Chelsea legend Dennis Wise joins Leicester City

On 25th June, 2001, Dennis Wise ended his 11-year spell at Chelsea when he signed for fellow Barclays Premier League club Leicester City in the search for more regular first-team football.

The midfielder, then 34, had a string of trophies to his name having won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and two FA Cups during his time at Stamford Bridge. But with the signing of Frank Lampard from West Ham United, Wise felt that his first-team opportunities in midfield would be limited under manager Claudio Ranieri and made the move north to Filbert Street.

"It wasn't a difficult decision in the end," he said at a press conference at Leicester. "I had made my mind up that I was going to leave at the end of the season. I'm glad to be here. It is good that this club wanted to sign me.

"There were a lot of factors in my decision to leave. I had 11 years at Chelsea, enjoyable years, but I did not want to be a bit-part player, sitting on the bench. I felt under Claudio Ranieri I would not be playing in my best position and did not want to spoil my relationship with Chelsea. I have parted on very good terms."

Wise made 17 League appearances for the Foxes, scoring one goal, but was unable to stop the club being relegated into the Championship.

He left Leicester under a cloud in the summer of 2002, however, following an incident on the club's pre-season tour of Norway and he finished his playing days at Millwall, Southampton and Coventry City before embarking on a managerial career.