A man who started in the eighth division and won the Premier League, Jamie Vardy (38) is finally leaving Leicester City. This is a farewell that ends a 13-year journey.

Leicester City announced on the 24th (Korean time) via the club's official website that "Vardy will leave the team at the end of this season."

Vardy, who joined the club in 2012 for a transfer fee of 1 million pounds (approximately 1.9 billion won) and recorded 198 goals and 69 assists in 494 matches over 13 seasons, is considered one of the greatest strikers in the club's history.

Vardy was one of the most dramatic figures in British football. Until his mid-20s, he was juggling factory work while playing in non-league football before debuting professionally at the age of 25 in a Leicester uniform. Three years later, in the 2015-2016 season, Vardy set a record of scoring in 11 consecutive Premier League matches, turning the almost impossible title odds of '1 in 5,000' into a reality. The odds of 1 in 5,000 are similar to 'the chances of a coin landing on its edge.'

At that time, Vardy received offers from big clubs such as Arsenal, but he rejected them all. The choice was always one: Leicester City. Since then, he has brought the Premier League top scorer title (2019-2020 season), FA Cup victory (2020-2021), and Community Shield victory to the team, remaining a symbol of Leicester's golden era.

Now at 38, Vardy's final season at Leicester has been truly tough. He fought hard, tallying 7 goals and 3 assists in 31 league matches, but the team continued to struggle and could not avoid relegation.

Right after relegation was confirmed, he left a heartbreaking farewell preview on his personal social media, saying, "As a player and as a club, we all failed. It was a completely disgraceful season."

Leicester City Chairman Aiyawat Sriwatanakrabha stated, "Vardy was more than just a legend; he was the very identity of this club. We deeply appreciate his hard work, and this will always be Vardy's home."

Vardy said, "It will truly break my heart on the day of my last match. But every good thing must come to an end."

He remarked, "It will be a day filled with emotions. I'm not usually an emotional person and don't show that side often. But when you stay with a team for so long, no one knows what feelings will arise at the moment of farewell."

He continued, "Having spent such a long time together, the fans treated me like family. So I always wanted to give back, and this team will always hold a significant place in my heart. Leicester is my family. The fans were always with me, both in good times and bad. The atmosphere at the stadium was always top-notch, and there were passionate fans who followed us to every away game. I am truly grateful."

Vardy mentioned, "These days, the cost of living is no joke. Nevertheless, the fans supported their beloved club, spending their precious money. I can't believe I spent 13 years as a part of such a team. My role is that of a goal scorer. Ask anyone, scoring goals is one of the hardest things in football. It wasn't easy, but if I can do well as a striker, goals are everything."

He added, "Scoring goals and making the fans get up from their seats. There is nothing that touches the heart more than that. Regardless of which goalpost it is, I heard the booing, but I always sprinted and celebrated with my signature move. This is football; this is entertainment. It's natural to be jeered by other fans. And there should be a response to that too," he expressed. "Football is an emotional sport. It should be interesting. It's a very important element. I really liked that aspect of it that excites people."

He added, "I knew this day would come someday. My 13 years at this team were filled with incredible amounts of success and failures. Most of it was the best. Leicester will always have a place in my heart."

Vardy will say goodbye to the fans while wearing the Leicester City uniform for the last time in the home game against Ipswich Town on the 27th. While it wasn’t a grand stage, his career will long be remembered in English football history as the 'beauty of a late-blooming flower.'

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