Jamie Vardy said goodbye to Leicester City in a video posted on the team's homepage on the evening of April 24. This farewell ended 13 special years, many ups and downs but very glorious of Vardy with The Foxes.
The 38-year-old English star is the third top scorer in Leicester's history with 198 goals in 496 matches. Of those 198 goals, 143 have been scored in the Premier League. Thereby, Vardy rose to 15th place in the ranking of the greatest goal seekers in this playground.
This season, at the age of 38, Jamie Vardy has scored 8 goals in 32 matches in all competitions. He has started 31 of Leicester's 33 Premier League games so far. Vardy has previously signed a one-year extension with the King Power side after helping them get promoted back to the Premier League.
"Jamie Vardy is unique. He is a special player, a person who is no less special. Vardy holds a very important position in the hearts of Leicester fans. For me, he always has deep respect and affection. I am extremely grateful for what Vardy has contributed to this team.
Although Vardy's time with Leicester City as a player is about to end, he and his family will always be welcomed at King Power after everything that has passed. On behalf of everyone at Leicester City, I wish Vardy and his family the best for the future. I know that the fans of the team will send him the most deserved farewell at the end of this season" - President Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha shared on the club's homepage.
Jamie Vardy joined Leicester City in May 2012 when the team was still playing in the Championship. He made his Premier League debut in August 2013. In the 2013-14 season, Vardy scored 8 goals, contributing to the Foxes' successful relegation. Last season, he scored 24 goals, including a record of scoring in 11 consecutive matches. Then in the 2015-16 season, Jamie Vardy and his teammates created a huge earthquake when they won the Premier League.
Vardy has scored a number of goals reaching 2 numbers in 6 consecutive seasons. In 2020, he is the owner of the title of Golden Shoes (the top scorer of the Premier League). In the 2022-2023 season, because of the old age, Vardy no longer kicked. That season Leicester relegation, Vardy had 18 times from the bench. In the Championship last season, the striker scored 15 goals, contributing to bring The Foxes back to the Premier League. Unfortunately, right in this season, the former king of the tournament relegated a few rounds early.
Jamie Vardy left King Power in the mindset of the greatest player in Leicester City's history. Not only that, he is also a notorious goalscorer in the Premier League era. He has had 1 Premier League, 1 FA Cup, 2 Championships. This is the most successful contract in Leicester's history, when they only spent 1 million pounds to recruit Vardy.
Vardy's parting ways are inevitable as Leicester are currently in a dead end. A 38-year-old player like Vardy but still having to start 31/33 matches since the beginning of the Premier League is clear evidence of that weakness. However, since the beginning of the season, Vardy has still had 7 goals and 7 assists, impressive numbers for the nearly 40-year-old star playing for a team that is always in the relegation zone.
The match between Leicester and Ipswich on May 18 at King Power will be the most emotional farewell for Jamie Vardy.
