PARTY Vardy’s still having a
Leicester star showing no sign of slowing down after reaching a century of Premier League goals
WHEN Jamie Vardy scored his first Premier League goal in a 5-3 victory over Manchester United nearly
six years ago, Sportsmail remarked that ‘a forward who was playing for Stocksbridge Park Steels should not be making you look a mug’.
He has been making fools of opponents ever since. On Saturday, against Crystal Palace, he scored his 100th top-flight goal. ‘It’s 101, actually,’ said Vardy afterwards, reminding us that he added to his century with another in stoppage time.
That cheek, a wit as quick as his turn of foot, has epitomised Vardy the player. A ‘nuisance’ we called him that day against United, awarding him our star-man prize after he laid on the other four goals.
It is remarkable to think he was then just a few months off his 28th birthday and that it would take another six months for his next Premier League goal.
The 99 which were to follow have, of course, taken Leicester to a Premier League title and Vardy to two major tournaments with England.
There was also the record-breaking run of goals in 11 consecutive Premier League matches in 2015.
During that streak, there was a moment at Newcastle when he became the only opposition player in recent years to be given a standing ovation by the home crowd. It was an incredible scene.
He may be something of an irritant, then, but Vardy is eminently likeable. At 33, we should enjoy him while his career at the top endures. Not that Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers believes the end is in sight. ‘He’s got relatively low mileage,’ said Rodgers about a striker who, ironically, runs further than most, but you know what he meant.
Only Ian Wright has scored his first Premier League goal at an age older than Vardy and gone on to reach a century. Wright netted his last in the top flight at 35. Vardy, you suspect, will be around later than that.
With 21 goals already this season, he has his sights set on becoming the oldest Golden Boot winner in Premier League history.
This isn’t a swansong — Vardy is still top of the pops and in full voice.
Not that you would have thought that during the opening 77 minutes against Palace, when his post-restart drought extended and his cleanest connections were a boot to the post and fist to the turf, both born of frustration.
But then Palace defender Mamadou Sakho attempted a Cruyff turn — it was more Jordi than Johan — and his slip led to Vardy’s milestone strike. Free from the isolation of 99 not out, Vardy was back to his pre-lockdown best during the closing stages and scooped home a second after a trademark burst in behind.
While everyone else was tiring, he was just getting started — an apt analogy for his career if ever there was one.
On the day Vardy signed for Leicester for £1million from non-League Fleetwood Town in 2012, then England manager Roy Hodgson was naming his squad for the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.
Hodgson would later give Vardy his international debut and take him to Euro 2016.
The pair chatted at length on Saturday and the Palace boss — who knows a thing or two about longevity at 72 — insists Vardy is showing no signs of slowing up.
‘I always found him to be a very good trainer and a very good professional,’ said Hodgson.
‘He was someone who knew where he was going. He knew what he needed to do to succeed. He knows his qualities and what is required. He doesn’t miss games either, and that is huge.
‘ He’s always there and he’s always running — even in the last minute. We kept him quiet but that doesn’t matter… the scoreline reads 3-0 and Jamie’s got two goals.’
Hodgson’s comments about keeping him quiet attracted a little mocking on social media, but he was right.
Vardy had made a mug of Palace without playing particularly well. That is what the very best strikers do, even if they did once play for Stocksbridge Park Steels. LEICESTER (3-4-1-2): Schmeichel 6.5; Justin 7, Evans 7, Soyuncu 7; Albrighton 7 (Fuchs 75min, 6), Ndidi 6.5, TIELEMANS 8 (Choudhury 89), Chilwell 6.5 (Bennett 46, 6); Perez 6 (Barnes 75, 7); Vardy 7.5, Iheanacho 7 (Praet 64, 6). Subs not used: Morgan, Gray, Ward, Mendy. Scorers: Iheanacho 49, Vardy 77, 90. Booked: Chilwell, Albrighton. Manager: Brendan Rodgers 8. CRYSTAL PALACE (4-3-2-1): Guaita 5; Ward 5, Cahill 6, Sakho 4.5, Van Aanholt 5.5 (Mitchell 83); McArthur 6 (McCarthy 69, 5), Milivojevic 6, Riedewald 6 (Kouyate 60, 6); Ayew 5, Zaha 5; Benteke 5.5 (Townsend 83). Subs not used: Dann, Meyer, Hennessey, Woods, Pierrick. Booked: McArthur. Manager: Roy Hodgson 6. Referee: Jonathan Moss 7.