Jamie Vardy’s contribution to Leicester City over the last 12 years deserves recognition at the King Power Stadium.
That’s the opinion of pundit and former Foxes striker Alan Smith who has called for the 37-year-old to be granted a statue at the club’s ground.
Since joining from Fleetwood Town in May 2012 Vardy, who has scored 18 times this season and has played a vital part in steadying Enzo Maresca’s team at a time when it was starting to wobble, has become a City legend.
He has won the Premier League and FA Cup with the Foxes and is now one game away from adding a second Championship promotion to his gilded CV. For Smith that puts him in the class of his own.
LIVE: Leicester City Q+A live on promotion race, Jamie Vardy's future, contracts, and season tickets
READ MORE: What Leicester City need from Leeds and Ipswich fixtures for Championship promotion and title
“Jamie Vardy definitely deserves a statue at the King Power Stadium,” Smith told Crypto Casino. “I think he’s been the best player to wear the Leicester shirt in their history – talk about value for money. With the goals that he’s scored and the role he played in their Premier League-winning season there should definitely be a statue there for him.
“On the whole, Leicester have been brilliant this season and Jamie Vardy has played his part in that. There was a period where they couldn’t pick up a win and were dropping points left, right and centre and had a 17-point advantage at the top of the Championship at the time. I thought they were going to blow it, but what a win that was against Southampton on Tuesday, that really laid down a marker and it looks like they’re going to bounce back which is lovely.”
Smith also urged the club to put their Profitability & Sustainability worries – and any potential points deduction – out of their minds.
“I was so gutted that they got relegated last season. They do need to add to their squad though if they are to get promoted, and there’s also the prospect of a points deduction but we don’t know what’s going to happen there. First and foremost, they need to get promoted and cross that bridge when they come to it. It was just good to see they’ve rediscovered their form.
“It has been a great title race this year in the Championship with Southampton in the mix as well, it’s been really entertaining. Championship football can be crazy at the best of times. There has been some great football on display and lots of goals, and obviously one of the four teams at the top are going to be disappointed at the end of the season.”
