The 2015-16 season was a miraculous one for Leicester City Football Club. Against all odds, the 5000-1 outsiders won the English Premier League title, becoming the first team to ever achieve such a feat. At the heart of Leicester City’s success was N’Golo Kanté, the tireless defensive midfielder who had joined the club from Caen a year earlier. Kanté’s performance in the season was nothing short of extraordinary, and he was deservedly voted Player of the Year by both the Professional Footballers’ Association and the Football Writers’ Association. Kanté’s role in Leicester City’s championship win was crucial. He was the engine in the centre of the pitch, breaking up opposition attacks and launching Leicester’s own. He made a massive 4.7 tackles per game, which was far higher than any other player in the league. He also made an impressive 2.7 interceptions per game and won the ball back for Leicester an average of 8.7 times per game. Kanté’s work ethic was unmatched and his energy was infectious. Kanté’s defensive work was complemented by his ability to quickly transition the ball forward. He made an impressive 3.2 dribbles per game and completed an impressive 86% of his passes. He was also the team’s most prolific tackler, with 4.7 tackles per game. This allowed Leicester to keep their shape and maintain possession, while at the same time allowing them to launch quick counterattacks. Kanté’s influence on Leicester City’s championship season cannot be overstated. His tireless workrate and ability to quickly transition the ball forward was instrumental in Leicester’s success. He was the engine powering the team’s miracle run, and his contributions were rightly rewarded with the Player of the Year awards. Without him, Leicester’s miracle season would not have been possible.
