Five La Liga Foxes
Vicente Iborra’s recent arrival from Sevilla makes him only the third Spaniard to play for the Foxes, but there are a number that before that have graced La Liga.
From one of the most decorated footballers of all time to a former Portugal international, here’s five players that had initially played in Spain…
Esteban Cambiasso
While Esteban Cambiasso spent just one season at Leicester City, he will most certainly be remembered for his gracious performances in a blue shirt. A treble winner at Internazionale, included in Cambiasso’s trophy haul was the La Liga title, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup and Spanish Supercopa, all earned during his time at Spanish giants Real Madrid. Cambiasso made 33 appearances in all competitions in 2014/15 for City, scoring five times including an equaliser in the famous 5-3 comeback win against Manchester United.
Laurie Cunningham
Tricky winger Laurie Cunningham played 15 games for Leicester in the old First Division back in the 1985/86, having also previously played for Real Madrid from 1979 to 1983. At Madrid, he won the league and cup double in 1979/80 and also played in the European Cup Final against Liverpool the following campaign. Cunningham also went on to play for Sporting Gijon in 1983/84. He was sadly killed in a car accident in Spain in 1989, aged just 33.
Leonardo Ulloa
The Argentine striker’s La Liga career began at Almeria in 2010, when he scored seven goals in his debut campaign in Spain’s first division. Almeria were relegated that season and it was the following term that Ulloa proved his worth, netting 28 league goals. Brighton signed the frontman in 2013, before City secured his services a year later. Ulloa finished as the Foxes’ top goalscorer during their return to the Premier League, netting 13 times in all competitions. A vital late winner against Norwich and an equaliser against West Ham came in 2015/16, as he helped City to Premier League glory. The no.23 went on to play 23 times for Leicester the following season, scoring at Stoke City in the process.
Ricardo
Capped 79 times by Portugal at senior level, Ricardo arrived at King Power Stadium in January 2011, when the Foxes were under the stewardship of Sven-Göran Eriksson. He made his debut in the 2-0 win against Derby County a month later and played a total of eight games before joining Vitoria Setubal the following season.
Luis Hernandez
Full back Luis Hernandez joined City in the summer of 2016 after five years at Sporting Gijon. He made his first start for the Foxes against Hull City, before his trademark long throw set up Marc Albrighton to score the Club’s first ever UEFA Champions League goal during a 3-0 win at Club Brugge. Hernandez made eight appearances for City before moving to Malaga for an undisclosed fee in January 2017.