Andy King: The Team-Mates
Academy graduate King lifted the League 1 title in 2009, was instrumental in winning the Championship in 2014, and played a key role during the Club's 2016 Premier League triumph. Not just an excellent professional, King became a reference point for everyone at City's Belvoir Drive training ground; a popular team-mate, colleague and friend during Leicester's most successful-ever era.
Andy made 378 appearances for the Foxes - putting him 10th on the Club’s all-time list - while his 62 goals make him the highest scoring Leicester City midfielder of all time.
Thank You, Kingy!
A number of key figures in Leicester City's dressing room explain Andy King's immeasurable contribution to Leicester City in their own words.
Following the conclusion of his 2019/20 loan spell at Huddersfield Town, helping the west Yorkshire side to preserve their Championship status, King's contract expires this summer.
In the first of a two-part feature on LCFC.com, we allow key figures in the Foxes changing room to explain Andy's immeasurable contribution to Leicester City in their own words...
Wes Morgan: "Kingy is a Club legend, there’s no doubt about that. When I joined the Club, he was one of the first people that came up to me and welcomed me. From that moment, we had an instant connection. Having played in the Championship for so many years, we crossed each other’s path on a few occasions and he was so welcoming for me when I came. Kingy’s a great person and I’d always admired him as a player. We shared so many good times and we became great friends. He is just a consistent player who gives it his all. He used to pop up all the time with a vital goal just when we needed it too. Off the pitch, we’ve had some great times. We’ve had so many ups and downs throughout our time at the Club. Not just winning the Premier League, but coming out of the Championship and getting promotion was such a great experience for us. The team really bonded during that period. Kingy is a kind, gentle person. He’s someone that you can trust. You can speak to him, not just about football, but general life too. He’s always open and approachable. He gets on with everybody and gives his time and attention to all the players, new or old. For me, he was the captain when I first came. He didn’t have the armband later on, but I always looked at him as my captain. What he’s done for the Club has been so special. He’s a very special person and I wish him all the best. He’s been here so long and he’s gone through the leagues with Leicester. He’s been on the whole journey. Where Leicester are now, he’s been at the forefront of it all. We all need to move on at some point, but he should be remembered for all the great work he’s done in building Leicester to where it is today."
Kasper Schmeichel: "Andy is so good at just talking to anybody. He’s just a proper guy’s guy. Everyone loves him when they meet him. He’s just an open, warm person and he’s got a great sense of humour. He’s one of those guys that you just get drawn to. You want to talk to him because he’s got a great personality, an aura about him. The first time I met him as a team-mate, he made a very, very good impression on me. He welcomed me with open arms. He was the poster boy of Leicester City. The way he greeted me, or anyone else, was always the same, so he’s a top man. Kingy helped me in settling in, like he does with everyone. There’s so many memories, too many to mention. Just the conversations we used to have, either in the gym, or just in private when we’ve seen each other away from the pitch. He’s an absolute legend at this Club. The service he’s given to it and the professionalism he shows, he’s an example to any young player. He’s been at this Club for so long and he’s always just kept working. That’s where he shows his class. He's a class guy and a class player. Thank you, Kingy, so much for everything you’ve done for this Club, and for me. You made me feel so at home straight away when I joined and you’ve done the same with everyone else. I really appreciate you as a player, but even more as a friend."
Matty James: "The first time I met Kingy was not too long after I first signed. Like he does with everyone, he made me feel very welcome. I knew he was a big part of the Club and that it meant a lot to him. For me to spend time with Kingy made me feel part of the team. He made me feel part of everything really. We got on instantly. Kingy became a very, very good friend of mine and he still is to this day. He showed then that he’s a leader. Kingy as a person is very, very generous and friendly. A lot of the team would say they’re close friends with him. You got the best of both worlds with him. He is a nice lad, but he’s also competitive and serious in games. He wants to win. I’ve got lots of fond memories that I’ve shared with Kingy. I’ve been through a tough time with injuries and Kingy was always there. It was a tough time and he was a friend to me through all of that. He’s up there with everybody else in Leicester City’s history. What he’s sacrificed for this Club is immense. The role he’s played at the Club is some journey. He started out way back when. He took them through the leagues, scoring goals, and winning the Premier League. Whatever the future holds for Kingy, it’ll be something bright. Whatever he choses, I just want to say a big thank you for everything you’ve done for me and the friendship we’ve got. Best of luck, mate."
Jamie Vardy: "I was put next to Kingy in the dressing room when I first joined and he was really down to earth. I got on really well with him from day one. He is just a great guy. Kingy helped me out a lot. He’d been here a long time already. He’d been through all the ups and the downs at this Club before I arrived. When I first came, it was really good to have him to lean on. As a person off the pitch, he was the same as he was on it. There was nothing that was too much for him, he’d always be there if you needed something. The way we all got on, it was vice-versa. If you look back on it, when we won the league, playing against Everton that day, for him to get on the scoresheet was great. He was at the Club when they were down in League 1. It’s just unbelievable what he's achieved at Leicester City. We used to call him Mr. Leicester when we were in the dressing room and he backed that up with his achievements. There’s only one way Kingy can be remembered and that’s as a legend for the Club. The memories we shared together will stay with me forever. Thank you, Kingy."
Marc Albrighton: "Kingy as a person is very funny. He’s a bit of a comedian... he’s got some one-liners! He enjoys hammering some of the staff. On a lot of occasions, he’ll be watching the clock in the canteen and seeing it tick over to 12 'o'clock and the rush from the staff coming in for their food. He'd be filming them and reminding them that the food was for the players, always with a smile! He was the bridge between the new players coming in and them getting involved with the squad and I’m thankful for that. He just makes you feel welcome and he gets you involved in everything that the lads do. A lot of that is down to people like Kingy because he made everyone feel part of it. My favourite memory would probably be seeing his goal against Manchester City, which was a really fitting way for him to come towards the end of his Leicester playing days. In my opinion, he should be remembered as one of the greatest players ever for this Football Club. His ability on the pitch speaks for itself, how he’s performed over the years, during his whole time here. His professionalism never changed. Nobody’s got a bad word to say and I think that speaks volumes for him as a person. You’ll have to go a long way to meet a better person than Kingy. For Leicester City, he was a real factor in every bit of the success we’ve had over recent years. He’s been a massive part of it. Best of luck with everything, Kingy."
Later this week, Ben Chilwell, Harvey Barnes and Hamza Choudhury explain the impact Andy King had on their emergence through the Club's Academy.