As Jamie Vardy approaches his 38th birthday, many expected his pace to slow. However, under Leicester City’s new boss, Ruud van Nistelrooy, the Foxes captain is showing signs of reinvigoration.
In a dramatic 2-2 draw with Brighton on Saturday, Vardy showcased his trademark composure and leadership. With just four minutes left, Leicester was trailing 2-0 to the Seagulls. But Vardy, never one to shy away from the spotlight, halved the deficit with a clinical finish. Then, in the dying seconds of added time, he turned provider, setting up Bobby De Cordova-Reid to slot home the equalizer.
Van Nistelrooy, a former striker renowned for his own goal-scoring exploits, hailed Vardy’s performance as “top-class.” He said, “If you’re on the scoresheet and you provide an assist, then you have to say this result wouldn’t be possible without him. But it’s also the performance of the whole team that puts him in that position.”
The Dutchman also praised Vardy’s awareness, particularly in the late assist. “To have the calmness and composure to decide on these things in the 90th minute, that’s absolutely top class. We’re happy to have him,” Van Nistelrooy added.
Under former manager Steve Cooper, Vardy had scored four goals in 12 appearances. But since Van Nistelrooy’s arrival, the veteran striker has found the net twice in just two games, further cementing his importance to the team. His skill and leadership have been pivotal as Leicester fights to stay out of the relegation zone, currently sitting 16th in the Premier League standings, five points clear of the drop.
Van Nistelrooy, aware of the challenges ahead, is focusing on getting the best out of his key players, with Vardy at the forefront. The striker, who has scored 142 goals in his 10 Premier League seasons, shows no sign of slowing down and remains eager to add to his tally.
Leicester’s fight for survival continues, but with Vardy leading the charge, Van Nistelrooy is optimistic that the Foxes can avoid relegation and rise up the table.