Football – Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy will leave the Premier League club at the end of the season following their relegation, bringing the curtain down on an era where he established himself as one of the greats in a team that punched above their weight.
Vardy, who was signed from fifth-tier side Fleetwood Town for $1.33 million in 2012, became the club’s greatest player of the modern age, scoring 198 goals across all competitions.
But his most famous achievement was leading Leicester to the 2015-16 Premier League title when the team that avoided relegation the season before made a mockery of 5,000-1 odds to beat the established elite to an unlikely title.
“Gutted that this day has come but I knew it was going to come eventually. I’ve had 13 unbelievable years at this club with lots of success, some down but the majority all highs,” the 38-year-old Vardy said in a statement.
“It’s finally time to call it a day which I am devastated about. But I think the timing is right, just want to sincerely thank you all for taking me in as one of your own.
“Leicester will always have a massive place in my heart and I’ll make sure that I’ll be following for years to come in what I hope will be even more success for the club. But as for now, this is my goodbye but you will see me again, I promise.”