The end of a love story, the beginning of a new adventure. Legend of Leicester where he played between 2012 and 2025, Jamie Vardy (38 years old) will have known almost everything with the Foxes. Champion of England in 2016, the English striker was a quarter-finalist in the Champions League with his club during the 2016/2017 financial year. Also playing in the Europa League and the Europa Conference League, he will have experienced more difficulties in recent seasons with two relegations to the Championship in 2023 and 2025 (with promotion to the Premier League in 2024). Author of 200 goals (and 71 assists) in 500 matches with his favorite club, Jamie Vardy ended this beautiful story with relegation, but will have left magnificent memories.
The former England international (26 caps, 7 goals) was coming to the end of his contract, but did not want to hang up his boots just yet. Followed by several clubs like Valencia or Como, he finally made a surprising choice by joining the Italians of Cremonese. Promoted to Serie A after a play-off victory against Spezia (0-0/3-2), the Grigiorossi knew how to find the right words. Jamie Vardy did not come early in retirement, but with great ambitions and warned the detractors. “I’m going to prove them wrong. To me, age is just a number. I’ve always said that as long as my legs keep working and are as fresh as they should be, I’ll keep going. For now, I don’t feel them slowing down, so I will give everything for this team.”he announced during his presentation. He then matched actions with words.
Vardy is already scoring and shining
After a few adaptation matches, he opened his goal counter against Atalanta on October 25 (1-1). A match at the end of which he confided in Sky Italia on his discovery of a new football after thirteen years of navigating between the Championship and the Premier League: “I’m happy with my first goal in Serie A, but not with the result. However, I think this is the right path. I’m always ready when coach Nicola asks me to play. I feel good and I want to always be ready. Premier League or Serie A? Your league is more tactical and relies more on ball possession than the Premier League, where there is more speed and intensity. In the end, football is simple: you have to play 100%. How is my Italian going? Starting next week, I’m taking more intensive classes. For now, I only know the basics.» Mastering the language of the goalscorer, he found the fault again two matches later against Juventus (2-1 defeat). Author of a double this Monday evening against Bologna (3-1), he already has 4 appearances in 9 matches and has distinguished himself in important matches. Good news for Cremonese, currently eleventh in Serie A and already 7 points ahead of the red zone.
Continuing with his special diet of ham omelettes and energy drinks, Jamie Vardy added double espressos and this did not bother his coach Davide Nicola who valued his behavior within the team: “Vardy is the reference point for the team. As a coach, I can only say that the great champions have incredible class and already know what to do in decisive moments. They already know what they should do and how they should do it. They never adopt attitudes that are not constructive for the team. A champion is distinguished from an ordinary player not only by his immense qualities on the field, but also by the spirit and the awareness he has of what he represents. A true champion always has an impeccable attitude. He is very confident, jovial, and always training. He has his habits, but he came here with the mentality of making himself available. The Cremona group welcomed Vardy with great privilege. Vardy has recognized this, and he is proving to be an exceptional man in every way.» Rave words for Jamie Vardy who is already causing a sensation in Italy.
