He departs a Premier League champion, Emirates FA Cup winner, scorer of City’s first-ever UEFA Championship League goal, and now a Sky Bet Championship title-winner too. After making the last of his 313 appearances for the Club on 4 May, as City lifted the trophy, the 34-year-old departs King Power Stadium placed 29th on Leicester’s all-time appearances chart.
Albrighton leaves as a true Foxes legend, having joined in the summer of 2014 ahead of City’s first Premier League campaign in a decade. Originally under Nigel Pearson and then Claudio Ranieri, the former Aston Villa winger would help inspire Leicester to the ‘great escape’ from relegation before proving vital to an unthinkable title victory.
‘Sharky’, as he is affectionately known in the changing room, played every single game for Leicester during the 2015/16 season – as Ranieri’s men defied astonishing odds to win the Premier League – eventually finishing 10 points clear at the table’s summit.
Not only an expert crosser of the ball, Albrighton’s work-rate quickly made an impression on the Blue Army. Throughout his decade in the East Midlands, the Tamworth-born winger has remained one of the most popular and respected figures in the squad. As times changed and the Club’s ambitions grew, manager after manager saw Albrighton’s worth and made him a key figure of their plans for Leicester City.
Following that incredible Premier League title success, the No.11 also found the net on the Club’s Champions League debut – scoring their first-ever goal in the competition during a delirious 3-0 triumph over Club Brugge in Belgium. His strike in the last-16, on the other hand, allowed Craig Shakespeare’s men to overcome Sevilla and reach the quarter-finals of European football’s platinum club knockout competition in 2017.
Still an invaluable member of the squad under Brendan Rodgers four years later, Albrighton was called into action early on to replace the injured Jonny Evans during the 2021 Emirates FA Cup Final. Playing for an hour at Wembley, his experience and leadership – plus Youri Tielemans’ screamer – helped seal City’s first-ever FA Cup victory. He was back out on the hallowed turf three months later as Leicester lifted the FA Community Shield for the second time in their history.
Although in the latter stages of his career this past season, Enzo Maresca nevertheless became the latest Manager to value Albrighton’s worth to the Club. A member of City’s ‘senior leadership group’, the winger has been a pillar of strength and authority at Seagrave, pushing his team-mates on towards promotion back to the Premier League.
It was a fitting end to a remarkable Leicester City career as Marc signed off with one final piece of silverware on Filbert Way – winning the Championship and getting the Foxes back in the Premier League. Whatever he chooses to do in the next step of his journey, everybody at LCFC wishes him the very best of luck. Thank you, Marc. For everything.