Anthony Knockaert

Anthony Patrick Knockaert (born 20 November 1991) is a French former professional footballer who played as a winger.

Knockaert began his professional career with Guingamp, having previously spent his youth career at Wasquehal, Leers, Lens, Mouscron and Lesquin. While progressing in the youth at Lesquin, he almost joined Leeds United in September 2008, but both parties could not agree terms after Lens intervened in the transfer and demanded a compensatory fee. At some point on progressing his youth career, Knockaert thought about considering quitting football after being told by the Lens' management that he was released because he was small at the time.

It was not until the summer of 2009 when he moved to Guingamp, where he signed his first professional contract. It was not until on 30 July 2010 when he made his Guingamp debut in the first round of the Coupe de la Ligue, scoring in a 2–1 win over Grenoble. After playing 120 minutes, in a 3–2 win over Evian in the second round of the Coupe de la Ligue, he scored his second goal in the Coupe de la Ligue, in a 3–2 win over on 22 September 2010. Seven days later, on 29 September 2010, he made his league debut, making his first start and played 69 minutes before being substituted, in a 5–0 win over Gap. Soon after, he signed a three-year contract with the club on 6 October 2010 Knockaert then scored his first league goals, in a 6–0 win over Maccabi Paris Métropole on 22 April 2011. After helping the club's promotion to Ligue 2, he made 27 appearances scoring 4 times in all competitions.

In the 2011–12 season, Knockaert started the season well when he scored twice in a 2–0 win over Vannes in the second round of the Coupe de la Ligue on 9 August 2011. Weeks later, on 9 September 2011, he scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 loss against Reims. It was not until on 17 October 2011 when he scored again, in a 4–1 win over AS Monaco. In the ten matches between 19 December 2011 and 16 March 2012, he scored six times against Sedan, Istres, Boulogne, Le Havre, Troyes and Lens. Knockaert then scored three more goals later in the season, scoring twice against Metz and once against Clermont. He finished the 2011–12 season making 38 appearances and scoring thirteen times in all competitions.

At the end of the season, Knockaert's performance at Guingamp attracted interests from clubs around Europe, such as English side Newcastle United, and Portuguese side Benfica, as well as being linked with his native country side Montpellier.

On 1 August 2012, Knockaert moved to Leicester City on a three-year contract. The transfer fee was initially undisclosed, but was later revealed as £2.5 million.

Knockaert made his Leicester City debut on 18 August 2012, where he came on as a substitute for Lloyd Dyer in the second half, in a 2–0 win over Peterborough United. he then scored his first goal for Leicester with a free-kick against Burton Albion in the League Cup on 28 August 2012. His first league goals came in a 2–0 win at Huddersfield Town on 2 October 2012. The first was a 35-yard shot into the top corner, while the second saw him flick the ball in from behind with his left heel, after a cross from left-back Paul Konchesky. By the end 2012, he scored two more goals against Ipswich Town and Barnsley. On 1 January 2013, he scored another two league goals for the club in the reverse fixture against Huddersfield Town with Leicester City winning 6–1 and then scored another by the end of January, with a 2–1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. On 4 May 2013, he scored the winning goal in a 3–2 victory over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground that got Leicester City into a playoff place. Following his performance against Forest, which also contained an assist for Andy King's 50th Leicester goal, Knockaert was named in the Championship Team of the Week, alongside King. However, in the 2013 Playoff semi-final second leg, with the aggregate scores level he won a penalty for Leicester City deep into stoppage time. He opted to take the penalty himself but it was saved by Watford goalkeeper Manuel Almunia who also saved the follow-up, leading to the famous goal by Troy Deeney that sent Watford to Wembley. Despite this, he went on to win both Young Player of the Year and Goal of the Season against Huddersfield Town and finished his first season making 47 appearances and scoring nine times in all competitions.

In the 2013–14 season, Knockaert scored his first goal of the 2013–14 season in the 5–2 League Cup victory away to Carlisle United and scored again in the second round of the League Cup with a 30-yard free kick at home to Derby County and then assisted Danny Drinkwater's winning goal in a 2nd half come back in the 3rd round victory. Despite his good performances, he did not score his first league goal until Leicester's 3–0 away win against Watford. After scoring three more goals from December to early-January against Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton Wanderers and Millwall, He was a regular member of a settled side that went unbeaten from early December until 5 April, when promotion was assured after losses by third placed QPR and fourth placed Derby County. Knockaert had scored the winning goal from a free-kick in a Friday night fixture the day before, at home to Sheffield Wednesday. He went on to finish the 2014–15 season making 50 appearances and scoring 7 times in all competitions.