- Vardy believes he can play well into his 40s – if he takes good care of himself
- Leicester’s talisman scored the equaliser against Spurs on Monday
- He became the second oldest goalscorer on the opening day of the Premier League
- LISTEN NOW: It’s all about to begin!available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
Jamie Vardy believes he can continue to give Premier League defenders nightmares well into their 40s after showing his enduring class to earn Leicester a point against Tottenham.
The Foxes forward turns 38 in January but shows no signs of slowing down, heading in the equaliser early in the second half and even wasting a chance to score the winner. He was not expected to play due to a knee injury sustained in pre-season.
Vardy’s goal was his eighth on the opening day of a top-flight season – only Mohamed Salah has more with nine.
He is the second-oldest scorer on Matchday One, behind only Teddy Sheringham, who scored for West Ham against Blackburn at the age of 39 in 2006. Mail Sport understands that Vardy plans to continue playing beyond his 40th birthday.
Jamie Vardy says he can still give Premier League defenders nightmares into his 40s
Jamie Vardy scored Leicester’s equaliser against Tottenham to give Foxes a point
Although fans expected him not to play, Vardy made himself available to play on Monday
“For me, age is literally just a number,” said Vardy, who signed a new one-year contract last summer.
‘As long as I continue to take good care of myself and as long as my legs still feel good for training and competition, then I will be able to keep going physically for as long as possible.’
“I wouldn’t say I’m doing anything different. I’m still trying to do the same runs. But the most important thing is that I’m taking care of myself in terms of recovery, to the max. I have everything I need at home.
‘On Tuesday it’s time for a recovery session on the training field, and then I’ll go home to train some more there.’
Vardy installed a cryotherapy chamber – the practice of using low temperatures to promote faster healing – in his home to help him recover more quickly.
“I’m going to get the massages, do cryotherapy in the pool, stretch and then go home. And when I get home, cryotherapy again, sauna and an hour in the oxygen tent, just to have an hour to myself.”
Tottenham midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was carried off the field on a stretcher in the second half after a head fight.
Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou said: “It’s a head injury so you have to be very careful. The good news is he’s back on his feet and talking. We’ll let the medical team investigate that.”
Foxes boss Steve Cooper added: “He trained once and then he goes and does that. It’s great to have him back.
His inclusion in the squad gave new manager Steve Cooper a boost – and the Foxes a point
Vardy won major trophies with Leicester, including their surprise 2015-16 League title
Five years later, he also won the FA Cup in 2021, showing that he still has the edge
He was crucial to Leicester’s championship season, which saw them promoted to the Premier League.
‘He is the most important man here and he didn’t like the fact that we went into the game without an experienced striker, so he came to me and declared himself fit.
‘He’s not normal in terms of what he can produce. He was still at top speed on day one of pre-season and fitness-wise he was still right up there in the top category.’
