Exclusive: Jamie Vardy’s Legacy Will Never Be Matched, says Former Leicester Teammate Danny Simpson

Premier League winner Danny Simpson is sure former Foxes’ teammate Jamie Vardy will receive a fitting farewell to his “magnificent” Leicester City career on Sunday.

Simpson and Vardy starred together in the famous side that won the 2016 Premier League crown as 5000-1 outsiders to lift the title.

And this weekend Simpson and the class of 2016 will be at the King Power Stadium to celebrate Vardy as he looks to end his incredible Leicester career on 500 games.

The club’s home game with Ipswich Town is planned to be Vardy’s final appearance for the club after a decorated 13 years of loyal service.

Last month the 38-year-old former England international announced he would be leaving the club when his contract expired this summer.

And Simpson believes the club’s “greatest” striker deserves all the plaudits and praise he receives having given so much to the club over the years.

“I don’t think you can find another Jamie Vardy, he’s been that good ,” saluted Simpson, speaking exclusively to SportsBoom.com. 

“He’s been at the club for 13-14 years and I’ve seen many strikers come in to try and replace him – and even at 38 there’s been nobody who can been able to do it."

“He always set the tone. His leadership, his work-ethic, he was a good lad in the dressing room and people looked up to him – and still do."

“We don’t know where he’s going to go but, for Jamie, he’s already been relegated once and experienced playing Saturday-Tuesday, Saturday-Tuesday."

“He’s 38 going on 39, I’m not sure where he’s at with his body and whether he wants that anymore."

“But when you’re playing in the Premier League and it’s Saturday-Saturday, and you’ve got a few more days to rest your body - chance to do your rehab and recuperate – playing once a week might suit him more."

“But maybe he just thinks it’s the right time. He got the club back up to the Premier League last season with 20-plus goals, so you can’t argue with his decision."

“Maybe he just wants one more last challenge before he hangs his boots up.”

INCREDIBLE CAREER

Vardy has scored 199 goals in 499 appearances for the Foxes having signed for the club in May 2012.

He famously scored 24 goals in 38 appearances in the club’s Premier League-winning season – and that followed success with enjoying European football and also winning the FA Cup win in the 2020-21 season.

And last season he played a huge role scoring 20 goals as the Foxes won the Championship and secured their passage to the top-flight at the first time of asking.

“He’s just a very special player, there’s very few strikers like him who run in behind defenders and can score goals like he has done during his career,” reflected Simpson, who enjoyed five seasons in the Premier League with the club between 2014 and 2019.

“That’s credit to him. I think that’s what we need to start saying, you can’t replace him and the club are going to have to find a new striker and find a new way of playing."

“Football has changed, it’s all about the ball coming to feet instead of knocking in balls behind defences."

“That’s the biggest part of the team that’s going to need some work, the club are going to need to sign a good striker if they want to win the Championship next season and get back in the Premier League."

“The club are going to have to find someone who is up for the challenge of trying to get promoted and get back in the Premier League the year after.”