Jamie Richard Vardy is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Premier League club Leicester City.
41 Facts About Jamie Vardy
2.
Jamie Vardy broke into the first team in 2007 and spent three seasons there before joining Northern Premier League Premier Division club FC Halifax Town in 2010.
3.
Jamie Vardy scored 31 league goals in his first season at his new team, winning the team's Player of the Year award as they won the division.
4.
Jamie Vardy made his international debut for the England national team in June 2015 and was selected for UEFA Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
5.
Jamie Vardy's last appearance for England was at the latter tournament, and later that summer, he asked not to be chosen for any more squads, unless there was an injury crisis.
6.
Jamie Vardy was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, to Richard Gill and Lisa Crewes.
7.
Jamie Vardy grew up in the Hillsborough area of inner-city Sheffield.
8.
Jamie Vardy's stepfather was a crane worker and his mother worked at a solicitors' office.
9.
Jamie Vardy was in the youth system at Sheffield Wednesday, but was released when he was 16.
10.
Jamie Vardy had a successful first season with "the Shaymen" finishing as the club's top goalscorer with 25 goals from 37 appearances and being voted the Player's Player of the Season.
11.
Jamie Vardy totalled six goals in his first four matches of the calendar year.
12.
Jamie Vardy finished the season with 16 league goals as Leicester were promoted to the Premier League at the end of the season as champions, and was named Leicester's Players' Player of the season at the club's awards.
13.
On 19 August 2014, Jamie Vardy extended his contract until the summer of 2018.
14.
Jamie Vardy was presented with a certificate from Guinness World Records for his achievement.
15.
Jamie Vardy was one of four Leicester players in the PFA Team of the Year; he was later named the FWA Footballer of the Year, and the 2016 Barclays Premier League Player of the Season.
16.
Jamie Vardy rejected Arsenal's offer because Arsenal had not promised that he would be played in his normal position and because of the differences between the two club's tactics, with Arsene Wenger favouring possession and Leicester playing on the counter-attack.
17.
Jamie Vardy was the recipient of the BBC Goal of the Season award for a goal against West Bromwich Albion where he struck a first-time ball with his weaker foot that was looped over his shoulder at range by his strike partner Riyad Mahrez.
18.
Jamie Vardy was sent off in the following match after a harsh tackle on Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Matt Doherty.
19.
Jamie Vardy became the first Leicester player to reach the 100 goal milestone and 29th overall in league history.
20.
On 26 August 2020, Jamie Vardy signed a new contract with Leicester City until June 2023.
21.
Jamie Vardy later signed the flag and gave it to Foxes Pride, Leicester's LGBT+ supporters group.
22.
On 21 May 2015, Jamie Vardy was called up to the England national team for the first time ahead of a friendly against the Republic of Ireland and a UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying match against Slovenia.
23.
Jamie Vardy was named in the 23-man England squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
24.
Jamie Vardy was used sparingly during the tournament, starting only the final group stage match against Belgium as England reached the World Cup semi-finals for only the third time in their history.
25.
On 28 August 2018, Jamie Vardy stepped aside from the England national team, telling manager Gareth Southgate that he did not want to be considered for selection unless there was an injury crisis.
26.
Pundits have drawn parallels between Jamie Vardy's playing style and non-League football.
27.
Ian Wright, who rose from non-League football to the Premier League and England national team, wrote in October 2015 that Jamie Vardy could be England's equivalent to Salvatore Schillaci at UEFA Euro 2016; Schillaci, another late bloomer, began the 1990 FIFA World Cup as a substitute behind more established players, and ended it as the top scorer.
28.
Jamie Vardy is considered an extremely fast and dynamic striker, with good positioning, and an excellent sense of space in the area.
29.
Jamie Vardy is an accurate penalty taker having converted 26 out of 31 penalties in the Premier League.
30.
Jamie Vardy has good aerial ability whilst being capable of striking the ball powerfully with either foot.
31.
Jamie Vardy said that he does not exercise in a gym, and that he consumes Red Bull caffeinated beverages and snus smokeless tobacco.
32.
Jamie Vardy is a lifelong fan of Sheffield Wednesday, one of the clubs in his home town.
33.
Jamie Vardy apologised for a "regrettable error of judgement" and was fined by Leicester, who put him on an educational course.
34.
Jamie Vardy met Rebekah Nicholson in 2014 while she was working as a nightclub promoter.
35.
Jamie Vardy has four biological children, three with his wife, and one from a previous relationship.
36.
Jamie Vardy is a stepfather to two children from his wife's previous relationships.
37.
In November 2015, Jamie Vardy launched V9 Academy, an annual week-long camp designed to offer coaching and guidance to 60 non-League players and offer them the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of scouts from league clubs.
38.
In December 2015, the Leicester-based food manufacturer Walkers brought out a limited edition 'Jamie Vardy Salted' crisp flavour, in recognition of Jamie Vardy's goalscoring run.
39.
Jamie Vardy is an ambassador for Dorothy Goodman School, a special needs school in Hinckley, Leicestershire.
40.
On 15 June 2021, Jamie Vardy acquired a minority stake in American soccer club Rochester Rhinos, later renamed as Rochester New York FC.
41.
Jamie Vardy was a co-owner of the club with David and Wendy Dworkin, who bought the club in 2016.