Jamie Vardy career path was as unconventional as it gets.. He became a Premier League player at the late age of 27. This might have helped him maintain longevity and achieve success only a few could dream of. Vardy even had a successful but short-lived stint with the English National team.
Vardy joined his favorite club, Sheffield Wednesday’s academy, as a teenager. He was released at 16 as he failed to make the cut. Thus, his non-league journey began as Vardy joined Stocksbridge Park Steels, who compete in the Northern Premier League. He broke out in the 2008-09 season as he scored 55 goals for the club, helping them win the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup. He spent a week on trial with Crewe Alexandra, but the move didn’t materialize.
Jamie Vardy then signed for FC Halifax Town in 2010 and won the Northern Premier League Premier Division title. He finished with 25 goals, winning the club’s Player of the Season award. It prompted clubs in the higher tiers to take note, and Fleetwood Town signed him in 2012. Vardy took the division by storm by scoring 31 goals to win the Golden Boot and win a first-ever promotion to the Football League.
Vardy drew a non-League record fee of £1 million when he joined the Championship club Leicester in 2012. It was the start of a love story as he became a legend with the Foxes. He helped them win a promotion to the Premier League in 2014 with 16 league goals. As the club entered the Premier League, Vardy was the talk of the town as he played in the lowest tiers before reaching the top. However, it wasn’t the end of the story as Vardy was just getting started. He helped his side survive the drop in 2015 with some dramatic goals and winners.
It set the stage for the biggest miracle in the history of the sport. Leicester City were backed at 5000-1 as the winners of the league before a ball was kicked. Jamie Vardy was playing with relatively unknown as the time who would go on to become world-class players like Riyad Mahrez and N’golo Kante. Claudio Ranieri’s men were a mix of aggression and caution. With Jamie Vardy leading the way with his key goals, they rose to the top of the table.
Vardy broke Ruud Van Nistelrooy’s record of scoring in 10 consecutive Premier League games by making it 11. His incredible run included him scoring memorable winners at Manchester United, Crystal Palace, and Watford. His breathtaking volley from the edge of the box against Liverpool sent the King Power Stadium into raptures as they started believing they could win the league. Vardy helped his side complete the race as they spectacularly lifted the title. He was the FWA Footballer of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Season.
Vardy stayed at the club despite interest from Arsenal, as many of his title-winning teammates left. He even scored in the quarter-final of the Champions League against Atletico Madrid as his side were eventually eliminated in 2017. He spent the next season after signing a great contract with his side.
Vardy scored his 100th Premier League goal in 2019 and became the first Leicester player to do so. He won the Golden Boot for the first time with 23 strikes. He is still the oldest recipient of the award. They won the FA Cup in 2021 as Vardy added one more title to his collection. The Foxes won the 2021 Community Shield as well.
Leicester City suddenly lost its charm as the club found itself in a relegation fight. Vardy was constantly battling injuries as he entered his mid-30s. They took a toll as his side was relegated in 2023, ending a near-decade stay in the top flight. Under Enzo Maresca, Vardy assumed captaincy and led them straight back to the Premier League.
Vardy, who has become a club legend already, scored 9 goals for them in a miserable campaign. He announced his intention to leave the club on a free as they were relegated. Vardy certainly had a poetic end as he played his 500th game for Leicester City on the exact date he signed for them 13 years ago. He scored his 200th goal for the club before leaving to a standing ovation in the 80th minute in his final Foxes’ appearance.
There is a lot of interest from Premier League clubs like Everton, Leeds, and even from outside England as he becomes a free agent on July 1st. Some career, eh?
Jamie Vardy received his first England call-up in 2015. He made his debut against the Republic of Ireland. He scored his first goal against Germany in a 3-2 win. He made his tournament debut at the 206 Euros and scored the equalizer in a 2-1 win against Wales. Vardy went to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, where he only had a sparing role. He stepped away from the National team to focus on his club career later that year.
Jamie Vardy’s award list would leave many wondering how he struggled in the non-League phase for so long. He broke Ruud van Nistelrooy’s scoring record to win a Guinness World Record. He even played under Nistelrooy’s management this year. He regularly won awards like the Goal of the Month and Player of the Season.