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O'Neill's Blue Army
Leicester City's rise
and fall
THE CUNNING FOX,
15.03.2010
Leicester
City had a certain Mark McGhee in charge, when suddenly Wolves
turned up and wanted his services. McGhee must have regretted his
decission to leave Leicester and give Martin O'Neill a chance to get
a name in management history.
Martin took charge of City in the middle of the 1995-96 season
and Leicester was in a fine position to clinch promotion. The start
under O'Neill was no good and a number of fans turned against him.
Martin has later said that he never forgot his first months at the
club and the difficult times before things changed. This might also
be a reason for him not falling completely and emotionally in love
with our club.
A number of key signings in Steve Claridge, Muzzy Izzet and Neil
Lennon made it possible for City to save a place in the play-off's.
We all remember how we beat Crystal Palace with that magnificant
goal from Claridge.
Leicester was again promoted to the best party. Martin O'Neill went
out in the transfer market and signed Spencer Prior, Ian Marshall
and Kasey Keller.
All three of them made a great contribution and blended in well.
City reached the League Cup final and defeated Middlesbrough in a
replay at Hillsborough. City had won their first major trophy since
1964, when they won their first and only trophy to date.
Leicester surprised everyone and finished in a great mid table
position in the Premier League, something that was a total surprise
to everyone. Matt Elliott and Steve Guppy both arrived during that
season and became two new fantastic signings.
Matt Elliott was a former Charlton youth player who had been
released and spent most of his career in the lower leagues with
clubs such as Oxford, Scunthorpe and Torquay. Elliott, 28 at the
time, showed the hunger needed.
Steve Guppy had to take a step down after a failed move to
Newcastle. Guppy had previously played under Martin at Wycombe and
his skill was known.
O'Neill made a number of fantastic signings during the next seasons.
He was the one giving Robbie Savage a proper chance to shine at the
highest level. The former Man Utd youth player was at Crewe when
O'Neill signed him, and the £ 400 000 used on Savage must be
described as well spend money.
City established them as a well organised Premier League side and
when Martin left in 2000 for Celtic, he had won the League Cup twice,
reached the final three times and qualified twice for the UEFA Cup.
He showed skill in the transfer market, like his "master" Brian
Clough, and showed that he both could bring on young talent and get
the best out of old dogs such as Ian Marshall, Tony Cottee and Tim
Flowers.
The team looked complete when O'Neill took a risk and signed up Stan
Collymore. Collymore and Heskey was a killer forward couple, but it
wouldn't last. Heskey had made his England debut when Liverpool came
in and signed him for a fee of £ 11 million.
There were fantastic times under Martin O'Neill and Leicester had
again established themselves at the top level. Great to be a City
fan during that period, wish it could come back.
Here is our favourite players from the O'Neill period
1. Kasey Keller, Tim Flowers
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2. Pontus Kamark, Frank Sinclair
3. Matt Elliott, Steve Walsh
4. Gerry Taggart, Simon Grayson
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5. Robbie Savage
6. Muzzy Izzet
7. Neil Lennon
8. Garry Parker, Stefan Oakes
11. Steve Guppy
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9. Emile Heskey, Ian Marshall
10. Steve Claridge, Tony Cottee
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