143 League apps (+11 as sub), 40 goals.
| Emile Heskey's Leicester City debut came when still a 17 year old
first-year trainee but the powerfully-built striker did enough to
suggest that here was a player with a big future. By the end of the
1995/96 season the youngster had become a first-team regular and City
had returned to the top-flight thanks to a play-off victory over Crystal
Palace. Heskey's first goal for the Foxes came in a 1-0 win at Norwich
City and he added a further six goals during the remainder of the
campaign. The young striker - affectionately known as 'Bruno' for his
likeness to the popular heavyweight boxer - played a big part in City's
splendid return to the Premiership. His talent continued to blossom
under the tutelage of Leicester's inspirational manager Martin O'Neill
and the muscular hitman was proving to be a handful for the best of
defences. His ten goals in thirty-five League games was a reasonable
return for a first season of top flight football but it was in the
Coca-Cola Cup Final that Heskey scored his most important goal. With
City 1-0 down, and just two minutes of the extra thirty remaining, the
striker bundled the ball home from close range to earn Leicester a
replay which they went on to win 1-0, courtesy of a Steve Claridge goal.
City finished the season in a highly respectable ninth place and that
Coca-Cola Cup victory meant a return to European competition for the
first time since 1961/62. Heskey's fine form had made him a regular with
the England U21 squad and many experts were predicting that he was a
certainty to join the full England side in the not-too-distant future. |
| As Emile Heskey's performances continued to improve it was obvious that
the bigger clubs would come calling and, sure enough, Leeds United and
Tottenham reportedly started showing an interest. To Heskey's credit he
was happpy to stay at his local club - he was Leicester born and bred
and had attended the same school as Gary Lineker - and learn his trade.
The big man scored ten League goals once again in the 1997/98 season but
the following campaign produced a disappointing return of six as City
finished in tenth spot on each occasion. The critics claimed that Emile
simply did not score enough goals to be classed as a top quality striker
and that he went to ground far too easily for someone of such a
powerful build. It's fair to say that Heskey's scoring rate could have
been better but his contribution in other areas should not be
overlooked. His muscular presence and lightning pace scared the life out
of many a defender and allowed others to reap the benefits - Tony
Cottee to name but one. Cottee had been brought back to English football
by Martin O'Neill and after initially struggling to command a regular
place he forged a fine big man-little man partnership with Heskey.
Cottee's career at the top level had appeared to be over but Emile's
unselfish play allowed him to prosper and enjoy some of his best years
in the game well into his thirties. The 1999/2000 season was to be
Heskey's last at City as he decided the time had now come to make the
move to a bigger club. His destination was Liverpool - the team he had
supported as a boy - with the Anfield outfit paying what, at the time,
was the third highest fee for a Premiership player of £11.5 million.
(David Scranage) |