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There are some outstanding players in English football today, but how many can truly claim to be the greatest in their club’s history? Jamie Vardy can. He wasn’t just the face of Leicester City’s miraculous 2016 Premier League title triumph—where he scored 24 goals—he came to represent much more.
While N’Golo Kanté was sensational during that season, he wasn’t part of the team that had fought its way up from the Championship. Riyad Mahrez was—but by 2018, he had moved on. Vardy stayed. He stayed to win the Golden Boot in 2020 and played a key role in Leicester’s FA Cup victory in 2021.
He just kept going. Last season, at 36, he scored 18 goals to help lift Leicester back to the Premier League. What began as a fairy tale evolved into a story of remarkable loyalty and longevity. Even at 38, he continues to lead the line, still tormenting defenders, still making noise.
Vardy’s fiery celebrations often riled opposition fans, and his off-pitch life hasn’t been without controversy. But there’s a reason why he was embraced by England fans during Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup. His journey struck a chord.
He brought a raw, infectious energy to the game—a rare sight at the top level. It always felt like he had just stepped off the pitch at Stocksbridge Park Steels, the Northern Premier League side he was playing for at 23.
His blistering pace, clinical low finishes, and the cunning he added with experience made him stand out. Over the past decade, only Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane have scored more Premier League goals than Jamie Vardy.
Is this a season too far? Perhaps. But few blame Vardy for Leicester’s struggles this year. Many fans would have welcomed his continued presence, confident he could still deliver in the Championship. That question is now irrelevant.
He departs a legend. A one-off. Unrepeatable.
