Esteban Cambiasso might just be the most interesting footballer in the world. His lasting legacy will be as Jose Mourinho’s defensive midfield marshal during Inter Milan’s unprecedented Italian treble in 2009-10, but he’s only added to his legacy since that historic season.
Lost in all the madness that was Leicester City’s title-winning run last year was the influence of the man who made it all possible in the first place — Esteban Cambiasso.
After being released by Inter Milan in 2014, Cambiasso amazingly announced his decision to sign for newly promoted Leicester, a club that hadn’t been in the Premier League for 10 years. Cambiasso stated that he’d been flattered by Leicester’s desire to sign him and the allure of the Premier League.
So he swapped the magisterial San Siro for the King Power Stadium in the East Midlands of England and a certain relegation battle. The drop looked definite for the Foxes as the season progressed, but Cambiasso was influential in a run of seven wins and one draw from their final nine games, pushing Leicester out of the relegation zone in one of the most miraculous escapes in the Premier League era.
Esteban Cambiasso against West Ham United (2014/2015)#LCFC pic.twitter.com/3WkyQJylVp
— Filbert Street Goals (@Filbert_Street) October 27, 2016
Cambiasso’s role in Leicester’s survival saw him named the Leicester City Player of the Year. Having helped Leicester secure survival, he announced his decision to move on from the club.
“I would like to thank all the fans who last season made me feel proud to be part of a club with an unforgettable spirit and energy,” he said. “…I have lived one of the most important years of my career, crowned with the remaining EPL status.”
With survival secured, we all know what Leicester would go on to do the following season. For Cambiasso, his journey continued with Olympiakos in Greece. In his first season there, they won the Greek Super League by 30 points.
On Thursday, the 36-year-old scored Olympiakos’ lone goal in their Europa League round of 16 match against Besiktas.
Inter legend Esteban Cambiasso has just scored for Olympiakos against Besiktas. pic.twitter.com/oyGoTHTJHr
— Roy Nemer (@RoyNemer) March 9, 2017
Olympiakos will travel to Turkey for the return leg on March 16. The club currently has a six-point lead over Panionios in the Super League and has advanced to the semifinals of the Greek Cup, meaning that Cambiasso will almost certainly add more medals to his immense trophy cabinet.
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