Wes Morgan, who captained Leicester City to their fairytale Premier League title in 2016, has expressed his heartbreak as the club suffers a second consecutive relegation, dropping into League One for only the second time in its 142-year history.
The 42-year-old former defender, who retired after helping the Foxes win the FA Cup in 2021, admitted it is painful to witness the club's rapid decline just a decade after their greatest triumph.
"I'm sad to see where we were as a club when I left, to where it is now," Morgan told BBC East Midlands Today. "I understand the fans' anger. It hurts to see the club in this position, but football goes full circle. I know the club will be back."
Leicester's fate was sealed with a draw against Hull City, coming just 12 days shy of the 10-year anniversary of their 5,000-1 title-winning season. The Foxes, who won the Championship in 2014, staged a miraculous 'great escape' from relegation the following year before shocking the world by lifting the Premier League trophy.
Morgan, a Jamaica international, made 324 appearances for Leicester after joining from Nottingham Forest in 2012. He played in the Champions League quarter-finals and Europa League, capping his career with the FA Cup triumph. He urged fans to cherish those memories even amid the current despair.
"The special moment 10 years ago needs to be celebrated and talked about," he said. "For me, that success remains fresh."
The final link to that title-winning squad, striker Jamie Vardy, departed after last season's relegation from the Premier League. Critics have blamed a combination of poor recruitment, managerial instability, and ownership decisions for the club's staggering fall.
Morgan remains confident Leicester will rise again, but the immediate focus is on navigating life in the third tier.