Leicester City: £800k signing remains popular at the King Power despite Celtic plea: View | OneFootball

Muzzy Izzet is something of a hero among Leicester City fans following his eight-year stint with the club, and so strong is his legacy that a transfer request midway through his stay does not appear to have dampened feelings towards him.

The midfielder spent the vast majority of his career with the club and took Foxes fans on some incredible journeys, so it is easy to see why he is so highly thought of.

Fans are never keen when one of their icons requests to move to a different club, but it seems Izzet built up enough goodwill to put the transfer saga behind him.

The former Turkey international has since been seen celebrating later Leicester success, in a showing that proves the bond between player and club remains strong.

Izzet originally joined the Foxes on loan in 1996 and was always destined to become a Leicester hero when he assisted the team in earning promotion to the Premier League in his first season.

a bid to parent club Chelsea worth £800k, which was accepted.

Although a significant sum of money to stump up for Leicester at the time, it would turn out to be worth every penny.

In his time with the club, Izzet would go on to make 300 appearances for the Foxes, scoring 44 goals and providing 21 assists, before his switch to Birmingham City in 2004.

Muzzy Izzet's Leicester City legacy could have been undone with transfer requests

With a track record that extensive for one club, it is easy to see why fans adore the midfielder, but his legacy was threatened throughout 2001 and 2002, beginning with a transfer request that he handed to the hierarchy in October 2001.

Izzet made it clear that he was unhappy at the club after conversations with manager Dave Bassett and was quoted by the Guardian at the time with words that no fan wants to hear from their favourite player.

"It was a very difficult decision for me and I have agonised over it for several months,"he said. "But my desire is to be as successful as possible and, although it hurts me to say it, I think it is in my best interests that I have a new challenge away from Leicester City."

It was reported at the time that both Aston Villa and Leeds United may be interested in his services, but neither move transpired and Izzet remained with the Foxes.

Then, in the summer of 2002, Izzet was once again agitating for a move, this time naming his preferred destination. The manager that had brought him to Leicester, O'Neill, was now with Scottish Premiership outfit Celtic, and Izzet was interested in the switch.

He was quoted by the BBC"I don't know what the situation at Celtic is and what their budget is but I'm hoping Martin will be in touch because I will definitely speak to him.

"I can't say too much as Martin hasn't been in touch but only an idiot wouldn't consider joining Celtic."

Openly trying to dictate your move away from a club, especially for a key figure as Izzet was, will never go down too well with fans, but over 20 years on there is nothing to suggest that his legacy was dented too much by it.

Muzzy Izzet left Leicester City in 2004 with his legacy intact

In the end, Izzet would remain with the Foxes for another two years, before departing at the end of his contract in 2004 to move to Birmingham.

Despite his transfer saga, he was given a warm send-off in his final home game before he made the switch, with banners thanking him for the memories displayed in the crowd and a presentation on the pitch to recognise his contributions over the years.

When Leicester did the unthinkable over a decade later and won the Premier League, Izzet was in among the celebrations, surprising fans on their doorsteps and being hailed as an idol.

It seems that his brief transfer frustrations were not held against him for too long, which shows the strength of feeling towards what he did for the club in his time there.

His flirtations with Celtic and moving away could have destabilized a lesser man, but Izzet remains a hero at the King Power.