The 2015/16 English Premier League season was one of the most remarkable and unexpected in the league’s history. Under the management of Claudio Ranieri, Leicester City, a club with relatively modest resources, secured their first-ever EPL title in a stunning Cinderella story. Led by top scorer Jamie Vardy, midfield maestro Riyad Mahrez, and midfield engine N’Golo Kanté, Leicester defied the odds to win the league, leaving traditional giants like Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal trailing behind. This season is widely regarded as one of the most remarkable and fairy-tale-like campaigns in the history of English football.
Lets see what the Topps 2015/16 can bring us!
10 – Joe Gomez Rookie Sticker – #176
Primarily a center-back, he is also capable of playing as a right-back when needed.
Gomez’s playing style can be described as composed, intelligent, and physically imposing. He is calm under pressure and rarely gets flustered, allowing him to make rational choices in critical situations. Physically, Gomez possesses excellent athleticism and strength. He has the speed to keep up with quick attackers and the power to win aerial duels. One of Gomez’s notable strengths is his ability to read the game effectively. He has good anticipation and positioning, which allows him to intercept passes and make timely tackles. His reading of the game enables him to anticipate the movements of opposing attackers and make well-timed challenges to break up the play.
Gomez’s passing ability is also commendable. He has good distribution skills and is comfortable playing accurate short passes to build the play from the back. During the 2015/16 season, Gomez made his breakthrough while playing for Liverpool in the English Premier League. The young defender managed 6 appearances for The Reds.
He has had his injury problems but now is a fixture in Liverpools defence. Hopefully he can stay injury free and further his impressive career thus far.
9 – Héctor Bellerín Rookie Sticker – #33
Hector is known for his exceptional speed, technical skills, and attacking prowess. Bellerin’s playing style is characterised by his marauding runs down the right flank, his ability to contribute in both defence and attack, and his overall versatility on the pitch.
Bellerin’s greatest asset was his blistering pace, which allows him to surge forward with incredible speed and beat opposition defenders in one-on-one situations. His acceleration and agility make him a constant threat on the overlap, as he can quickly burst past opponents and deliver crosses into the box. His speed also enables him to track back and recover defensively, making him an effective player in both phases of the game.
He was one of the world’s fastest players until he went down with a big knee injury. Post recovery, he never had the same speed and his level dropped. Some point to his decision to become a vegan, but I think this is unlikely
During the 2015/16 season, Bellerin had a breakout campaign with Arsenal in the Premier League. He established himself as a regular starter and quickly became one of the most exciting right-backs in English football. His performances were marked by his consistent attacking contributions, as he provided overlapping runs and accurate crosses. Arsenal finished second behind Leicester’s history title.
Despite not being able to replicate his pre-injury form, he is still a decent player; playing for Real Betis. I think this is one of those rookie stickers for Arsenal fans, as they can remember how good young Hector was.
8 – Dele Alli Rookie Sticker – #427
Alli’s playing style can be described as energetic, skillful, and technically proficient. He possesses excellent dribbling ability, close ball control, and quick feet, allowing him to navigate through tight spaces and beat opponents in one-on-one situations. He is known for his audacious flicks, tricks, and feints, often using them to deceive defenders and create scoring opportunities.
One of Alli’s notable traits is his exceptional timing of runs into the box. He has a keen eye for goal and frequently makes late, well-timed runs into the penalty area to provide an additional goal-scoring threat. Alli’s movement off the ball is intelligent and difficult for defenders to track, making him a dangerous attacking option. He formed an incredible relationship with Christian Eriksen, with the later suppling many assists from deep.
In terms of goal-scoring ability, Alli is highly effective. He has a powerful shot and is comfortable shooting with both feet. He is capable of scoring from various positions on the pitch, whether it be from long range, inside the box, or through headers.
Alli’s passing range and vision are also noteworthy. He can deliver incisive through balls and precise long passes to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. During the 2015/16 season, Alli rose to prominence in the Premier League. He made a significant impact, scoring important goals and providing creative contributions. Alli’s performances earned him recognition as the PFA Young Player of the Year for the season.
Touted as England’s next big thing, Alli hasn’t lived up to the potential he showed. Some off-field issues have hampered his progress with his form taking a dramatic dip. Now at Everton, maybe he can turn it around and become a EPL star once again. A great rookie sticker to have, even if it is to remember his younger days.
7 – Adama Traore Rookie Sticker – #69
Adama Traore is known for his explosive speed, strength, and dribbling ability. He primarily plays as a winger and is recognised for his unique playing style and physical attributes.
Traore sprints past defenders with ease. His acceleration and top speed make him a constant threat on the counter-attack, as he can quickly transition from defence to attack and leave opponents trailing behind. His speed also enables him to beat opponents in one-on-one situations and create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
In addition to his pace, Traore possesses exceptional strength and physicality. He has a robust build that helps him shield the ball effectively and hold off challenges from opposing players. One of Traore’s standout attributes is his dribbling ability. He has excellent close control and ball manipulation skills, allowing him to navigate through tight spaces and evade challenges. He is adept at using feints, body movements, and quick changes of direction to leave defenders bewildered.
Traore is an excitement machine but his end product is often lacking. The 2015/16 season, was Traore’s first in the English Premier League. He didn’t get much opportunity to impress and wasn’t quite ready for the top flight. Traore’s best football came at Wolves under Nuno Espírito Santo. Wolves played with compact counter attacking tactics, getting the most out of Adama’s speed. He is still playing at Wolves and is mainly used as a super-sub because of his ridiculous speed.
I have ranked Adama this high because he is an iconic player. Mainly down to the fact he is so fast and so strong. I think this is just a cool rookie sticker to get.
6 – Steven Berghuis Rookie Sticker – #454
Steven Berghuis is is known for his technical skills, versatility, and ability to create and score goals. Berghuis’s has excellent ball control, dribbling ability, and agility. He has a quick and nimble playing style, allowing him to change direction swiftly and navigate through tight spaces. His close control and skillful footwork enable him to dribble past opponents with ease and create opportunities for himself and his teammates.
One of Berghuis’s notable strengths is his ability to deliver accurate and dangerous crosses. He has a precise and powerful crossing technique, which makes him a significant threat from wide positions. His deliveries into the box often find their targets, creating scoring chances for his teammates.
During the 2015/16 season, Berghuis had his only season in the Premier League. He undewhelmed for Watford but has gone onto be ver successful in the Eredivisie. He displayed his technical skills, creativity, and goal-scoring ability throughout his career. Notably, his goal scoring record for Feyenoord was incredible for a winger, scoring 87 goals in 199 appearances. He has since moved to Ajax, where he currently plays. His performances over the years have earned him 45 Netherlands caps, with more to come.
Being from the Dutch Eredivisie, Berghuis doesn’t have many products. I think this rookie sticker is a very nice one; not many people would know this is his rookie!
5 – Callum Wilson Rookie Sticker – #24
Wilson’s playing style is centered around his speed and agility, which allows him to outpace defenders and make sharp runs behind the defensive line. His acceleration and quickness enable him to create separation from markers and get into goal-scoring positions. threat in behind.
In addition to his speed, Wilson possesses good strength and physicality, which helps him hold off defenders and win aerial duels. He can use his body well to shield the ball and create space for himself or his teammates. One of Wilson’s standout attributes is his clinical finishing ability. He has a natural instinct for goal and is composed in front of the net. He is adept at finding the right positions to receive crosses or through balls and is capable of finishing with precision and power. Wilson’s coolness under pressure allows him to make accurate and well-placed shots, making him a reliable goal scorer.
During the 2015/16 season, Callum Wilson signed with Bournemouth for his first Premier League season. He showcased his goal-scoring prowess and overall attacking contribution. Despite suffering an injury that kept him out for a significant portion of the season, Wilson made a significant impact when he was on the field, scoring 5 goals in 13 appearances.
Wilson’s has gone on to be a mainstay in the Premier League, constistently scoring goals. Unfortantley, he has often been injured which has hindered his progress. This hasn’t stopped him from scoring over 100 Premier League goals. He Signed for Newcastle in the 2020/21 season and is still a regular fixture there.
Wilson is one of the underrated strikers of the Premier league. He scores goals wherever he goes and for that reason, his rookie sticker ranks at number 2!
4- Riyad Mahrez – #157 – Rookie Sticker from Topps Premier League 2014-2015
Riyad Mahrez is an Algerian professional footballer renowned for his exceptional dribbling, creativity, and goal-scoring ability. During the 2015/16 Premier League season, Mahrez was a standout performer for Leicester City, playing a crucial role in their historic title win.
Mahrez’s skill and flair made him a constant threat on the right wing. He scored 17 league goals and provided 11 assists! His ability to take on defenders, deliver precise crosses, and execute clinical finishes made him one of the most dangerous attackers in the league.
One of Mahrez’s most memorable performances came in Leicester’s 3-1 victory over Manchester City, where he scored a brilliant solo goal. This performance epitomized his ability to change the course of a game with his individual brilliance. His consistency and impact throughout the season earned him the PFA Player of the Year award, recognizing him as the best player in the Premier League.
Mahrez’s partnership with Jamie Vardy was particularly effective. While Vardy’s pace and finishing provided the perfect outlet for counter-attacks, Mahrez’s creativity and vision helped unlock defenses. The duo’s understanding on the pitch was a key factor in Leicester’s success, as they combined for numerous goals and assists.
The 2015/16 season saw Mahrez rise from a relatively unknown player to a global star. His performances drew attention from top clubs across Europe, but his contributions to Leicester City’s title win ensured his place in Premier League history. Mahrez’s skill, creativity, and key moments of magic were instrumental in one of the greatest underdog stories in football.
3 – Jaime Vardy – #164 – Rookie Sticker from Topps Premier League 2014-2015
Jamie Vardy is known for his pace, finishing, and relentless work ethic. In the 2015/16 season with Leicester City, Vardy had a sensational campaign, playing a pivotal role in the club’s extraordinary Premier League title win.
Vardy’s journey to the top was remarkable, having risen through the lower leagues of English football before joining Leicester from Fleetwood Town in 2012. By the 2015/16 season, he had developed into a prolific striker, and his performances that year were nothing short of exceptional. Vardy scored 24 goals in the league, finishing as the second-highest scorer. His goals were often crucial, helping Leicester secure vital points throughout the season.
One of the highlights of Vardy’s season was breaking the Premier League record for scoring in consecutive matches. He found the net in 11 straight games, surpassing the previous record held by Ruud van Nistelrooy!
Vardy’s playing style was perfectly suited to Leicester’s counter-attacking approach under manager Claudio Ranieri. His blistering pace allowed him to exploit high defensive lines, and his clinical finishing made him a constant threat. He also displayed remarkable consistency and fitness, featuring in all 38 league matches. Vardy’s performances earned him numerous individual accolades. He was named the FWA Footballer of the Year and included in the PFA Team of the Year. His success also led to a call-up to the England national team, where he continued to impress.
2 – N’Golo Kante – #154 – Rookie Sticker from Panini FOOT 2014-2015
N’Golo Kanté, a French midfielder, is celebrated for his stamina, interceptions, and defensive tackling. In the 2015/16 season with Leicester City, he was a key figure in their unexpected and historic Premier League title win. Signed from Caen for around £5.6 million, Kanté quickly adapted to the English game, becoming a linchpin in manager Claudio Ranieri’s squad.
Kanté’s impact on the pitch was immense. He led the league in interceptions and tackles, consistently disrupting opponents’ play and regaining possession for his team. His ability to cover ground and his relentless work ethic provided a solid foundation for Leicester’s counter-attacking style. He was often seen breaking up opposition attacks and then swiftly transitioning to launch counter-attacks.
His performances earned him several individual accolades. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year and was a finalist for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year. His contributions were vital in key matches, including crucial victories against teams like Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.
Leicester City’s 2015/16 season is remembered as one of the greatest underdog stories in sports history, and N’Golo Kanté was at the heart of it. His performances not only helped secure the title for Leicester but also established him as one of the best midfielders in the world.
1 – Jack Grealish Rookie Sticker – #66
Jack Grealish is the best rookie sticker in the Topps English Premier League 2015-2016 set.
Jack Grealish is known for his technical skills, dribbling ability, creativity, and vision on the field. He is recognised for his close ball control, agility, and ability to navigate through tight spaces. Grealish possesses excellent balance, which allows him to maintain control even when under pressure from opponents.
Grealish is an exceptional dribbler who excels at taking on defenders in one-on-one situations. He uses feints, changes of pace, and quick turns to evade opponents and create space for himself or his teammates. His low center of gravity and quick footwork enable him to maintain control of the ball while maneuvering through congested areas of the pitch. Grealish is also known for his ability to draw fouls due to his close ball control and quick changes of direction. This skill allows his team to earn free kicks in dangerous areas, providing additional scoring opportunities.
In addition to his dribbling skills, Grealish possesses excellent vision and passing ability. He has the awareness to identify and execute incisive passes to unlock defences and create scoring opportunities for his teammates. Grealish’s ability to pick out teammates with accurate through balls and his creativity in tight situations make him a dangerous playmaker.
After 10 years at Villa, Jack earned himself a big money move to Manchester City where he has played a key role in winning the EPL title and the UEFA Champions League title. He is currently a key player in City’s 2023/24 team playing predominantly off the left wing.
Jack is a super player and deserving of the number 1 place!
Summary
What a season this was for English football! No one would have guessed Leicester would emerge as champions. The three Leicester players deserve making the list despite not being the rookie stickers!
Thanks for reading!