Leicester s Named Iheanacho the Player of the Season
What would have been Kelechi Iheanacho’s glorious moment has been dampened by the relegation of Leicester City to the second-tier Championship division of English football.
The Nigerian international was yesterday named Leicester City’s Player of the Season in an understated awarding of the prize.
Despite picking up injuries that limited his playing hours in the 2022/23 Premier League season, Iheanacho scored eight goals including vital ones against Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The Super Eagles forward only started 13 games in all competitions this term, but still contributed a combined 13 goals and assists in all competitions.
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He was the club’s Supporters choice to start as he developed into a fans’ favourite since his scoring run in 2021.
Iheanacho’s highlights came in February, when he scored twice and set up three more goals across the two wins against Aston Villa and Tottenham, while he produced a heroic moment in the 1-1 draw with Leeds, playing the pass to set up Jamie Vardy’s equaliser despite tearing his groin.
Although after missing four matches he returned on the final day of the season for the fixture against West Ham, it appears too late as Leicester were already doomed to be chopped from the English topflight.
He now follows in the footsteps of James Maddison, Youri Vardy, and Ricardo Pereira, who have won the club’s coveted gong in the past four seasons.
With the club in relegation, Leicester City’s annual awards night was cancelled, and little fanfare was made of the award going to Iheanacho.
Right-back Timothy Castagne picked up the players’ Player of the Year award, the Belgian one of City’smore consistent and reliable performers, started 36 of the 38 Premier League games for the East Midlands club.
With just one year left on Iheanacho’s Leicester contract, the Nigerian Eagle is sure to fly out of the Foxes ground in the summer transfer window.
Thisdaylive.com
Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
