You didn’t think he was going to go quietly, did you?
Thirteen years to the day since he signed for Leicester from non-league Fleetwood, Jamie Vardy scored his 200th goal for the club in his 500th and final appearance. And for a moment inside the King Power Stadium, it was as if the striker had led the Foxes to the Premier League title all over again.
What a fitting farewell this was for Vardy on a day that had all been designed to celebrate Leicester’s greatest ever player, who announced in the week he would sign-off against Ipswich and not away at Bournemouth next Sunday.
Every Foxes fan was given a blue or white ‘Thank you Vards’ flag to wave before kick-off, while giant banners of the club captain decorated the King Power.
With former team-mates watching from the stands, Vardy then led his side out with three of his children, as the message on the big screen read: ‘Goodbye to the GOAT.’
All that was then left was for Vardy to sign-off in style by adding one last goal to his Leicester tally. And the 38-year-old duly delivered. Of course he did.
The moment every Leicester supporter had come to witness arrived in the 28th minute.
James Justin dispossessed Jack Clarke in his own half and then burst forward to the edge of the Ipswich box. He then slipped in Vardy, who had made a clever run inside and the veteran placed his shot through the legs of Dara O’Shea and into the far left corner.
Cue bedlam, the kind of which we saw here in November 2015, when Vardy broke the record of Ruud van Nistelrooy – his now manager – for the most consecutive Premier League goals, or later that season when that historic Premier League title was secured.
Vardy celebrated his last Leicester strike by running away to the corner flag and holding it aloft like a king raising his sword. After being greeted by his team-mates, he then posed in front of the fans, Jude Bellingham-style, lapping up their acclaim once more.
There was not to be a 201st goal for Vardy, but it did not matter. In the 80th minute, the fourth official put No9 on his board and Vardy was substituted to a standing ovation, as his team-mates and coaching staff formed an impromptu guard of honour.
There were no tears from Vardy, but when has there ever been? He even admitted in Sunday’s special souvenir programme: ‘I’m not really somebody who shows his emotions.’
This match must have surely tested him, though, such was the outpouring of love from all quarters.
In that programme, chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha wrote: ‘For the years of service, for the appearances in Leicester blue, for the goals, for the trophies, for his unique connection with our supporters and as a symbol of the spirit that defined the most successful era in our history, Jamie rightly carries the title of our greatest of all time.’
Vardy’s manager Van Nistelrooy also admitted in his notes: ‘Today is about more than just football. It’s about saying thank you to Jamie Vardy.’
Such fanfare meant this Premier League fixture actually felt more like a testimonial match at times. But nobody cared, not even the travelling Ipswich contingent, given both clubs are already relegated.
Kieran McKenna’s men had threatened to spoil the party early on when Leif Davis crashed against the post.
Yet it was soon back to being all about Vardy. He missed an early chance when Jordan Ayew played him through, but he took too long over his shot and Ipswich defenders got back to thwart his shot.
Vardy then went close again when he brought down Bilal El Khannouss’ free-kick, span and then hit into the side netting.
But he made no mistake moments later after that great play from Justin. The rest of the match was largely irrelevant.
Kasey McAteer, who had earlier hit the post, secured the win for Leicester in the 69th minute when he smashed in at the near post from Wilfred Ndidi’s pass for his first Premier League goal.
It meant the Foxes climbed above Ipswich and up to 18th in the league.
Yet this day was never going to be remembered for the result. It was all about that man Vardy – the footballer with the Hollywood story who ensured his Hollywood ending.
