'I don't want to be missing anymore' - Jamie Vardy drops retirement hint as he talks Netflix documentary
Jamie Vardy remembers the exact point he felt that Leicester City's unforgettable 5000/1 title triumph was possible.
Claudio Ranieri's Foxes had been favourites for relegation at the start of the 2015/16 campaign, but after an excellent run of form, they travelled to the Etihad Stadium to play Manchester City away from home.
Robert Huth struck twice either side of a stunning solo goal from Riyad Mahrez to give Leicester a 3-1 win and the belief that they could win the title against all odds.
"A few of the lads thought it at different times, but to be able to turn up to City and win 3-1 just showed what we were actually capable of and what we were about as a group of players," Vardy told SPORTbible ahead of the release of his 'Untold' documentary Netflix.
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“After that it was definitely in the back of my mind that something could happen.”
Vardy, who broke Ruud van Nistelrooy's record when he scored in 11 games in a row, didn't score in either game against City that season but scored eight goals in 19 games against the Blues - including two hat-tricks.
Nevertheless, Vardy does not have the most fond memories of many of his meetings against City as he described the club's legendary former captain Vincent Kompany as "the worst" opponent to play against.
"He was just a nightmare to play against, but he had all your attributes, what you'd want in a centre half," Vardy said of the current Bayern Munich boss.
"He was quick, strong, technically good on the ball and powerful. And if you did manage to just get past him slightly, he was just cleaning you out anyway.
"You just had to get used to it and get ready for a battle that day.
“There weren't any dark arts behind it at all. It was just, if it needed to be done, it was going to be done. At the end of the day, he wanted to keep a clean sheet that day. He wanted to win for City, so that's just how he was. Literally every time you watched him play or played against him, his heart was on his sleeve and he just always gave one hundred per cent.”
The key to Leicester's title win
Leicester's title win is arguably the greatest achievement in sporting history. Nobody gave them a chance and yet they lost just three games the whole season, collecting 81 points and finishing 10 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal.
Other teams could not live with their counter-attacking style. N'Golo Kante covered half of the earth in midfield and Riyad Mahrez conjured up magic on the right flank.
There were many factors behind why Leicester reached such dizzying heights, but Vardy genuinely believes the close bond with all the players and their other halves - and the subsequent nights out - was essential to their "proper togetherness" and incredible success on the pitch.
“I think what got us through most of it, which a lot of people don't realise, is just how close the group actually was," Vardy stated.
“It was so close-knit with everyone's wives, girlfriends, the players. If someone mentioned, we're going to go out on Saturday because we're off Sunday, everyone would go.
“There was no one who'd say no, and that's how we were for the whole season. Whether it was a Tuesday night if we had a day off on the Wednesday, whether it was a Sunday lunch or a Saturday night, we’d all be there.
“You can't take that for granted because I think that's how you get a proper togetherness. You can't just make a team bond in a dressing room on a training pitch and stuff. You need to see each other outside of football as well and it was constant for the whole season.”
Vardy famously had the entire group at his house for the moment Leicester were crowned champions when Chelsea came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Chelsea in the 'Battle of the Bridge' classic.
The celebrations carried on long into the night at Vardy HQ. But has had he many parties since then?
He replied: "There's been a few. They’re never planned, though. It's just always off the cuff. We might have a few people come round to the house and it's like, ‘Oh, let's get everyone round, it'll be alright’.
“And I think they're the better ones where they're just, they're off the cuff. You weren't expected to do it and everyone just comes and has a laugh."
Life in Italy
After coming from non-league and scoring 200 goals in 500 games for Leicester, Vardy embarked on a new chapter in his life in Italy in 2025 when he signed for Serie A side Cremonese.
Vardy and his family relocated to the Lombardian city of Cremona, with the ex-England international scoring five times so far as Cremonese bid to avoid relegation to the Italian second tier.
At 39, it's been a chance for Vardy to experience a completely different culture - both in football and life on the whole.
“It's different. Like if you went to any country, it's different. They've all got their ways of playing, their ways of doing things. I think for me personally on the football side, I don't think you can ever be too old to learn something new. So from that side of things,
It's given me a different aspect into what I was already capable of as a footballer and different options for myself. And yeah, it's been good. It's different cultures and you just go in, you just have to immerse yourself with it.”
Italians are, of course, big on their coffee, which Vardy is partial to. And his Red Bull routine, which has served him well at the highest level of English football, is still in full swing.
Vardy admitted: “They probably drink coffee more than I do. It's just natural to them. They'll do it before they're going to bed, which is crazy to think, but that's just how they do it. Like I say, everyone's different. It doesn't interfere with mine. I'll still have my Red Bulls in and a coffee myself so it’s easy enough to deal with.
“I’ll have a Red Bull as soon as I get out of bed. It’s the first thing, get the kids up and have a Red Bull.”
His kids have began speaking in Italian and even getting involved with the hand gestures. Vardy has also been taught his fair share of Italian swear words by his teammate but is hesitant to use them on the pitch.
“There's a few words that are not nice at all which I know but they can also get you in a lot of trouble," the former Fleetwood Town striker added.
"They’re that bad. The lads have taught me so it’s alright.
"It's probably easier and there’s less chance of getting in trouble by doing it in English.
“But it's one of the things you say things in the heat of moment when emotions are running high and stuff, so you’ve just got to be a bit careful sometimes."
Vardy's Netflix documentary
Vardy's unique journey from Non-League to Premier League and Golden Boot winner and England star is a perfect movie script and one which is still in the process of being made in the future.
For now, 'his unprecedented path; is recounted in an in-depth Netflix special which goes back to his humble beginnings at Stocksbridge Park Steels and working at a factory.
Though he went on to become a Premier League player, he went about his business in the same way as he during his stint in the weird and wonderful world of non-league, where tackles and insults are flying in.
“You can just do whatever you want in Non-League," Vardy recalled on his experience.
"I don't think it matters. The ref's not got anyone helping him on that pitch to see anything going on. So you can get away with a lot more, a lot more like tackles that won't get given as fouls. "So it's definitely a lot easier to be on the naughty side of football in the lower leagues.
“You hear all sorts. A lot of it comes from the fans as well, but you're only playing in front of 30, 40 fans, so you can hear it all anyway. It's mad they're all standing that close to the pitch that they're just fully abusing you. It didn’t bother me one bit.”
Even in the Premier League, Vardy became renowned for giving it back to the fans - celebrating right in front of them and loving every second of playing pantomime villain.
"That's what it's about," he commented.
"I think what we need to realise as well is, it's entertainment, so I don't think there's any harm in, if you're getting a bit of stick, in giving it back. If you can give it, then you need to be able to take it, and that's what I've always done.”
Retirement in sight
Vardy will be 40 next year and retirement will not be too far away. However, his former Leicester title-winning colleagues Marc Albrighton and Danny Drinkwater are still going strong playing in Sunday League games for Wythenshawe Vets in a stacked side full of ex Premier League stars.
But Vardy has ruled out joining them and continuing playing at some level when he hangs up his boots and rides off into the sunset.
“Probably not," Vardy answered honestly when asked if he fancies veterans football.
"The main thing for me is, you sacrifice so much during a football career on things you miss out. And I think when it comes to, I'm finished with football side of things, I want to make sure that I can spend some quality time with my wife and kids. It's something that I've missed - big chunks of them growing up at different ages and things like that. So I don't want to be missing anymore.
“The kids, they love coming to watch me play football, and it's a real enjoyment for them.
“While my legs are still saying they're fine, I'll carry on, but there will come a time when the legs say ‘this ain't happening anymore’ and that's when I definitely need to call it quits.”
Untold UK: Jamie Vardy is available only on Netflix from 12 May
Topics: Jamie Vardy, Spotlight, Leicester City, Premier League
Josh Lawless