Jamie Vardy has reflected on his remarkable football career, admitting he would not choose to repeat the journey despite its fairytale ending. The Leicester City legend, now playing for Serie A side Cremonese at 39, described himself as a 'little freak in the works' and acknowledged the path from non-league to Premier League champion was unconventional and arduous.
Speaking ahead of a new documentary about his rise, Vardy recalled his early days making walking frames in a warehouse before breaking into the Football League at 25. He insisted his dedication to football never wavered, despite the late start. 'I've still been playing football since I was five years old,' he said. 'It's not like I've done anything different; I'm still training and playing on a weekend.'
The striker reserved special praise for former Leicester manager Nigel Pearson, who built the foundations for the club's miraculous 2016 Premier League title win. Vardy credited Pearson with creating a close-knit group that Claudio Ranieri later harnessed. He also revealed the title-winning squad remains in contact via a WhatsApp group, describing their bond as 'unbelievable'.
Vardy acknowledged the challenges of his early Leicester days, including being pulled aside by club vice-chair Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha after arriving at training drunk. He credited his wife Rebekah with helping him turn his life around. The documentary also features his close friends, the 'Inbetweeners', who have been a constant presence throughout his career.
Now playing in Italy, Vardy said he will continue as long as his body allows. 'When they say enough's enough then that is finito,' he said. Reflecting on the 2016 title, he noted the 10-year anniversary passed days after Leicester's relegation to League One, but insisted the memories remain special. 'If you asked me to go and do it all again, I wouldn't,' he added.
