I STILL SIP THE PORT AND RED BULL — I FEEL LIKE I’M 21!
EXCLUSIVE: Jamie Vardy on punching himself in the face, rediscovering form and playing until 40
AS IF closing down an opponent, Jamie Vardy nips in early. The question is about the importance of age in modern football and Vardy is in like a shot.
‘I still feel 21, I’m sweet!’ he says grinning. Vardy is actually 30 and potentially entering the autumn of his career.
But this is a player whose career has been far from normal. Eighthtier striker and factory worker until 23, Premier League champion at 29, Vardy has fewer miles in his legs than others who have followed more conventional paths. His frame, thanks to a freak metabolism, remains lean.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic reached new heights at 35 by maintaining physical condition. Kevin Phillips played alongside Vardy in the Championship at 40.
Can he enjoy that kind of longevity? ‘Definitely, I’ve just got to keep my pace,’ Vardy says. ‘Age is only a number. While I’m still running around like I am, then long may it continue. I feel young.’
Earlier this season that may have sounded hollow. Split by a hat-trick against Manchester City, Vardy went on barren runs of 16 and nine club games and came under scrutiny as Leicester slipped into the relegation scrap.
Some believed the form that saw him score 24 Premier League goals last season would never be reclaimed. Then Vardy struck against Sevilla in Claudio Ranieri’s last match. Speaking that night, Vardy’s overriding emotion was relief. He did not know Ranieri was about to be sacked but the spark was back.
Talking about Ranieri is off limits at Leicester’s insistence but Vardy has previously spoken about the hurt caused by ‘false accusations’ levelled at players that they helped get the Italian fired. In March Vardy revealed he received death threats even after saying: ‘The only thing we are guilty of as a team is underachieving.’
Since then Leicester have improved, with Vardy to the fore. In 14 matches under Craig Shakespeare he has scored eight times.
In the Premier League he has 12 goals and five assists — figures that stand comparison with others judged to have enjoyed supreme campaigns. Eden Hazard has 15 goals and five assists. Philippe Coutinho 12 and seven.
‘I feel good about how the season is ending but I could have scored more,’ Vardy admits. ‘ My form did get me frustrated but it happens to strikers. You just have to keep doing the things that have got you the success in the past.’ So no change to his pre-match ritual — revealed in last year’s autobiography — of sipping port the night before to help him sleep and energy drinks on match day to fire him up? ‘I’ve got to have a Red Bull in the morning,’ he says with a smile when asked whether he kept up his habit.
Another Vardy idiosyncrasy has been seen less frequently. At times of extreme annoyance on the pitch, he has hit himself in the face. His nine-punch combination late in the home leg against Sevilla would have made Anthony Joshua raise a respectful eyebrow.
‘I used to do it all the time, it’s frustration,’ says Vardy. ‘ It’s better to punch myself than somebody else! I’ve cut my lip quite a few times.’
That commitment is partly what impressed Diego Simeone. Before the Champions League quarterfinal, Atletico Madrid’s coach was effusive in his praise and there are suspicions that the Spaniards will make a summer move.
Vardy’s goal in the second leg confirmed his ability to score against Europe’s best defences and ignited a barnstorming climax from Leicester.
Vardy watched Atletico’s semifinal against Real Madrid with a little envy but also greater understanding. ‘You saw just how good Atletico are — Real were struggling to cope.’
His target is another crack at Europe’s best. ‘It’s been beneficial for me but from a club point of view it shows we can hack it with the big guns,’ he says. ‘It whets the appetite to get back there.’
With Shakespeare at the helm, Leicester’s form has been that of a top-four club. They have taken 22 points from 11 games, losing only at Everton, Manchester City and Arsenal.
That makes Shakespeare the popular choice to get the manager’s job permanently. Vardy is close to the man who helped convince him to stay after a difficult first season in 2012-13. ‘He hasn’t changed,’ says Vardy.
‘He doesn’t want to separate himself from the group because he is the manager. He wants the Prime time: Vardy is now 30 but says he can play on for years — if he keeps his pace atmosphere to be as it was when he was assistant. He is doing the right things.’
Taking momentum into next season is important for Leicester. Tottenham’s visit tonight is important for that momentum.
Leicester fans have enjoyed decrying Spurs as the team who came third in a two-horse race and Vardy’s eyes twinkle at the mention of his social- media exchange with Harry Kane. Kane posted an image of lions in pursuit when the title was alive; Vardy posted a picture of Mufasa from
The Lion King falling to his death when it all was over.
‘I was just watching it with the kids, nothing wrong with liking
The Lion King,’ Vardy says without trying to make anyone believe him. He welcomes terrace chanting in light of Chelsea beating Spurs this time. ‘Fans having a bit of banter makes for atmosphere at games.’
Vardy’s summer promises to be busy. Son Finley, four months old, is showing signs he has his dad’s energy. Then there are England matches, and his V9 Academy is launching at Manchester City’s academy complex in June where selected non-League footballers will try to convince scouts they can play at a higher level.
Those assessing Leicester’s season will judge it positively if they finish in the top 10 after their Champions League run.
‘Last year wasn’t supposed to happen so when we started this season we set realistic targets,’ Vardy says. ‘If we finish top half, we have achieved those.’
Concentrating on domestic action will help next term. ‘Our present form probably could get you into Europe, but we must sustain it for the full season.’
Vardy was not swept up in the anniversary of Leicester’s title win earlier this month. His winners’ medal is not even on display. ‘It’s in a box,’ he says. ‘You see on social media, “A year ago this happened”, but we don’t get time to reflect. Once the career is over that’s when you reminisce.’
He does not plan for that to be for a good while yet.
Jamie Vardy was taking part in the BetStars Face-Off series. BetStars are the official betting partner of Leicester. To watch the video go to: facebook.com/ betstars or @BetStars on Twitter.