Vardy Reaches Double Century In Emotional Foxes Farewell

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Vardy Reaches Double Century In Emotional Foxes Farewell

Scoring goal 200 on appearance 500 on the anniversary of the day he joined, Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy called time on 13 magical years in today's 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.

2025-05-18T17:38+01:00

by Sam Stevens

Published

18 May, 2025

from King Power Stadium

Vardy Reaches Double Century In Emotional Foxes Farewell

Scoring goal 200 on appearance 500 on the anniversary of the day he joined, Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy called time on 13 magical years in today's 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.

Sam Stevens

2025-05-18T17:38+01:00

Vardy Reaches Double Century In Emotional Foxes Farewell

Scoring goal 200 on appearance 500 on the anniversary of the day he joined, Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy called time on 13 magical years in today's 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.

Sam Stevens

2025-05-18T17:38+01:00

Vardy Reaches Double Century In Emotional Foxes Farewell

Scoring goal 200 on appearance 500 on the anniversary of the day he joined, Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy called time on 13 magical years in today's 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.

Sam Stevens

2025-05-18T17:38+01:00

Vardy Reaches Double Century In Emotional Foxes Farewell

Scoring goal 200 on appearance 500 on the anniversary of the day he joined, Leicester City legend Jamie Vardy called time on 13 magical years in today's 2-0 win over Ipswich Town.

Sam Stevens

2025-05-18T17:38+01:00

It was all about one man on Filbert Way; our greatest-ever player, our Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield and two-time Championship champion. Our Golden Boot winner, England international, 11-heaven record-breaker, the creator of impossible dreams. A non-league hero turned Premier League legend, this was Vardy’s 500th and last Leicester City appearance – the 38-year-old bringing an end to 13 years of magnificent service.

Over the years, he’s turned goalscoring into theatre and celebration into an art form. At the conclusion of an otherwise thoroughly disappointing season, this was a chance for us to come together with a shared appreciation for our ‘GOAT’. A sea of blue and white flags – all emblazoned with ‘Thank You Vards’ – greeted our third all-time top goalscorer at kick-off, starting an emotional day on Filbert Way. By the end of it, he was flanked by a cast of Foxes legends, saying an emotional goodbye to us all in the centre circle. And on the anniversary of the day he signed, back in May 2012, he tied up his Foxes story in a neat bow with a landmark 200th goal.

Vardy’s 28th-minute opener was exactly what everyone turned up to see (perhaps apart from those from Sussex) – before Kasey McAteer’s maiden Premier League goal made sure of the win after the break. Although our relegation is already confirmed, this nevertheless elevates us up to 18th in the table and continues a steady recent improvement under Ruud van Nistelrooy. The season will end next weekend at AFC Bournemouth before planning can truly commence for 2025/26, the first in 13 years without our iconic No.9 leading the line.

Vardy’s big moment

Before kick-off, Ipswich were already one of the 48 teams who knew what it’s like to see a Vardy strike bulge their own net, albeit only once, back in February 2014. They’ve got off lightly. The likes of Arsenal and Watford (11) and Liverpool and Tottenham (10) will testify to knowing that feeling more than most.

It was actually Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys who went closest early on – despite following successive promotions with Premier League relegation. Leif Davis clattered the post in front of the Spion Kop. Sam Morsy rifled over from long range too. Vardy had already had a sighter as well, but forced wide by Davis and Jacob Greaves, the 38-year-old could only find the side netting as he burst through the middle.

Eight minutes later, Filbert Way was on its feet to the sound of thunderous applause. Not only was King Power Stadium packed to the rafters, but an all-star cast had turned up to be apart of it all. Ex-Manager Nigel Pearson and a troupe of 2016 title winners – including Kasper Schmeichel, Shinji Okazaki and Danny Drinkwater – were all in attendance. And it was James Justin’s bursting run which unlocked Ipswich’s backline, tidily slipping the ball through to Vardy, who wrong-footed Alex Palmer and watched it trickle over his own line.

A day to savour

Vardy was the 1,051st player to make his Foxes debut back in 2012 after that now-legendary £1M move from Fleetwood Town. Today, 499 appearances later, it’s hard to contemplate there was ever a time where Vardy wasn't synonymous with glory and triumph. He was once a new summer signing whose time at Leicester could go either way. But how many truly great Premier League strikers since 1992 can you think of? Only 13 of them have ever scored more goals than Jamie Vardy (145).

Basking in mid-May sunshine, the troubles of this campaign were almost forgotten. Relegation has been a bitter blow for all associated with the Club, there’s no escaping that. It's an indictment on both sides’ seasons that the result seemed to take a backseat to the story of Vardy’s departure. But this was a day to say thank you and to celebrate the glorious years we’ve shared together. A positive for the here-and-now, Vardy’s goal was followed by McAteer’s neat finish in the 68th minute. It helped, as well, to ensure it would be a winning departure for our greatest-ever player against an Ipswich team who did have their moments.

Omari Hutchinson and former Leicester forward George Hirst could have burst the bubble in the second half. But the day's highlight was undoubtedly Vardy’s goal. After all, we knew what it meant to him to reach 200... because he’s told us. He said pre-match it would ‘mean everything’ to give the Blue Army something to cheer one last time and, fittingly, his parting gift was another ‘I was there’ moment to add to an incredible collection.

A final goodbye

Bygone heroes Arthur Chandler and Arthur Rowley may have scored more goals in Leicester blue. Graham Cross and Adam Black might have made more appearances with the fox on their chest. Those names will, rightly, live in City folklore forever. But Vardy’s achievements – in the era of giants, when football has reached astonishing heights – are truly historic. Not only do they secure our No.9’s status as the most decorated player in our entire 141-year story, they also cement – indisputably – his lofty standing in the English game altogether.

Surrounded by team-mates past and present, flanked by his family, accompanied by Chairman Khun Top, Vardy emerged at full-time for a one-man Guard of Honour. He was presented with an array of gifts, a stunning gold Fox trophy, a special picture-book charting his career and, as one last surprise, Leicester City's 24/25 Player of the Season award. Naturally, there was only one man worthy of the last word, speaking to the crowd on the PA system.

"From the bottom of my heart," he said, addressing the Blue Army directly. "Thank you. For taking myself and family in as one of your own. Hopefully I've repaid you for that."

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