For once the Vardy will lead tribute to man who made him
JAMIE VARDY is set for an emotional recall today as he aims to honour Leicester’s late chairman.
Vardy is forever indebted to Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha for plucking him from non-League obscurity in 2012.
The forward bagged 24 goals as the Foxes’ talisman in their incredible Premier League-winning campaign in 2015-16.
And Srivaddhanaprabha rewarded Vardy with numerous lucrative new contracts as the striker snubbed Arsenal to stay, and they became close friends.
The club chairman was even a special guest at his wedding in 2016.
Vardy has been seen in tears in the aftermath of Srivaddhanaprabha’s death in a helicopter crash last Saturday, and said: “It’s been the hardest week of everyone’s lives. He wasn’t just a chairman, he literally was part of your extended family.
“He was always smiling. They are the things you will never forget and will always be engraved on your mind. From day one he had always been very friendly, always wanted to be involved. He wasn’t just a chairman – he was part of the squad itself.
“He was always giving you encouragement, wanting to be involved with the lads.”
Vardy and team-mates intend to travel to Srivaddhanaprabha’s native Thailand after today’s game for the funeral.
But first they are determined to do well when they return to action at Cardiff in the Premier League after Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup tie was postponed.
“We all spoke about it – about obviously wanting to play, it’s what Vichai would have wanted,” added Vardy. “We have to go out there and honour his name and put in a performance which will hopefully get us the win.
“It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be very emotional, but we’ve all had a chat and the one thing we wanted to do was play this game and honour the man.
“The important thing is we all come together even stronger, making sure we do Vichai proud.”
Vardy was surprised and frustrated not to start Leicester’s previous match at home to West Ham on the day of the disaster at the King Power Stadium. He was introduced for the second half after coming off sick against Arsenal in the closing stages of Leicester’s previous game.
But Foxes boss Claude Puel has confirmed the striker is fully fit and fired up to do well in the chairman’s memory. “Jamie and some other players know the chairman from six or seven years ago,” said the manager. “It was a fantastic journey for these players and staff. Jamie is ready.”
Leicester are without a win in their last three games
He was a part of the squad itself
A SPECIAL BOND: Vardy gets a hug from the owner and only scraped a point against 10man West Ham when Wilfred Ndidi popped up with an equaliser with just one minute of normal time remaining.
But Puel added: “I don’t want to manipulate something or the emotions to play football. I don’t want to use this event to find a victory or solidarity to win the games.
“I just want us to have the capacity to give our best to honour the chairman and to remember what he brought for all people in the club and for the fans – just this.”