Ipswich Town hail ‘brilliant’ Jamie Vardy ahead of Leicester City clash – but warn ‘it’s our day’
Leicester City news from LeicestershireLive as Ipswich boss and his players pay glowing tribute to Foxes legend ahead of his final game at King Power
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna and his players have paid a glowing tribute to “inspirational” Jamie Vardy – but that isn’t stopping them wanting to spoil his big Leicester City send-off on Sunday.
The 38-year-old Foxes legend is held up as a role model for players up and down the country, proving that if you have the talent and work hard enough you can bridge the gap between the lower leagues and the Premier League.
Having started out in non-league, Vardy didn’t make his top-flight debut until the age of 27. Incredibly, he’s gone on to score 144 goals at the highest level, win both the Premier League and FA Cup, plus earn 26 caps for England.
He announced last month that he would be leaving the Foxes at the end of this season, with it subsequently revealed that he’ll be signing off in Sunday’s game against Ipswich at the King Power Stadium.
He’ll go into the match on 499 appearances and 199 goals for the club. One more goal would move him clear of Robin van Persie into outright 14th on the all-time Premier League goalscorers’ list. Two would draw him level with Teddy Sheringham in 13th.
“It’s obviously a fantastic journey he’s been on and he’s someone very well regarded there and by everyone in English football,” said McKenna, speaking to the East Anglian Daily Times.
“We’ve got our motivation going into Sunday and it’s going to be very different than Leicester’s, so we’re going to try and do everything we can to make it our day.”
Asked if Vardy had been an inspiration to many of his squad, given so many of them have climbed the pyramid, the Blues boss replied: “Yeah, I think he has been. I think I became a little bit more aware, dropping down to League One for the first time, how much players use seeing others who’ve gone through the leagues at whatever age as motivation. It helps them keep believing that you can climbing if you keep working on your game, keep improving and keep on top of your condition.
“He (Vardy) has probably been the best in terms of his journey and then the longevity that he’s had at the top level. Credit to him for that. I know he’s someone who the boys will have looked up to. But I also know they’ll be really keen to stop him getting any success on Sunday. We wish him well after that. Yeah, and it’s also got motivating factors for this game.”
Tractor Boys’ star Sammie Szmodics, meanwhile, revealed the personal touch and lengths Vardy went to in congratulating him on his own personal journey, revealing: “I had a good chat with him at the end of last season after we played against Leicester. He gave me a bottle of champagne, said congratulations for the season I had (at Blackburn), which is something he doesn’t need to do. I don’t really know him on a personal level but it just shows the sort of character that he is.
“It’s quite a similar story, maybe he’s a bit later than me, but he’s worked up and he’s doing it week in, week out in the Premier League now. That’s something that I ultimately want to achieve. This is my first season in the Premier League and our journeys are probably very similar so I can look at aspects of his game and the way he’s done it.”
Sam Morsy also paid tribute to the veteran striker, adding: “What he’s done is a remarkable achievement. He’s come through the leagues and made a lot of people dream. He’s opened the path for people to do it. Because of what he’s done people now look at non-league and lower-league players more.
“He should have played more for England in my opinion, had an amazing career and, without being an incredible professional, he wouldn’t have done that. I know he’s got the reputation for the Red Bulls and whatever, but I guarantee he’ll be one of the best professionals around to be competing and playing at his age at the level.
“It’s going to be a sad day for Leicester, I don’t know what he’s going to do next, but he’s still playing at a really good level and could continue for a number of years if he wanted to.
“It’s his tenacity, his work rate and he’s got great quality as well – great finishing ability and great movement. I look at the winner in him – he’s a winner, he’s tenacious, he’s intense, he can carry the team up the pitch because of his willingness and his pressing. I think he’s been a brilliant Premier League striker.”
