Jamie Vardy has opened up about his remarkable journey from non-league football to Premier League glory, admitting he would not change a thing despite the challenges. The 39-year-old striker, now playing for Italian side Cremonese, described himself as a 'little freak in the works' in a new documentary about his career.
Vardy, who worked in a warehouse making walking frames before turning professional, said his path was unconventional. 'It's not the common way of doing things, is it? I don't think it will probably happen again, but it did happen for me and it was hard work,' he said. Despite entering the Football League at 25, Vardy insisted he had been playing football since the age of five.
The former Leicester City star reflected on the 2016 Premier League title win, which he described as 'unbelievable'. He credited former manager Nigel Pearson for building a close-knit squad, while Claudio Ranieri made minimal changes to the formula that kept them up the previous season. 'We never needed to do anything, new players were always bang, done, right in the group,' Vardy said of the team's WhatsApp group still active today.
Vardy also addressed his past struggles, including arriving at training drunk, which led to a stern talk from club vice-chair Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha. He credited his wife Rebekah and his close friends, known as the 'Inbetweeners', for helping him stay grounded. 'When they say enough’s enough then that is finito,' Vardy said of his playing future, but he plans to continue as long as his legs allow.
