Maddison in: The best Leicester City XI using players from the Maresca, Rodgers and Ranieri eras | OneFootball

It has been an outstanding season for Leicester City in the Championship so far.

The Foxes endured an incredibly disappointing campaign as they were relegated from the Premier League last season, bringing their nine-year spell in the top flight to an end, during which they won the title, the FA Cup and played European football.

However, Leicester are in a strong position to bounce back at the first attempt, spending much of this season sitting top of the table.

It was a quiet January transfer window for the Foxes, but manager Enzo Maresca was significantly backed in the summer, with some big-money signings arriving at the King Power Stadium.

As Leicester's current group of players look to create history this season by breaking Reading's record Championship points total of 106, we looked at the Foxes' best starting line-up using players from the eras of Maresca, Brendan Rodgers and Claudio Ranieri.

The best Leicester City XI from the Maresca, Rodgers and Ranieri eras

GK: Kasper Schmeichel

Mads Hermansen has impressed between the sticks for Leicester this season, but it would be impossible to leave Schmeichel out of this line-up.

Schmeichel joined the Foxes from Leeds United in June 2011, and he went on to enjoy an outstanding 11-year spell at the King Power Stadium, winning the Championship and Premier League titles and captaining the club to FA Cup glory.

before departing for Nice in August 2022, and he was clearly missed, with the Foxes suffering relegation in their first season without the Dane.

RB: Ricardo Pereira

Danny Simpson is unlucky not to be included after his role in Leicester's Premier League title success in 2015-16, but Pereira has established himself as a firm fan favourite since his arrival from Porto in May 2018, and he continues to play a key role for the club.

The 30-year-old has made over 150 appearances for the Foxes so far, forming part of the FA Cup-winning squad in 2021, and has been a regular for Maresca's side in their promotion push this season, wearing the captain's armband on a number of occasions.

It is fair to say that Morgan established himself as a true Leicester legend after making the move across the East Midlands from Nottingham Forest in January 2012, captaining the club to the Championship title in 2014 and the Premier League title in 2016.

, and he made his final career appearance as a substitute in the FA Cup final against Chelsea in 2021.

CB: Harry Maguire

Leicester have had some excellent centre-backs over the years, including Robert Huth, Jonny Evans and Wesley Fofana, but in terms of ability, few have been better than Maguire.

The England international arrived at the King Power Stadium from Hull City in June 2017 in a deal worth £17 million, and after scoring five goals and providing three assists in 76 games for the club, he joined Manchester United for £80 million in August 2019, making him the world's most expensive defender.

LB: Ben Chilwell

Chilwell came through the Foxes academy, and he went on to make 123 appearances for the club, scoring four goals and providing 12 assists.

The 27-year-old made his debut for England at international level during his time at the King Power Stadium, and he was another big-money sale for the club, departing for Chelsea in August 2020 for a fee of £45 million.

CM: N'Golo Kante

Little was known of Kante when he joined Leicester from French side Caen in August 2015, but he quickly made a name for himself at the King Power Stadium as he played a key role in the club's Premier League title success, scoring one goal and registering four assists in 40 appearances.

That would prove to be Kante's only season with the Foxes as he made the move to Chelsea for a fee of £32 million in July 2016, but he certainly made a big impact during his time in the East Midlands.

Drinkwater arrived at the King Power Stadium from Manchester United in January 2017, and he enjoyed an excellent five-and-a-half-year spell at the club, winning the Championship and Premier League titles.

The midfielder scored 15 goals and provided 23 assists in 218 games for Leicester before joining Chelsea for £35 million in September 2017, but his career declined following his move to Stamford Bridge, and he announced his retirement in October at the age of 33.

When debating the Foxes' best midfielders in recent years, Youri Tielemans certainly deserves a mention, particularly after scoring the winning goal against Chelsea in the FA Cup final in 2021, but Drinkwater's contribution to the Premier League title success gives him the edge.

Mahrez was a relative unknown when he joined Leicester from French side Le Havre for a fee of just £450,000 in January 2014, but he helped the club to the Championship title in his first season at the King Power Stadium before playing a crucial role in their Premier League title victory two years later.

The winger scored 48 goals and registered 38 assists in 179 appearances for the Foxes, and after repeatedly asking to leave the club, he made the move to Manchester City in July 2018 for £60 million.

AM: James Maddison

Maddison arrived at the King Power Stadium from Norwich City for a fee of around £20 million in June 2018, and he helped the club to two consecutive fifth-placed finishes in the Premier League under Brendan Rodgers, as well as being part of the FA Cup-winning squad in 2021.

The midfielder scored 55 goals and provided 44 assists in 203 games for Leicester before departing for Tottenham Hotspur in June for £40 million, and while his time at the club ended in the disappointment of relegation, he was an excellent servant to the Foxes.

LW: Harvey Barnes

Barnes graduated from the Foxes academy, and after spells out on loan with Milton Keynes Dons, Barnsley and West Bromwich Albion, he became a key part of the first team.

The winger scored 45 goals and registered 32 assists in 187 appearances for Leicester, and while he also suffered relegation in his final season at the club, none of the blame could be placed on Barnes, who enjoyed another impressive campaign on an individual level.

Barnes joined Newcastle United in July for a fee of around £39 million, and after an injury-disrupted start to life at St James' Park, the 26-year-old will be hoping to kick on over the coming months.

Vardy joined Leicester from then non-league Fleetwood Town for a fee of £1 million in May 2012, and few could have predicted the impact he would go on to make at the club.

The striker played a key role in the club's Championship, Premier League and FA Cup successes, and at the age of 37, he continues to be an important part of Maresca's squad.

Vardy's contract at the King Power Stadium is set to expire in the summer, and if this is to be his last season at the club, he will be desperate to help the Foxes back to the top flight.