Christian Fuchs Made Audacious Plea to Jamie Vardy for Newport County
Christian Fuchs, the former Leicester City defender turned head coach of League Two strugglers Newport County, has disclosed an audacious attempt to recruit his old teammate Jamie Vardy. Fuchs, who took his first senior managerial role in November, revealed he rang Vardy to see if the striker would help rescue the club from relegation danger.
Desperate Times Call for Bold Measures
Newport County currently sit second from bottom in League Two, facing a serious threat of dropping out of the English Football League. The team has been among the lowest scorers in the fourth tier this season, prompting Fuchs to explore every possible avenue to bolster their attack.
"I like a challenge but this, for my first job, is probably the toughest of them all," the Austrian coach told The Mail. "First I asked Jamie if he wants to pack his bags. Of course I did, even though I knew what the answer would be!"
Fuchs and Vardy shared historic success at Leicester City, winning both the Premier League title and FA Cup together during their time at the King Power Stadium. That personal connection gave Fuchs the confidence to make the call, despite Vardy's current commitments in Italy with Serie A side Cremonese.
Vardy's Italian Adventure Continues
While Fuchs battles to keep Newport afloat, Vardy has been enjoying a new chapter in his career with Cremonese. The former England international has scored five times in 19 appearances since making the summer move to Italy, showing he still has plenty to offer at the highest level.
Newport's situation remains precarious but not hopeless. The Exiles find themselves three points adrift of safety with numerous teams still within reach during the final third of the 2025/26 campaign. Every point will be crucial as they fight to maintain their EFL status.
Fuchs Forges His Own Managerial Path
The Austrian defender enjoyed a distinguished playing career under several top managers including Claudio Ranieri, Dean Smith, and Thomas Tuchel. While he acknowledges learning from these figures, Fuchs is determined to establish his own identity as a head coach.
"You take bits and pieces – good things and bad things – but then you adapt it to how you feel is the right way," Fuchs explained. "I don't want to be a Tuchel, I don't want to be a Dean Smith, but all of them did something that I appreciated as a player."
He emphasized the importance of personal approach in management: "Everyone has to find their own way. It's more about off the pitch and how you want to be as a person. The bottom line is always how to deal with people."
Fuchs isn't shy about seeking advice either, revealing: "I have phone numbers. I was just on two phone calls this morning to ask for advice. You should not be shy to pick up the phone."
The Newport County boss faces a monumental task in his first managerial position, but his willingness to explore every option – including that unlikely call to Vardy – demonstrates his commitment to the challenge ahead.
