Celtic Linked With Forward as Rodgers Considers Reunion With Ex-Leicester Star | OneFootball

Vardy and Celtic: Could Rodgers Reunite With His Old Striker?

Rumours continue to swirl about Jamie Vardy potentially linking up with Brendan Rodgers at Celtic. The striker, who ended his 13-year association with Leicester City at the end of last season, remains a free agent and is weighing up the final chapter of his remarkable career.

Vardy’s Leicester Legacy

Few players have defined a club quite like Vardy did at Leicester. From non-league obscurity to Premier League glory in 2015-16, his story was one of relentless energy, sharp finishing and a refusal to be intimidated by any opponent. In 500 appearances for the Foxes, he scored 200 goals, lifting the FA Cup and spearheading two promotions along the way.

Now 38, Vardy may not possess the blistering pace of old, but his knack for scoring crucial goals has not deserted him. Even last season, as Leicester tumbled out of the Premier League, he still found the net nine times. His career has been defined by an instinct that cannot be coached and an ability to deliver when it matters most.

Photo IMAGO

“He wasn’t the best trainer, he saved his energy for the games,” recalled former team-mate Robert Huth. “At times he was really poor in training, which is funny with how amazing he was on the pitch. When you look back, he scored pretty much any goal possible. He is very flexible in terms of his approach to the game and scoring goals. He was the ultimate team-mate. He would chase lost causes.”

Marc Albrighton, another member of Leicester’s title-winning side, was unequivocal about Vardy’s place in the club’s history. “He is obviously the greatest ever Leicester player,” he told BBC Sport. “Everything he’s achieved will never be forgotten by the Leicester fans and the club. It will take some getting used to not having him around the club.”

Why Celtic Could Appeal

For Vardy, a move to Celtic would not be without precedent. The Scottish Premiership has often provided a stage for experienced Premier League players looking to extend their careers. Joe Hart, another multiple title winner, became a leader at Celtic Park, while Vardy’s former Leicester team-mate Kasper Schmeichel has also added his presence in Glasgow. Across the city, Jermain Defoe enjoyed success in Rangers colours.

“There is nowhere else on the planet that I’d want to play football,” Hart said after his final Celtic appearance. “I’m truly blessed to walk out with a big smile on my face. I’m just lucky I’ve been able to piggy-back on it.”

Vardy himself made clear when leaving Leicester that his career was far from over. “This isn’t retirement,” he declared. “I want to keep playing and doing what I enjoy doing most, scoring goals. I may be 38 but I’ve still got the desire and ambition to achieve so much more.”

Final Chapter in Scotland?

The question now is whether Celtic can provide the platform for Vardy’s hunger. Rodgers knows the striker’s strengths intimately from their time together at Leicester, and Celtic supporters would relish a forward with his pedigree. With the Scottish champions always in search of goals to fuel their domestic dominance and European campaigns, the prospect of Vardy in green and white is one that refuses to go away.