How Leicester City's Masters Football Team Would Look in 2020
After a month or so without top flight European football, it's fair to say that most of us are bored out of our minds, especially when we realise that we now have to talk to our loved ones at the weekend instead of feasting on Soccer Saturday.
Right now, anything would do for us, and even a game of Masters Football would feel like the bloody Champions League final.
If you're unaware of what Masters Football is, however, then we'll enlighten you.
Basically, it's a six-a-side game made up entirely of legends who represent their former clubs. It's a great opportunity to see which former world-beaters still have it'and which have perhaps been focused more on lunchtime than their workout routine.
To narrow the selection pools, the following restrictions have been made regarding player eligibility:
- Only players aged 35 or over are eligible, and they must not be currently playing, coaching, managing or have any other role at a club that isn’t only ambassadorial
- Where possible, club legend games will be used narrow selection choices
- If a player has health conditions that would prevent them from playing, then they will not be included
With that in mind, let's see what a 2020 Masters Football team would look like for Leicester City.
Tim Flowers (Goalkeeper)
Age: 53
Years Spent at Leicester: 1999-2003
Club Highlight: Winning the League Cup in 2000.
Club Lowlight: Relegation to Division One.
Despite being best known for winning the title with Blackburn Rovers, former England international Flowers also plied his trade for Leicester towards the end of his career, making 84 Premier League appearances for the Foxes.
At the ripe age of 53, the ex-stopper may have difficulty leaping across the goal to push the ball clear, but luckily for Flowers, Masters Football goals are a little smaller than he's used to.
Robert Huth (Defender)
Age: 35
Years Spent at Leicester: 2015-2018
Club Highlight: Somehow winning the Premier League title with Leicester.
Club Lowlight: Always thinking he was getting booed when the crowd screams 'HUUUUUUTH'.
35 really is the new 18 in Masters Football, so consider Huth a youthful, exuberant enforcer at the heart of Leicester's defence.
Built like a brick sh**house, there is no way that the majority of the golden oldies he would face would get past the big German.
Matt Elliott (Defender)
Age: 51
Years Spent at Leicester: 1997-2005
Club Highlight: A brace in the 2000 League Cup final.
Club Lowlight: The gazillion leg-breaking challenges he put in every single game.
Yes, Elliott is getting on a bit, but you have to remember that Leicester haven't been all that impressive for the majority of the 21st century.
Also, a centre-back pairing of Huth and Elliott won't only steal the ball off you, they'll take your lunch money as well.
Esteban Cambiasso (Midfielder)
Age: 39
Years Spent at Leicester: 2014-2015
Club Highlight: His debut goal in Leicester's infamous 5-3 win over Manchester United.
Club Lowlight: Having to occasionally play with Matty James in midfield.
You may be thinking: 'Remember that dream I had about Leicester signing former Real Madrid and Inter legend Esteban Cambiasso?'
No, no, no... that actually happened in real life.
Good thing too, because we desperately needed some more quality in our Masters Football side.
Muzzy Izzet (Winger)
Age: 45
Years Spent at Leicester: 1996-2004
Club Highlight: His unbelievable overhead kick against Grimsby.
Club Lowlight: Trying to force his way out of the club for three years in true Riyad Mahrez fashion.
Despite being more comfortable in central midfield, the former Turkey international was more than happy to play out wide, and offers us some much-needed technical ability in our Masters team.
Emile Heskey (Striker)
Age: 42
Years Spent at Leicester: 1994-2000
Club Highlight: Playing for his boyhood club.
Club Lowlight: A pretty worrying finishing rate.
Leicester offered one of England's most loved forwards a first shot at the big time, nurturing his fairly unique skill set.
Big, powerful and good with his back to goal, Heskey is a no-brainer for our Masters Football side.
Substitutes
Steve Walsh (Defender)
Age: 55
Years Spent at Leicester: 1986-2000
Club Highlight: Dedicating pretty much his entire life to the Foxes.
Club Lowlight: Being left out of the team for Leicester's 2000 League Cup win.
Just in case one of our frightening centre-backs needs a breather, we've got 'Captain Fantastic' on the sidelines waiting to be called in to action.
Robbie Savage (Midfielder)
Age: 45
Years Spent at Leicester: 1997-2002
Club Highlight: Winning his only piece of silverware as a player - the 2000 League Cup.
Club Lowlight: Being Robbie Savage.
Of course, we don't actually think that Savage would be a useful addition to our team, but we would just love to see him get torn to shreds by former pros who were actually good at football.
Gary Lineker (Striker)
Age: 59
Years Spent at Leicester: 1978-1985
Club Highlight: Appearing in his pants on Match of the Day after Leicester won the title in 2015/16.
Club Lowlight: Appearing in his pants on Match of the Day after Leicester won the title in 2015/16.
Despite arguably being the most talented player in this team, we think Lineker's age makes him a little more suited to being an impact sub.