Key players

Kasper Schmeichel (goalkeeper) A recent internet meme asserted that since Liverpool last won a league title, Peter Schmeichel had joined Manchester United, won five Premier League titles, retired, had a son and his son, Kasper, was on the verge of winning the league with Leicester. It was not entirely accurate – Schmeichel Jnr was actually born in 1986, four years before the last of Liverpool’s 18 championship crowns – but it highlighted the remarkable goalkeeping lineage in the Schmeichel family. Wes Morgan (centreback) The rock at the heart of the Leicester defence, Morgan joined the club from local rivals Nottingham Forest in January 2012 and was quickly installed as captain. He is an authoritative presence and with Robert Huth has formed a central defensive partnership founded upon strength, astute positioning and aerial dominance. N’Golo Kante (central midfielder) A £5.6 million capture from French side Caen last year, Kante has astonished observers with his relentless energy, driving runs and extraordinary knack for recovering possession. Legendary former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson described him as “by far the best player in the Premier League”. Riyad Mahrez (winger) The impish inspiration behind Leicester’s success, Mahrez symbolises the fairytale journey that the club have overtaken over the past 12 months. Signed from Le Havre for just £400 000 in January 2014, the Algerian winger flitted in and out of the team 12 months ago as Leicester fought to stay up, but this season he has been a sensation. His 17 goals and 11 assists set up countless wins and he became the first African to be elected as England’s Player- of-the-Year. Jamie Vardy (striker) Leicester’s talisman, Vardy has become the snarling face of Ranieri’s team. The wiry Yorkshireman’s rags-to-riches tale has seen him rise from non-league obscurity to top-flight record-breaker, England international and Footballer-of-theYear in just four years, attracting the attention of Hollywood scriptwriters. Despite scoring 22 goals, he looks poised to miss out on the Golden Boot, but he created Premier League history in the autumn by scoring in 11 consecutive games.