Nigel Pearson didn’t name Jamie Vardy as the Leicester City player he wanted to ‘build his team around’

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Nigel Pearson is the man credited for laying the foundations for Leicester City’s success 10 years ago.

Pearson is one of the Foxes’ most popular managers across his two spells in the east midlands, winning two league titles and masterminding the great escape in the 2014/15 Premier League season.

Leicester also record a recorded total of 102 points in the Championship – beaten by Reading only.

That side contained some real EFL icons including Jamie Vardy, who has now left Leicester, as well as other Hall of Famers such as Anthony Knockaert.

Vardy is the sort of player you want to build a team around, but in 2012, Pearson revealed he had another player at the centre of his focus.

• READ MORE: Leicester City can save millions on a Jamie Vardy replacement, he’s right under their nose

Nigel Pearson wanted to build his team around Wes Morgan

Wes Morgan is one of the few players loved by Leicester and Nottingham Forest fans.

The centre-back shocked supporters of both sides when Forest confirmed he had joined Leicester in January 2012 and went on to become one of the most iconic players in the club’s history.

He won the Championship, Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield, as well as scoring in the Champions League quarter finals.

A true definition of a leader, Pearson revealed in November 2012 that he was the sort of player to build a squad around.

Speaking to BBC Radio Leicester, he said: “He is one of the players we are building a team around.

“He’s as good a defender as there is at this level and has been since he’s been here – never mind just this season.”

Every player who has played for Leicester City and Nottingham Forest

Morgan isn’t the only one who swap the red side of the Trent for the blue half, but is certainly one of the more high-profile ones.

A total of 26 players have represented both clubs, featuring the likes of Matt Mills, Chris Wood and even Jesse Lingard.

Other names like Matty Fryatt, Stan Collymore and Paul Konchesky have also played for both clubs