Leicester City manager Ruud van Nistelrooy heaped praises on Jamie Vardy and dubbed him “the best player ever” to represent the team.
After a remarkable 13-year trip of monumental accomplishments, this follows Vardy’s formal resignation from Leicester City.
A famous stint at Leicester City
The King Power Stadium side signed the 38-year-old forward from Fleetwood Town in July 2012. He is now a club legend who has netted 198 goals in 496 games. Vardy’s influence has been massive as he helped the team’s well-known “great escape” from relegation in 2015 and led the underdog Premier League title triumph in 2016 at odds of 5000/1.
Moreover, he helped Leicester make it to the UEFA Champions League in 2021 and lifted the FA Cup title, therefore further adding to his long list of records that transformed the history of the team.
Vardy departing Leicester, although not quite ready to retire
Leicester City paid emotional tributes, posted videos, and messages spread over their official social media channels, on Thursday mourning the ex-England striker’s departure. The legendary striker has stated he will not yet retired from professional soccer even while he is departing the club.
Breaking his now-manager Van Nistelrooy’s former record of 10, Vardy scored in 11 straight matches in 2015, hence etching his name into Premier League history. The East Midlands’ side’s gaffer reflected on that moment and declared that the English striker merits “all the credit” and lauded his unparalleled work ethic and impact on the team.
“Fair to say he is the best player ever to play for this football club,” the Leicester boss said.
“The most impact on all the successes that they have had over the past 13 years.
“He is four games away from 500 games for the football club, two goals from 200 goals for football club – those figures say a lot. When you put silverware next to them, then you have a complete picture.
“His farewell is above anything. He deserves all the credit and honour possible from the club towards him, the squad towards him, the supporters towards him and all people who love football towards him.”
Till when?
In a much anticipated match against Ipswich Town at the King Power Stadium on May 18, Jamie Vardy will have his last home appearance for Leicester City. During an away match against Bournemouth a week later, the famed striker is also forecast to play his last game for the club.
During a sincere 45-minute talk, the ex England international relayed his resignation news face-to-face with manager Ruud van Nistelrooy. Characterized as “unique,” the conversation allowed both men to consider Vardy’s amazing career and lasting influence at Leicester City.
“He informed me on the decision. I know how tough this decision was. It’s time for him to move and I don’t know what the reasons behind it are,” the Dutchman added.
“We talked about the next move. It’s an open book. For him, it’s a time to reflect, together with his family about making a decision as to where he wants to play.
“The conversation I had with him was special. He came to my office and told me what he’d decided, then we spoke for 45 minutes on many things.
“Over the 13 years he played, there were many highs and lows. What stands out is loyalty to the football club. He wants to be the best he can, he was there through thick and thin.
“It’s a remarkable story. The story of his professional career, but also his 13 years here, the highs and lows, he’s played in Europe, he’s been through all of it. With his personality, you don’t see many more like that.”
Jamie Vardy will inspire next generations of the Foxes’ followers and athletes given his unparallelled enthusiasm and unforgettable experiences.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
