Why Ritchie de Laet could win two league titles this season
Ritchie de Laet could win two league titles in the same season in England if fate has its way by the end of May. The Belgian defender could become the first player to ever win both the Premier League and the Championship title.
De Laet’s parent club are Leicester City who, as we all know, are currently top of the Premier League table with 57 points and 10 games to go. They hold a three-point lead over Tottenham Hotspur after the top four clubs failed to win their games in midweek.
The former Manchester United player had helped Leicester City gain promotion to the Premier League when they won the Championship in the 2013/14 season. The 27-year-old played 12 matches for the Foxes in the first half of the season, even scoring a goal against Aston Villa in September.
Claudio Ranieri’s side were down 2-0 at home when De Laet scored from a corner-kick. It sparked a comeback as the Foxes ran out 3-2 winners after a winner in the 89th minute helped them clinch all three points.
But he barely started any games after September with Danny Simpson and Christian Fuchs preferred in the starting lineup. The club then decided to send him out on loan and Championship club Middlesbrough soon came in and signed him on loan till the end of the 2015/16 season.
Middlesbrough hold advantage in Championship title race
Under Aitor Karanka, previously the assistant manager to Jose Mourinho during his stint at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, Boro have a good chance to win the Championship title and return to the Premier League.
They are currently in third place with 64 points – one point behind leaders Burnley FC – but they have a game in hand. Hull City are second with the same points but a better goal difference. But they too have played one extra game.
Under Karanka, he has already featured five times, even grabbing an assist for an equaliser in the 1-1 draw against MK Dons in only his second game.
If Leicester City manage to win the Premier League title, De Laet will be eligible for a winners’ medal having already played the minimum quota of five games. Although a club that wins the Championship receive only 18 medals to be handed out to the players, they are allowed to ask for more if the situation demands it.