LONDON: Leicester City etched their name into English footballing history by winning the Premier League against all odds in 2016. It made heroes of manager Claudio Ranieri and striker Jamie Vardy, who hit the back of the net 24 times in that legendary season. It was then that Vardy was drafted into the English national squad.
And the 31-year-old continues to perform at a high level. Looking at stakers.com statistics, the forward has buried 12 goals and registered one assist in 25 matches this season, including scoring in three Premier League matches in a row — against Watford, Everton and Swansea City.
Getting to the top of the game was not an easy feat for Jamie Vardy. At the age of 16 he had to leave his academy classes in his hometown of Sheffield due to his short stature. A year later, a taller Vardy decided to resume training, but found himself at oStocksbridge Park Steels, plying his trade in the non-league Northern Premier League. He stayed there, for three years making just £30 a game, and keeping his full-time job as a handyman.
After a successful three seasons at Stocksbridge, Vardy drew the attention of the Conference North club, Halifax Town. Having scored 27 goals in a season, the then 23-year-old striker earned himself a professional contract in the Football League for the 2011/2012 season at Fleetwood Town, where he notched another 31 goals.
The target-man could have signed for Blackpool, but he chose Leicester. In his first season in the Championship, he failed to make a mark — scoring just four goals. but the following season, the club earned promotion to the Premier League on the back of Vardy’s 16 goals and Kevin Nugent’s 20.
Their fairy-tale 2015/16 success in the Premier League was a triumph not only for Vasrdy but the entire team, but for the whole team. Since then, Vardy has made 19 appearances for his country and scored six international goals.
Leicester City currently sit in eighth place in the Premier League table, standings with 10 wins, 10 losses and 10 draws. Their 40 points is not enough for another dramatic title, but the east Midlands club might hope to sneak into the Europa League spots. The detailed statistics of Leicester City and other English Premier League teams’ matches can be found at www.stakers.com.
