Jamie Vardy leaving Leicester after 13 years as club gets relegated from Premier League

Jamie Vardy has announced that he will be leaving Leicester City after playing at the Premier League club for 13 years. The club was relegated from the Premier League. Vardy had helped the club clinch the Premier League title in 2016, defying preseason odds of 5,000-1. The club hailed Vardy’s influence at the club over the 13 years, calling him their “greatest ever player.” With the striker at the tip of the spear, the club had completed what will be one of the greatest underdog stories in sporting hory.
The 38-year-old former England international will depart at the end of the season. Just two days back, Vardy had posted a stinging rebuke of the club’s season so far, calling their season a “total embarrassment.” Vardy said there was “anger” but also “sadness” within him about the season where the club’s relegation was confirmed with five matches in EPL still to play.
“Nine years ago, we did the impossible — we won the Premier League,” Vardy said in a video message on Instagram in which he also recounted winning the FA Cup in 2021 and reaching the Champions League quarterfinals in 2017. “Those memories will last a lifetime.”
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The striker joined Leicester from non-league team Fleetwood Town for 1 million pounds (now $1.33 million) in 2012. Since then he has scored 143 goals for the club which puts him at No. 15 on the competition’s all-time goal-poachers’ l. Vardy famously scored in a record 11 straight games as Leicester went on to win the Premier League title.
Leicester chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “He holds a place in the hearts of everyone connected to Leicester City, and he certainly has my deepest respect and affection. I am endlessly grateful for everything he has given to this football club.”
Vardy speaks on his future
In a video message on his social media accounts, the striker said: “My only regret, and I’m devastated about this, is that I’m not saying goode on the back of a much better season. This isn’t the way I wanted my career here to finish.”
Vardy clarified that he was not retiring.
“I want to keep playing and do what I enjoy most: Scoring goals. Hopefully there’s one or two more for Leicester before the end of the season and many more in the future. I might be 38 but I’ve still got the desire and ambition to do so much more.”