In a fitting farewell to a storied career with Leicester City, Jamie Vardy marked his 500th appearance for the club by scoring his 200th goal in a 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town at the King Power Stadium on May 18, 2025. The 38-year-old striker, who announced his departure from the Foxes last month, delivered a performance that encapsulated his legacy as one of the club’s greatest-ever players, leaving fans and teammates emotional as he closed a 13-year chapter with the Premier League side.
The match, which saw both Leicester and Ipswich already relegated, was less about the result and more about celebrating Vardy’s remarkable journey. From the moment he led the team out, with fans waving “Thank you Vards” flags and banners honoring the “Goodbye GOAT” displayed across the stands, the atmosphere was electric. The scoreboard was primed to flash Vardy’s image alongside the number 200, a testament to the club’s anticipation of this milestone. They didn’t have to wait long. In the 28th minute, James Justin surged through midfield, spotting Vardy’s trademark run. With a deft touch, Vardy steadied himself, nutmegged Ipswich defender Dara O’Shea, and slotted the ball past goalkeeper Alex Palmer into the far corner. The King Power erupted, and Vardy’s iconic celebration—pointing to the crowd with that familiar grin—sealed the moment.
Vardy’s journey to this milestone is the stuff of football folklore. Signed from non-league Fleetwood Town for £1 million in 2012, he rose from obscurity to become a Premier League champion in 2016, defying 5,000-1 odds under Claudio Ranieri. His 144 Premier League goals for Leicester place him among the competition’s top single-club scorers, and his 2019-20 Golden Boot at age 33 made him the oldest to claim the award. Beyond statistics, Vardy’s raw pace, clinical finishing, and unrelenting work rate endeared him to fans. As teammate Marc Albrighton noted, “He knew exactly the run to make, and it just clicked.” This telepathic understanding was evident as Vardy tormented Ipswich’s defense, setting the tone for Leicester’s dominance.
The second goal came in the second half, with Kasey McAteer scoring his first Premier League goal to wrap up the win. But the day belonged to Vardy. Manager Ruud van Nistelrooy, whose own goal-scoring pedigree includes stints at Manchester United and Real Madrid, hailed Vardy’s achievement. “If you score your 200th goal on your 500th appearance, you are a great one,” he said, praising Vardy’s ability to perform at the highest level for 13 seasons. Van Nistelrooy, who has earned eight points in six games since Leicester’s relegation was confirmed, admitted uncertainty about his own future but was clear about Vardy’s impact. “We were all part of his last game, around Jamie and his family,” he said.
Fans and pundits alike called for a statue to immortalize Vardy’s contributions, with social media buzzing with sentiments like “Build the statue” and “Rename the away end.” His 200 goals, including 24 in the 2015-16 title-winning season, and five major titles—Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield, and two Championship promotions—cement his status as Leicester’s talisman. Posts on X captured the moment’s magic, with one fan noting, “Vardy now on 200 goals for Leicester on his 500th and final appearance. I hope he doesn’t score again because that’s too perfect.”
Vardy’s farewell was bittersweet. He described the season as a “total embarrassment” and “shitshow,” reflecting on Leicester’s nine consecutive home defeats without scoring. Yet, his final act at the King Power was anything but. Former teammates like Wes Morgan and Shinji Okazaki watched from the stands, joining fans in saluting a player who embodied the club’s spirit. Vardy, who has no plans to retire and believes he can still compete at the top level, chose to end his Leicester career at home rather than in the season’s final game at Bournemouth. “I’ll be devastated on the day when it is the last,” he had said earlier, and the emotion was palpable as he waved to the crowd.