Earlier this week, Jamie Vardy announced that he will leave Leicester City at the end of this season. After suffering relegation again, it’s fair to say his time with the Foxes hasn’t ended they way he would have liked. But his journey to the from non league to Premier League royalty is nothing short of extraordinary, a testament to his resilience, determination and talent.
There’s footballers. Then there’s icons.
For the StatrDraft crew, Jamie Vardy is something else entirely. He wasn’t just part of the football landscape: he was one of our guys. Before bringing Statr to the public, we have spent a decade, breaking, tweaking and perfecting our game with our own group of mates. Needless to say we have a truck load of lore behind us and some players are iconic to us: Juan Mata, Sergio Aguero, George Boyd, Chris Smalling, Jean Phillipe Mateta, Fabian Schar and Martin Dubravka…say these names to any of our lot and they’ll either resonate a smile or a shudder, depending on who you’re talking to. Anywho, from the very first test leagues, when Statr was just a scrappy side project fuelled by banter in the back of a phone shop, spreadsheets, and beers , Vardy was there. Causing chaos. Smashing expectations. And doing it all with that trademark Vardy edge. 2 cans of Red Bull, half bottle of port and a packed of Snus, Vardy wasn’t your typical frontman, and sir we salute you.
Now, as he prepares to leave Leicester City, the last player standing from the era when we kicked off the game we’re now building for the world, we had to take a minute. Let’s give Vards his proper StatrDraft send-off.
The Career: From Non-League to Never Ignored
Vardy’s career trajectory defies the conventional path of most professional footballers. He was a product of the Sheffield Wednesday youth set up, but began his career in non-league football, working his way up the ranks while also working full time. After making an impression, spells at Rotherham United and Fleetwood Town followed. It wasn’t until 2012, at the age of 25, that he signed for Leicester City, then in the Championship, with his Premier League debut coming 2 years later after Leicester gained promotion.
Vardy’s Premier League career is forever linked to Leicester City’s remarkable success. In the 2015-16 season, Vardy played a pivotal role in one of the greatest underdog stories in sports history as Leicester City defied odds of 5000-1 to win the Premier League title. (Side note, he also played an important role in Craggy Naggins league win in 1026)
Vardy’s goal-scoring exploits were crucial to Leicesters run to the title, as he scored in a record-breaking 11 consecutive Premier League matches, surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy’s previous record.
Let’s be real, Vardy’s story shouldn’t have happened. It straight up shouldn’t have, there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that there is going to be a movie or some documentary on the rise of the the man that before signing for Leicester was a technician making medical splints. Signed at 25 from Fleetwood Town for £1 million (which, at the time, Twitter absolutely lost its mind over), most wrote him off before he’d kicked a ball in the Championship. But fast forward 13 years, and the man has:
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A Premier League title – if not the single greatest PL title ever! 5,000 to 1 odds. Yeah that doesn’t happen
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FA Cup
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Community Shield
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Golden Boot
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143 Premier League goals
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A Guinness World Record for most consecutive goals scored
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The hearts of every underdog-loving football fan in the world
Vardy’s story is proof that football is still magic. Still unpredictable. Still about belief. Some haul for the man not meant to make it.
The Moments: Pure Vardy Mayhem
You can’t talk Vardy without talking moments. Some of the most unhinged, unforgettable scenes in recent Premier league football have his fingerprints all over them:
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That goal vs. United in 2014 – the “game of my life,” he said. One goal, two assists, absolute carnage.
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Scoring in 11 straight Premier League games – breaking van Nistelrooy’s record while living off Red bull, Blue WKD’s and just being the King Chav at the King Power.
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Hosting the title-winning party at his own house as Leicester pulled off the greatest sporting story ever told.
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The volley vs. West Brom. An outrageous hit. Goal of the season. Chef’s kiss.
These weren’t just moments. They were declarations. Vardy didn’t just arrive he arrived with noise, pace, spite, and end product.
Goal-Scoring Prowess
Vardy is renowned for his exceptional goal-scoring ability, characterized by his blistering pace, clinical finishing, and intelligent movement. While he’s a dream for fantasy managers everywhere (see above), he is a nightmare for defenders, constantly stretching backlines with his runs and punishing any lapses in concentration. Vardy’s goal-scoring record in the Premier League is a testament to his consistency and longevity. He won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2020, and has consistently ranked among the league’s top scorers.
Vardy is a quintessential “fox in the box,” thriving on through balls and crosses, and possessing a remarkable ability to find space in crowded penalty areas. His pace and directness make him a constant threat on the counter-attack, and his tenacity and work rate endear him to fans. While not always heavily involved in build-up play, Vardy’s impact in the final third is undeniable.
Chat Sh*t, Get Banged: The Philosophy of Vardy
It started as a throwaway line on Twitter. But “Chat sh*t, get banged” became an era-defining philosophy. It’s the line that defines the man, It’s Vardy’s whole vibe in one sentence. A warning. A lifestyle. A mission statement. And if we’re honest, it kind of sums up how we approached fantasy football when we built Statr. Trust your instincts. Pick the player others overlook. Ignore the noise. Play your game. Vardy didn’t care about optics. He just wanted to score, win, and wind you up while doing it. Iconic.
Back when we started Statr, there were no scout reports on Twitter, no data dashboards, just pure vibes. A bunch of us mates drafting teams, trying to outsmart each other every week.
And who was always in someone’s squad?
Jamie. Freakin’. Vardy.
Why?
Because even before Opta scores and key passes mattered to us, we knew. Vardy delivered value that didn’t always show up in legacy fantasy points. Work rate, pressure, runs in behind. He was a headache for defenders and a dream for real-football heads like us.
In fact, he was one half our proof that the traditional fantasy system was broken alongside his old stable mate N’golo Kante. Goals and assists were the tip of the iceberg. Vardy was the full package and StatrDraft was built to finally reward that.
Legacy
Jamie Vardy’s legacy extends beyond his goal-scoring records and achievements on the pitch. He is an inspiration to aspiring footballers who have taken a less traditional route to the top of the game. His story is a reminder that with hard work, determination, and self-belief, anything is possible. Vardy’s impact on Leicester City is immeasurable, and he will forever be remembered as a key figure in the club’s most successful era. Where to next is anyone’s guess right now, but over at Statrdraft, we think there may just be a Hollywood ending in the books for Vardy.
The Last Man Standing
Here’s the emotional bit. Vardy is the last active Premier League player from when we launched the very first version of our game. A 38-year-old still banging in goals while most of his peers have retired or vanished into punditry. He’s our last link to that time. When we were building something no one thought would matter. When we were just lads, dreaming big and drafting even bigger.
So yeah. We’re biased. Vardy isn’t just a Leicester legend he’s our legend too.
One Last Draft Pick for the Road
As Vardy moves on this summer, we salute him. And if your draft rolls around and he’s still active wherever he ends up next season you know what to do. Pick him. One last time. For the chaos. For the nostalgia. For the story.
Jamie Vardy was never just a player, he was a vibe, and like – all the best ones – once he’s gone, there’ll never be another quite like him.
Jon Harrison / Gary Cronin, April 2025
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