Leicester City's Jamie Vardy decision hinges on three factors as manager makes telling impact
Last season’s final day saw a tribute paid to Jamie Vardy, just in case it was his final-ever outing in Leicester City blue.
But in truth, there was never too much doubt. Vardy’s finishing in the second half of the season had guided City through a poor patch of form towards promotion. He finished the campaign with 18 Championship goals, despite playing less than half the minutes available. It wasn’t the right time for a send-off.
City fans chanted for 10 more years from the number nine, but they’d have accepted one. A month later, Vardy penned a new 12-month contract. It felt like he was signing up for his swansong.
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Now, half a season later, Vardy is into the final six months of his City deal and, should he wish, he is free to discuss with overseas clubs and organise a summer move. But City will be thinking about his future too.
There’s much to consider. Firstly, there’s Vardy's own thoughts. While he turns 38 this month, there’s no indication he is thinking of hanging up his boots. He said last month: “I wish I couldn’t retire. Unfortunately it will happen one day. Just not yet.”
But will he want to continue at City? He’s shown no desire to leave previously, but if the club drop back into the Championship, any future deal will come with a pay-cut and that may lead him to look elsewhere. Equally, there’s a Netflix documentary in the works following Vardy through this campaign and an end-of-season farewell would certainly make for an emotional pay-off.
Perhaps more importantly, will City want Vardy to stay with them? From a sentimental viewpoint, of course. As a PR move, it’s a good one too. Or at least, it would be a bad look if Vardy ended up playing for any other side in England.
But there’s his quality to consider too, and this is the most interesting aspect. Because in pretty much every factor, Vardy is performing better than he was the last time City were in the Premier League, even though he’s now two years older.
He’s scored six goals so far this season, double the amount he managed in the whole of 22-23. His tally of five non-penalty goals ranks fourth among players in the bottom eight, behind only Matheus Cunha, Jorgen Strand Larsen and Liam Delap.
It’s not just that he’s finishing at a better rate than he was two seasons ago, he’s having more chances too. He’s already had more shots than he had two years ago, with that number soaring since Ruud van Nistelrooy took charge.
In the five matches Vardy has played under the Dutchman, he’s had 17 efforts at goal. That’s the most he’s had in a five-game stretch since the final five games of the 19-20 season, the year he won the golden boot. It’s important too. It shows his ability to sniff out chances and find space in the box. So much of a striker’s quality is about being in the right place to get shots away, not just sticking them in the back of the net.
His fitness does not appear to be waning either. He only played 90 minutes once in the Championship last season, but he’s already played nine full matches in the Premier League this term, while it so far has not led to any significant injury concerns, Vardy only missing two of the club’s 19 league fixtures.
Those will be significant factors for the club in deciding whether Vardy is worth keeping on: his finishing rate, his shot count, and his fitness. This season, and especially under van Nistelrooy, his levels are being maintained, if not exceeding previous years. 2025 may not be his last hurrah after all.
