Jamie Vardy: LCFC's Highest Goalscorer Of 21st Century

The 30-year-old applied a superb finish to a devastating counter-attack at Palace on Saturday 15 April to go level with former Foxes forward Matty Fryatt (62). He then added another, his 14th effort of the 2016/17 campaign, during a 1-1 draw with Atléti in the UEFA Champions League just three days later.

Throughout his five years at the Club, Vardy has enjoyed a plentiful supply of memorable moments. From crucial goals against Chelsea and Liverpool to breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy's 10-match Premier League scoring record, the former Fleetwood striker has etched his name into City's history.

But who has he overtaken along the way? See below for the Foxes' highest goalscorers since 1 January, 2000...

=10. Paul Gallagher (2009-2015) - 28 goals (137 apps) 

Gallagher scored his first two goals for Leicester during a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace in 2009 before a brilliant hat-trick against Scunthorpe United then helped his side to a 5-1 success in February 2010 as City finished in the top six Play-Off places at the end of 2009/10.

A free-kick from 30 yards against Nottingham Forest, too, sticks in the memory for many. Under Sven-Göran Eriksson, the one-time Scotland international continued to impress and even drew comparisons to former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham from his manager. 

=10. James Scowcroft (2001-2005) – 28 (147 apps) 

After signing from Ipswich Town in 2001, James Scowcroft proved to be a reliable source of goals for Leicester at the turn of the millennium - at both Filbert Street and King Power Stadium. 

The most productive of his four seasons for City was in 2002/03, when 10 goals helped the Foxes to clinch promotion from the First Division at the first time of asking under former manager Micky Adams.

9. Steve Howard (2008-2012) - 32 (169 apps)

Procured in 2008 from East Midlands rivals Derby County, Steve Howard’s presence in attack made him a real handful for opposition defences during his four seasons with the Club. 

His last-minute winner against Leeds United in 2009 went a long way towards securing promotion to the Sky Bet Championship. His efforts that season also earned him the LCFC Player of the Year award. 

Howard remained a key figure in the dressing room under Eriksson, too, with four goals during the 2010/11 season. He would later enjoy spells with Hartlepool United and Sheffield Wednesday.

=7. Iain Hume (2005-2008) – 34 (132 apps) 

A Canadian international signed from Tranmere Rovers in 2005, Iain Hume’s energetic performances across three difficult seasons for the Foxes made him a firm favourite with the Blue Army. 

With 34 goals in 132 appearances in a City shirt, the forward was also useful in front of goal for the Club. Hume proved his calibre on the international stage, too, with over 40 caps and six goals.

Despite Leicester's wider struggles during his three-year spell in the East Midlands, Hume was renowned for his never-say-die attitude before leaving for Barnsley in 2008.

=7. Riyad Mahrez (2013-present) - 34 (132 apps)

Within minutes of making his Leicester City debut from the bench against Middlesbrough in 2013, it was already abundantly clear that Mahrez would have quite an impact at King Power Stadium. 

Few would have been able to foretell the true nature of his impact, however, as the Algerian international won both the Championship and Premier League titles with the Club in just three seasons. 

It was that emphatic top-flight winning season of 2015/16 when Mahrez truly showcased his ability. With 17 goals, the former Le Havre winger quickly became one of the most recognisable footballers in world football. His form during a remarkable year for the Club culminated in a clutch of personal awards coming his way, including the PFA Player of the Year and the BBC African Footballer of the Year prizes.

Since then, the 26-year-old has been invaluable for his side on several fronts. His four goals in the UEFA Champions League helped fire the Foxes to the Quarter-Final stage on their debut entry.

6. Lloyd Dyer (2008-2014) - 39 (265 apps) 

A likeable figure among the Blue Army due to his direct and exciting playing style, Lloyd Dyer was a key member of both Nigel Pearson’s Sky Bet League 1 and Championship winning teams. 

Signed from MK Dons in 2008, Dyer’s pace and deadly left foot saw him score a brilliant 11 goals during his first campaign with the Foxes and, for six seasons, he continued to be a reliable figure on the wing. 

Perhaps Dyer’s finest season for City came in 2013/14, when his seven league goals helped Leicester to a record points tally of 102 and a second-tier league title after Play-Off heart-break just 11 months earlier. Of all his many strikes, it was a rare right-footed rocket away at Bolton Wanderers that will live longest in the memory, as it was the one that secured the Championship title. 

Dyer joined Watford in the summer of 2014 and now plays for Burton Albion in the Championship.

5. Paul Dickov (2002-2004 & 2008-2010) - 40 (125 apps) 

Scot Paul Dickov had two spells at Leicester City that saw him play at both Filbert Street and King Power Stadium, with half of his 40 goals coming in the 2002/03 promotion season. 

A tenacious and talented forward, Dickov joined the City ranks in 2001 following a five-year spell with Manchester City. He scored both goals in a 2-1 win over Blackburn Rovers to open his account.

A fantastic 20 goals alongside Brian Deane in 02/03 saw the Foxes return to the Premier League. A further 13 goals would follow in that top-flight campaign, including two in a famous 4-0 win over Leeds. 

Leicester were relegated again that season, seeing Dickov move to Blackburn. After further spells with Man City and Crystal Palace, Pearson signed the striker once again in 2008. He scored three times that year to aid them winning League 1 and he became the first player to score in the top three tiers for the Club. Andy King has since done the same. 

Dickov went on to join Derby County the following season and later became manager of both Oldham Athletic and Doncaster Rovers.

4. David Nugent (2011-2015) - 59 (180 apps) 

Ex-City striker David Nugent played a crucial role during a momentous time for the Club before leaving in the summer of 2015 to join Middlesbrough.  

After arriving from Portsmouth on a free transfer in 2011, Nugent enjoyed an impressive first season under Eriksson's management that saw him finish as top scorer with 16 goals. 

He added another 16 goals to his tally in 2012/13, including a first career hat-trick against Hull City at King Power Stadium, before having the most productive season of his career in 2013/14. 

Alongside Vardy, the deadly duo gave defences a torrid time en route to the Championship title, with Nugent, often on penalty-taking duties, scoring 20 league goals for the first time in his career. His first Premier League goal for City came against Manchester United in a 5-3 win, while his stunning volley at Liverpool on New Year’s Day 2015 won the Club's Goal of the Year award.

He left for Boro in 2015 and now plays for Derby County in the Championship.

3. Andy King (2007-present) – 61 (359 apps) 

A graduate of the Academy, King will go down as one of Leicester City’s finest midfielders of recent times and, with 61 goals in his career so far, few can argue. 

The Wales star stands above Davie Gibson as the Club’s top-scoring midfielder of all time and is the only current player to have been involved in all three title-winning feats during the last decade.

After a debut against Wolverhampton Wanderers back in October 2007, King’s first goal soon followed – a stunning 30-yard strike verses Southampton that would be the first of many special moments. 

From 2008/09, King reached double figures for three straight seasons, including an incredible 16 goals in 2010/11 as he built a reputation as one of the finest midfielders in the Football League. Following promotion, King scored his first top-flight goal in a late 2-1 win over West Ham United. He will have scored few more crucial, as it sparked the run of form that eventually saved City from relegation. 

During 2015/16, King added another three to his tally as City lifted the Premier League title for the first time in their history. His most recent league strike for the Foxes came in a 4-1 win over Manchester City.

2. Matty Fryatt (2006-2011) - 62 (189 apps) 

Second in the list of Leicester City goalscorers in the 21st century is former striker Matty Fryatt, who registered 62 efforts in 189 appearances over a period of five years. 

Fryatt signed from Walsall in 2006 at the age of just 19. It was Craig Levein that brought the England Under-19s international in but it was under Rob Kelly that his goals helped the Foxes avoid relegation to the third tier of English football.

Those first three seasons, including City’s fastest-ever goal after just nine seconds against Preston North End, saw Fryatt net 13 times in 88 appearances. In 2008/09, Foxes fans really began to see the best of a striker known for his record in the Football League.

The Nuneaton-born striker scored 32 times en route to the League 1 title, including back-to-back hat-tricks against Dagenham & Redbridge and Southend United to take him to 20 goals by Christmas. Fryatt added a further 13 goals in the Championship the following season, including one in the Play-Off Semi-Final second leg defeat by Cardiff City in Wales.

His last goals for Leicester came in 4-3 defeat to Norwich City, in which he was sent off, before a switch to Hull City in December 2010. He now plays for Nottingham Forest in the second tier. 

1. Jamie Vardy (2012-present) - 63 (185 apps)

The Sheffield-born striker, though, hit 16 in 41 appearances for the Foxes as they booked their return to the Premier League as champions.

The season that followed, however, was undoubtedly the highlight. He found the net on 24 occasions, including a brilliant volley against Liverpool, as Leicester won the Premier League.