FOXES ON FIRE
Red- hot Vardy setting Premier League alight – although not as much as Leicester legend Taggart was on a night out with his old team- mate Lennon!
LEICESTER legend Gerry Taggart says Jamie Vardy could be having another big party.
The hard- man defender reckons Brendan Rodgers’ men have it in them to spring another title shock.
They won’t be 5,000- 1 this time around and Taggart says that shows just how far the Foxes have come.
The former Northern Ireland international, an adopted son of the city, is well placed to assess Leicester’s title credentials.
Taggar t h el p ed t h em t o t h ei r Wembley League Cup win in 2000 and a seventh- place Premier League finish. He al so scored a UEFA Cup goal against Red Star Belgrade and, as a club ambassador, was backstage when they finished top dogs in 2016.
“That was THE great title win,” says the 50- year- old. “I don’t think it will ever be matched.”
Little wonder Vardy partied long and hard and Taggart, not averse to celebrating victories himself, says last season’s Golden Boot winner deserves every accolade that comes his way.
“What can I say about him that’s not already been said? When you mention Leicester City, he’s the first name that comes into your head, head,” said Taggart.
“How would I have dealt with him? The only way I knew how. Kick him into the stand!
“Catching him would be the thing. His raw pace is one of his b i g - gest assets. His finishing nishing has just got better er and better ; some of his finishes are exceptional.” onal.”
Ta g g a r t , w h o played under Martin rtin
O’neill, believes the way Rodgers deals ls with players i s a major weapon in n
L e i c e s t e r ’s a r - moury. He said:
“Martin O’neill was brilliant with his players. Man- management is a massive thing. Once you lose that skill to bond the team then I think you are destined to fail.
“Martin actively encouraged us to go out and enjoy it when we won. Everything was geared to getting the result and enjoy winning. He had a place in the city where he stayed and he knew when we were going out.”
Taggart’s party piece i s one you wouldn’t try at home.
Team- mate Neil Lennon, now Celtic manager, once poured Sambuca down his shirtless pal’s chest before setting him alight!
Taggart ( with Lennon, below) admits he tried to keep out of O’neill’s way in training because his eyebrows had been burned off in the encounter. “Can you imagine that now?” Taggart laughs. “With social media? It would be everywhere.”
The fact that the Foxes have held on t o t h e l i k e s o f Va r dy, Ka s p e r Schmeichel and James Maddison strengthens their claims on another title, Taggart reckons.
“Leicester are not a selling club any more. Unless the price is right, then the player stays,” he said.
“Harr y Maguire was an inf l ated price. They’d have been daft not to sell him. Again, with Ben Chilwell, it was an over- inf lated price. He’s a good player and he’s doing well at Chelsea but you’re talkin talking £ 50million for a full- back.”
The Foxes ag agonisingly missed out on a la last- four place last term after looking certs for most of the season but Ta g g a r t t h i n k s t h e y should have loftier ambition bitions now. “Can they wi n t h e t i t l e ? Ye s , they ’re in with a real shou shout. This is a really open season. There’s a lot o of surprise results com coming up. They’re n o t 5 , 0 0 0 - 1 , t h a t ’s f o r s sure.”