Jamie Vardy’s career remains one of English football’s great folk tales – a story hammered out between factory shifts and floodlit mud. From non-league graft to Premier League glory with Leicester City, from outsider to Golden Boot winner, it felt impossible to imagine him moving on from wearing any other shirt but that unmistakable Leicester blue.
But after his contract with the Foxes ended, Vardy took his story abroad, signing for Serie A side Cremonese. Now, the former Leicester talisman is tipped to make his first Serie A start on Monday night, as his new team prepares to face Udinese.
What can we expect from the 38-year-old striker, a man who loves being both antagonist and protagonist as much as he still adores rattling in the goals?
Vardy a wise choice for surprise package Cremonese
For Cremonese, the chance to extend Vardy’s career – and for Vardy, the chance to give himself a new challenge – was irresistible. Despite his age and a stuttering final season at Leicester, he still bagged nine Premier League goals. Serie A, likely to be kinder on his legs than the top-flight in England, could offer the perfect stage for him to enjoy the final chapters of a remarkable career.
Adding a tempting layer to this, Cremonese have been punching well above their weight since their promotion from Serie B last season. With the addition of Vardy, they now have a seasoned maverick prowling the final third, a man able to sniff out cracks in defences and exploit spaces that would barely register on most players’ radar.
Will Serie A fans and defenders handle Vardy’s mischief?
Premier League fans will recall Vardy’s knack for winding up opponents, from cheeky celebrations in front of rival fans to sly jibes at defenders, little moments designed to get under the skin of the opponent. Cremonese will know exactly what they’re getting, but the real question is whether opposing Serie A teams will let themselves be caught out if Vardy decides to deploy his dark arts on the pitch.
With just two substitute appearances, and hampered by a muscle injury, he has managed just over 60 minutes on the pitch, so it is hard to gauge how Vardy has settled at his new club. If he starts against Udinese, though, expect him to hound the defence from the first whistle. Fading into the background has never been his style, and there’s no reason to think he’ll start now.
Whatever Jamie Vardy does, it’s a win for Serie A
The hope is that even in the sunset of his career, Vardy can still make an impact in Serie A. It would be cruel if such a brave step backfired, leaving him to struggle in Italy.
The bigger positive, however, is the extra attention this brings to Italian football. Once the greatest league in the world, Serie A has lagged behind since the Calciopoli scandal in 2006, but recent seasons have seen a resurgence. More top-tier players are joining, and despite some disappointing European results, the league is increasingly competing with Germany and Spain for the spotlight, hoping to claim a place just beneath the global giant that is the Premier League.
For this reason, and, hopefully, for further success for the legend himself, his first start for Cremonese could mark the beginning of a new, long-running Vardy party for Serie A.
