have stolen the headlines in Leicester City’s remarkable Premier League title triumph in 2015-16 – but there were many other heroes that year, especially in defence.

Captain Wes Morgan was at the heart of things all season; Danny Simpson was re-born at right-back while Christian Fuchs was a man possessed down the left.

But nobody quite characterised this squad of journeymen like Robert Huth – Leicester’s ultimate unsung hero.

When the Foxes splashed £3m on the centre-back from Stoke City in 2015, it was the Potters who felt they had done a better deal, with the German struggling to recover from a serious knee injury.

His pace, which was hardly a prominent feature of his game, had all-but disappeared, and he had been usurped by younger, ball-playing centre-halves.

On the face of it, it seemed a logical move for Huth too. Leicester, at the time, were a step down from Stoke – fighting against relegation.

Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images

But Huth quickly started to return to his old, physically-imposing, composed self.

A throw-back to the days of warrior centre-backs who can’t pass to save their life, Leicester fans immediately connected with Huth. And boy did he repay them.

A rock at the heart of the Leicester backline which carried them over the line that season, Huth deserves as much credit as Vardy, Mahrez and co.

“They were like two bouncers,” former Arsenal defender Martin Keown said of Huth and Morgan.

“It was a no-nonsense approach, no one comes past us. This is our backyard and we are going to defend this with our lives.

“Huth was unfortunate at Stoke, the way he lost his place in the team and then came on loan to Leicester and his record since he has been at Leicester is phenomenal.”

Leicester may have returned to mid-table obscurity and Huth may be fighting to start this season.

What’s not in doubt, however, is his place in Leicester’s hearts. He will always be one of their greatest ever players.