Riccardo (Riccy) Scimeca

Scimeca was one of David Platt’s first signings, costing £3m from Aston Villa before the start of the 2000/01 season. In his first two seasons he did little to impress, only showing brief glimpses of his abilities and making frequent mistakes.

But in the 2001/02 season he was finally settled in a defensive role by Paul Hart (David Platt had employed him in various roles including right-back, central midfielder and even as a striker) and proved to be one of the most consistent and valuable players in the team.

His experience and calm head made him a worthy bearer of the captain’s armband. He was captain in his first season (having impressed Platt as England U21 captain), but relinquished the role to Chris Bart-Williams during 2000/01. After Bartman’s departure, and with newfound confidence, Riccy stepped up and handled the job well, proving a strong leader for the young players around him. He would again lose the captain's armband in 2002/03 with the arrival of Des Walker.

Riccy’s superb distribution made him a very useful player, but his lack of strength was his main letdown. When playing well, he timed his tackles well but could often be forced off the ball by a strong forward. On the ball his control was good, and he displayed good vision for his teammates as well as producing good strikes that led to the odd goal.

Scimeca's contract expired at the end of the 2002/03 season and despite a good season in midfield, the club were unable to keep him due to his wages. He joined rivals Leicester City, who had just gained promotion, on a free transfer.

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