JAMIE VARDY: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 

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35:45Welcome back to The Rest is Football with me, Gary Nicholson, Jamie Vardy. Leicester here, and we've just come on to the Leicester part of your career. Before we get to the season of all seasons, the season before was pretty extraordinary. First one into the Premier League. and well they were so far adrift at the bottom of the league that it looked absolute certainty for Leicester to go down and then I think won seven of the last nine games or something won seven drew one last one and you started to really perform I mean you had a good season you got called up for England didn't you yeah I did it then how did that come about did you get a phone call from I got a text message I thought someone was taking the piss from who or did they say they were the lady she was called Michelle yeah she was always the one that sent out the messages for if you've been in a squad or anything and was she the type that took the piss no no but like because I'd obviously I'd never had it I wouldn't have I wasn't expecting anything like that so I remember I messaged I messaged the physio at Leicester Dave Rennie I was like is this true or is someone taking a piss out of you because I was just I was out shopping and he messaged back saying no they've been on the phone it's true I'm like shit I'm supposed to be going on holiday in two weeks shit that is not actually probably the response of many players when they get the England court it's not oh shit but I was like do you know when everything's already been planned and you're like fucking I've got to cancel all this I've got to do that I'm like can't be bothered that's you again yeah it was what it was and things got moved and yeah, no, it was, it was unbelievable.

37:36Yeah. To obviously get the call up and to, to come on against Ireland, what a, what a feeling. It is special, it's hard to describe, isn't it? It is, it really is. How would you try to describe it? I think, I think the only way you could describe it is as, as a footballer, even though I wasn't expecting it, you want to, you all, you all want to, no matter where you're from. so to then be able to go and do it is like the pinnacle of the career you've managed to put in performances and been playing that world that's got you in your national team and then the first goal for England Germany away yeah nice little back heel sort of thing bad time bad time that's what you ever said bad time yeah it was it's a special moment though isn't it yeah and the other thing is why of course now because then once you play for England for the rest of your life, whatever football club you play at or your rest of your football career, they go, Jamie Vardy of Leicester and England.

38:40You get that and England at the back of it. I used to love that. That's the thing. I say it all the time as well. Stuff like that and winning the league, winning the FA Cup, being in the Champions League quarterfinals, stuff like that. No one can take it away from me. No. No one. Nor hopefully would they want to. I'm just like, I've done it. It's mine. Let's talk about that season. Because of what happened at the end of the season before, and you won seven out of nine, did that give you some kind of inkling that actually we might do quite well next season? No, I think all that did happen was that ending to the season was the momentum to start the season.

39:26Knowing, like all of us knowing now, because the season before we weren't we weren't getting battered off teams no we were always in games we were only losing by like one I think two was the most we lost by we were always within the games we were scoring goals so we knew we could compete but at the start of that season you had that extraordinary game which was I think was kind of the day you announced yourself in the Premier League yeah the Man U game yeah that was massive you'd hope that from that you'd kick on it just wasn't meant to be but I think the last like you said the last nine games is when everything just clicked together right we can do it and go on to the next game and find it we can do it and then that just literally boiled over into the season after even though you had a different man in charge Claudio Ranieri came in and I don't think as Leicester fans I think I'd be you know not ashamed to say that I thought at the time I thought Claudio Blimey he's been around for so long he's not you know it's a slightly odd appointment but not to be bloody inspired appointment yeah I mean to be fair to Claudio on that side he came in I remember we were all sat in the room and one of the first things he said was like he'd watch the games obviously towards the end of the season and he virtually turned around to us and said that he didn't want to change anything which I think helped it helped him because he'd seen what we could do and it helped us because there wasn't going to be too much change and we'd already known as players that we can do it so we just need to carry on obviously no one expected what was going to be coming who could nobody but we knew we could compete now yeah as a group there wasn't many people that left that season there wasn't too many that that came in but what they did bring in was was one thing that i always praise um steve walsh at the time always what a scout yeah first and foremost it was always what are they like as a person so why did he sign you I was alright I was alright I think I was a good fit that the group needed it was a good fit I always think you have to have one yeah one who jokes around in a dressing room and can have a laugh that's just me yeah but I know as soon as them white lines come it's bank bank you're on it we're ready now I was joking obviously but the signings of Mara's and Kante yeah obviously we didn't realise at the time how bloody good those players two superstars yeah I mean the Kante one as well was I think I think Claudio at first was playing him like left wing yeah well he could probably still play there and midfield yeah he probably could but then he went until that obviously would change his position and how good was he Jesus he's everywhere I mean honestly it was literally like having an extra man you'd lose a ball and you'd literally just turn around and go, it's all right, Kante will get it.

42:25Within five seconds, he's got the ball back and we're back attacking again. Absolutely. I mean, it was extraordinary. And Mahrez as well, could you see it in both those players? You know, in training, when they first come, you used to go, for players with that quality, I mean, Mahrez's first touch, you must have thought, my God. Yeah, no, Mahrez was great. Unbelievable. And I always say, infuriating at times. Why? Because I'd want him to put a cross in and he'd want to say that he'd want to do that four more turns Arbing is the most irritating thing in football for a strike it was one of them though like we had Riyad playing on the right who was left footed we had Mark Albright on the left who was right I know Mark's crossing it yeah he wants to get that ball in the box Riyad we were like you'd make a run you're like oh no he's chopping again move back out make another run and he's chopping again you're like just leave him just leave him you know for that very reason when you time you run you know but the problem is once they chop back everyone's in position yep and you've got to kind of get out and try and do it again but it never quite works but the one thing with Riyad was he'd chop a few times and then you'd think right he's not even going to cross it he's now going to take another person on and he's going to whip one in the top corner you know fair play mate well done even to it yeah it was an amazing mix that side what part of the season how long into it was it when you not thought you could win the league, but started to think, we're actually a good team here.

43:56Really good team. We could do really well. Was there a moment? Was it just a gradual belief thing? I think it was, to start with, it was the gradual belief. Because we were literally just game by game. Let's go game by game. That's all we're focusing on. I remember at first we got, the main thing Claudio said at the start of the season was like 40 points, 40 points, 40 points. We're like, yep. I think after the first half of the games had been played, I think we were on 39. He was probably still saying 40 points. And then we came back after the first half of the games, I had a meeting and he was like, 40 points.

44:40So me being me, I'm like, piece of piss. We've only got to get one more point. And he turned around and he's like, no, no. he's like 40 points from now another 40 points I'm like goalposts have just been moved but again even him saying that it was still right that's the next game that's all we care about all we care about but adding on to that the Man City away game that's when I actually thought something could happen here same same same more than that one because going away to City all the money they'd spent they were at home they were just behind Leicester in the league weren't they and then 3-1 victory then i think all of us pops up with two goals i think all of us yeah exactly incredible you had this great relationship i mean we mentioned some of the superstar players but perhaps one that goes under the radar a little bit but i doubt it for you because you seem to have a real relationship with danny drinkwater and a lot of the balls he always looked for you didn't he was that planned no it wasn't wasn't something like that was worked on constantly or anything like that.

45:46I think it all with that side of things just came down to if he's got the ball I know how good he is at passing and stuff like that. If he's got the ball I'm always making a run for him. Yeah. If it comes it comes if it doesn't it doesn't. But I think from that side then he knew that if he gets the ball and his first touches forward he's going to have an option 100 % because either I'm going or You love to spin behind him. Yeah. And it just worked worked an absolute treat for us. Let's talk about the record that you broke Ruben Nistelroi's record 10 successive games scoring it at what point some people started talking about it didn't they won probably 8 games 7-8 7-8 yeah and did you start thinking about it or no not at all I wouldn't believe that from most people from you I would it's weird like but I'm one of them if you start letting things like that creep in yeah all of a sudden then you're getting a shot you're snatching at it you're not taking the time or your instinct's telling you to do something else because you've got this all coming into your mind so I didn't I didn't pay any attention to it at all I mean I even remember after the Man U game like that's when you'd broken it yeah he was he tweeted me before so he tweeted me after the Newcastle game and tweeted me before the Man U game I didn't have a clue I'm I'm not one that I presume you knew he was yeah yeah obviously obviously knew who he was but i'm not one of them to like go through social media and things it's not me you're thinking like what's he on about yeah so i just i think he was doing it's trying to put you off when you equaled it he didn't want you to break it so he's trying to apply a bit of pressure possibly possibly it was a bit awkward when he obviously became manager later down the line and walking through the training ground and he actually says it there and I'm like he had to walk past it every day didn't seem to hold people on the manager you're from but there we go it was just one of them things I took it game by game yeah but when it happened I mean you must have I mean you could see it was everyone was trying to give you wanted you to score yeah I think I said a few expletives on the way past yeah you can see them quite clearly in the film actually but again that was more because during that game the Man U fans were chanting rude.

48:09That's their ex-player. That's what happens. They want him to keep it. There's no arming it at all. They never learn these fans with you, do they? No. No, you'd think they'd stop at some point. You would have thought, what did it mean to you though? It must have been special, come on. Yeah, but you don't really get the time to let it all sink in, if I'm honest. Me, once I've finished again, I just want to go on, chill, spend some time with the wife, spend some time with the kids, just try and completely forget about football because it is really mentally head-messing. You need to try and get this as calm as possible because you know you've got a game coming up in five days.

48:55So I've never been one of them to let things sink in, to think about them. I've got plenty of time when I'm older to do stuff like that. Up until then, I just carry on. you'll have some nice stuff to look back on, particularly one goler. I remember at the King Power against Liverpool, it was, phew, phew. No, it felt good that one. That was incredible. I was doing match of the day, it was midweek, wasn't it? Yeah. It was a night game. I was in the office doing match of the day that night and I nearly hit the ceiling. I'm going mad, going mad. What a goal that was. Yeah, I didn't have no other option, if I'm honest.

49:31No, no, yeah, well you did, you had an option to miss it. Well, yeah, but I mean as in taking the actual shot it's one of them it's bounced your striker is sat up that nice you think this is going Michael would describe that as a half volley I don't know whether you followed our arguments you probably haven't it's one of those it's a half volley because it's bounced but it's bounced that high that it's coming down someone will class it as a volley it's a volley it's a volley or at least it's a good shot we'll just say it's top bins and we'll leave it as that it was definitely top bins it was fabulous you're going down the home stretch and then obviously you got you got me i love the bit i love the bit in the documentary which you've not yet seen it's quite good by the way honestly it's really good you come over you come over exactly how you would expect but there's a there's a brilliant bit you got two yellow cards didn't you um against west ham which was i think devastating for us watching and we just thought oh this is it this is the turning point it's going wrong here we've got no and then you you exacerbated things by i think calling the referee yeah a few expletives yeah but on the in the actual documentary itself you went yeah called him a cunt and i just i just i just burst out laughing out loud and i thought well that was worth getting an extra game bound for but as long as we won the league but yeah That was the thing.

51:01That was the thing. I actually remember having to go down to Wembley to answer to the panel for the reaction. Did they talk me through that? No, they'd already give me the two games anyway. I asked if I appealed the decision, would I get an extra one? And it came to our attention that even if I appealed, there wouldn't be an extra game on top. So I was like, fuck this then, appeal it. So I had to go down to Wembley, sit in front of them. I gave my reasonings and yeah How did you justify the use of Just heat at the moment Yeah The ref got both decisions wrong which I don't think helped the situation either and yeah they proceeded to give me a£10 ,000 fine on top for appealing Winning the league itself of course it was Tottenham against Chelsea and Chelsea needed a point it was at Stamford Bridge and I mean I love Eden Hazard I saw him actually a year or two ago and I just thanked him for that moment he loved it and that was special and everyone was round your gaff well everyone was at mine before I was yeah it was a long day for me I'd organised everyone to come but a lot of the lads got there but you didn't tell the wife until quite late she says in the film what do you mean everyone's coming Yeah, we organised it really late.

52:27That was the problem. We played Man United away. And then I think the Tottenham Chelsea game was the night after. So I literally just walked in the dressing room at Old Trafford and said, right, lads, everyone's up behind tomorrow. That was it. So that was it getting organised, forgetting that I had a seven-hour tattoo session booked in for Monday. A what? A seven-hour tattoo session? Seven-hour tattoo, yeah. Okay, just before you might have to win the league and all that. Yeah. So I got my tattoo out the way. What tattoo was it? A fox? no it's just one for my little girl when she was born not little though I would hope not if it was seven hours I don't know how many things take luckily Hoofy and Fuchs were driving to mine so they come and pick me up got to mine and the vast majority of the lads were already already in there getting the beers out yeah what a night that must have been because he didn't start that well because Tottenham had two and up it was a bit lively to start with and then obviously the two goals going and it just the house was just dead silent yeah there's a shot of you I think you just sat on the floor like that watching well I had to sit on the floor yeah because Vas Marcin Vasilevsky kind of fucking slapping me on my tattoo that's a draft I just I just removed myself from anywhere near him so I thought if I'm sat on the floor he's not going to be able to get down and give me a slap this is the sign of the title winning that everyone needs to know yeah that's literally how it was but The first thing that come to my mind was like, I'm like, fucking hell, the lads have just come round.

53:59We're just basically just getting pissed, but we've got training tomorrow. I'm like, eh. And then there's the turnaround. And then, obviously, gas chaos cause the first goal. People are doing somersaults on themselves. Fucking don't know how the kids stayed asleep, if I'm honest. And then the second one went in, and it just erupted. Yeah. Fully erupted. Yeah. From that moment, it was definitely worth getting everyone around to mind. Yeah, I'll bet. What a night. Especially for the day of training was normal. Training got cancelled, I would think so. Training got cancelled. Was Claudio there? No, he was watching it at home with his coaching staff.

54:42A few of the players did that as well. I remember Casper was at home with his family. Mark Albrighton was at home with his family. but as soon as the second got in the phone was going to run his way run his way I'm like Casper you're in Manchester he's like yeah I'm coming alright love it no problem yeah went on all night went on all night the road was completely shut off by the police and there was fans all outside yeah but the only issue is it's the main road for all the lorries to get to the A1 and the police have just locked it on neighbours are going to be raging he had his lorries back tucked down the road and thinking but it was it was all worth it all worth it yeah can you describe your emotions i mean i was crying i said this many times i was i had all my boys around three of which support lester and it was just the most joyous amazing miracle it's a miracle yeah i think mine person was just excitement if i'm honest it was excitement but I'd probably say it's still not been fully sunken like what did happen the magnitude of what you achieved yeah just because the season finishes then that year it was the Euros then I get my time with my family where I just want to completely forget about football shit the new season's starting like you've not really got time to think of that but one thing I do remember is the lads have all gone from being hyper energetic to these people just quietly walking around my garden people just sat up against the wall i'm like what's happening so they're having it sinking for them in completely different ways yeah and everyone was just all over the place i think it's one of the occasions that it in my lifetime where i've the whole world has got behind i've seen it in individual sports I mean, I follow golf, so with Tiger Woods and even Rory McIlroy last year when he won the Masters.

56:46But with a team which is so tribal, I think pretty much everybody, with the exception probably Spurs fans at that point, were cheering on Leicester. To the levels of which, you know, people were learning how to say Leicester properly, even in America. It's not like Leicester. They even thought that. But it was so special. I mean it really was and I understand why you say still can't quite grasp the magnitude because it wasn't I think the biggest sporting team miracle of all time in any sport I genuinely think that I'd probably agree with that yeah yeah to be part of that must have been and and probably the most significant part so no it was it was unbelievable and the thing is I think the other side of it was that actually happening gave everyone else the belief that it could possibly happen because it had never been done like that before now all of a sudden everyone's thinking whoa so it can happen we just need to get everything right because once every little piece is right that's when everything clicks and it's all and that's what's there's a there's a lovely clip in your house party I don't know who's pulling them but Wes Morgan sat on his backside and he's been slid around the whole kitchen floor yeah my dog's just laid there doing nothing and Wes was I mean what a leader yeah he was brilliant the main thing I'll always say with that group of lads is the togetherness that we had we literally did everything together if we had a day off and someone said right we're going to go for the meal it was everyone was there no one had not turned up and I think that's how it should be that's how you you get your camaraderie you get your togetherness you can't you can't just create that from it's quite rare that yeah from being at a training ground or at the games that's it the only time you see each other is in the dressing rooms you need to do things together I mean miraculously it didn't quite stop there obviously a few years later something else very very special happened but in the interim period you had the chance to join Arsenal and turn them down in favour of Leicester.

59:04You're a loyal soul, aren't you? I think that's what... You know when people pick the words out, one word each for you to describe you? I think Becky said loyal. I think that's what I heard. And you were incredibly loyal to Leicester. And I think that's one of the reasons why you're very much in the hearts of Leicester fans. Because turning down Arsenal is quite a big deal. One of them is... I'll be honest, it was like a surreal situation. I've never been involved in that type of thing. Yeah. Yeah, I suppose because the career, I mean, you had to move from Fleetwood to Leicester, that's a kind of no-brainer, but this was a big club.

59:41Like on paper, they were a way bigger club. Yeah. Well, they are. But I was, like I say, I was away that summer with England and when you're away with England, you have so much time on your hands. It is frightening. Yeah. so that just gave me the space to just think about everything everything everything and I just said no it's not happening in the end I mean a lot of people are going well what's he doing there but on the FA Cup a few years later and Arsenal you know still chasing some sort of title now to this day you might have made the difference of course who knows but the FA Cup was also incredible I guess another thing Leicester had never done in history yeah good old Uri yeah what a goal oh frightening what a player he was yeah he was special wasn't he I think I spoke to Brendan Rogers about him and he said he was almost like his coach on the field so he's so intelligent yeah he was frightening obviously I'd come across him playing against him in England and then when it got mentioned that that we were signing straight away I was telling the lads I'm like this guy's good yeah this guy's very good and like you say for such a young age that he was still at he's intelligence of being on that pitch and what was required or movements or passes was yeah it was unbelievable he could find you with a pass as well yeah the strikers always appreciate that in a play i mean i did try telling his agent that set me dog on him if he made you or he leave obviously didn't work no it didn't the threat didn't work at all um england how do you look back on your England career I mean it's special to have played for England about seven goals in 20 odd games yeah 26 games I think it was yeah short and sharp yeah but it's still more than most players ever have probably way beyond what you could have probably dreamed of when you were banging in the odd goal at Halifax etc definitely no it was unbelievable getting to play obviously for your country got to do a Euros and a World Cup do you think you deserve a few more chances myself personally yes but making the decision when I did to stop playing was in my eyes the right decision I mean I'm still going now so it's obviously for longevity reasons alone yeah because you came late to the game as well I suppose but it's prolonged my my club career so I can't fault the decision that I made it was definitely the right one your bow out with Leicester was I think as good as it can possibly be isn't it If someone was writing this, they'd have gone, oh, come on, come on.

1:02:26200 goals, last appearance before he said he's going, and he has one goal to score to make it 200. And of course he did. To be fair, I have to thank the club with all that as well, because I went and spoke to, obviously, the hierarchy when we found out that that last home game would be the 500th game. Because there's one more game after that, isn't there? away again I literally went in and just explained I said look with all due respect I'd rather bow out at home yeah and I promise I'll score than go away to Bournemouth yeah and there's only a thousand Leicester fans there yeah I said that's not what I want to be able to say and they brought that and the club went along and the club were really good and supportive with that and said yeah no that's that's what we think as well so that's that's how it happened and there was no way I weren't scoring that day.

1:03:24You do make things happen sometimes, don't you? You've got that knack. It's quite a nice knack. Get it all perfect, ain't it? How's Italy? How did that come about, Italy? Was there choices on where to go? I'm sure there must have been. Yeah, there were a few. There were a few. We spoke to the manager at the start of the season. One thing I did say in summer was I'm leaving it to the last minute. I'm right. To give you more time to think? No, it gave me longer to spend with my family. That was the main thing. Yeah, because footballers are away a lot, aren't they? Yeah. Travelling. So to be able to have a solid 12 weeks with them not missing anything like I would during a season or like I would normally, that was something I was doing.

1:04:11Yeah, kept myself in shape, kept myself training and stuff while I was there, but I weren't spending a minute away from them that didn't have to be. yeah how's italy it's a beautiful place it's lovely yeah it's lovely but i i always holiday there every year oh anyway yeah yeah one of the reasons you chose it it's easy decision like that yeah yeah and um the football's different i mean defensive minded i mean i know people say that's a football and cliche but it's sort of true particularly probably if you're a club that are struggling um but you've you've done all right you're a player of the month one was it November or October, something like that.

1:04:47Saw a brilliant assist the other day. Yeah, on the left swinger. Yeah. Yeah, you were a bit on the left there, weren't you? First time left foot as well. Very, very accurate. Are you enjoying the football or the life or a bit of both or neither? No, both. Both. It is different, but I like that. It's me learning something new, even though I'm 39. Yeah. I don't think you can you can ever be too old to to learn new things so to experience the different side of how they play and get used to that as well can only in my eyes benefit me yeah as a player and as a person yeah how's your talent? it's not great it's not great very very small but if if I'm honest when you're out there there's there's not that much time like all the family and everyone are with me so it's train go back get the kids from school one of them's got football one's got gymnastics whatever so here there and everywhere make sure kids speak in Italian kids are great at Italian yeah they pick it up so quick so easy and it's like sponges at that age yeah they start talking to me and I'm like one second but like the basics I'm fine with it's you see it's more when the full sentences are coming you're like oh I know what that word is it's just getting used to it like that.

1:06:14Yeah. How long can you keep that? I mean, you're nearly barely 40, you know. I know. I mean, there's not many players playing you for, I mean, Ronaldo's still going, obviously, and one, Pepe, and one or two other players. Players are lasting longer these days. Probably the weight, you know, health and all that sort of thing. So, what about you? How long do you think? Or have you not even? I don't. If I'm honest, I don't think about it. These, these. They'll tell you. Will tell me when. They will, but not yet. They're not yet. you're wily though you're wily old thing you can say you're an old thing now as old as me but you you know you're spindly so i think it's the heavy bone one of the big lads in it that don't tend to last a lot i i also think there's a lot more nowadays technology wise for recovery and stuff yeah yeah a lot more and i'm fortunate enough that i've got it all at my house yeah so I think that plays plays a big part in it as well which is why they're still feeling alright at the moment post football it's a lot of life after football you know however long I mean you are you are coming to let's say the twilight of your career it's and he'll tell you John it infuriates him it's one thing I never get into a conversation about I've not thought about it I'll deal with that when it comes yeah management are enough I can understand why that infuriates you John management definitely how are you supposed to help you and plan for you I know it's hard but I've cut him some slack I've always been like that like I'm always well it's work for you Jamie it's work for you yeah yeah I'm always day to day yeah could I tell you what I've done yesterday probably not no I'm glad I didn't ask that question that's just I'll tell you you probably You travelled back from Italy.

1:08:04Yeah, I did. I was just a guess. But I did work out two days ago you played in the game, so it's half a chance. Yeah. You could have flown this morning. That would have scuppered me. But yeah, the only thing I can control is the here and now. And the football, which you've controlled very well over the years. Jamie, it's been an absolute pleasure. I can highly recommend the documentary. Tell us what it's called. What's it called? Jamie Vardy Untold. There we go. There you go. I know what it's called there we go you remember that much I've just not watched it yeah you must I don't know whether you enjoy because I I know what you mean it's kind of watching yourself is never I never like well I lie and say I never like watching myself but I like watching myself score goals you must you must do that at least sometimes only when my son got it on yeah well I'm not saying you put him on deliberately to watch no but he's obsessed with it is he oh he's football mad that's one of the joys of children yeah that they show you your goals yeah he's he'd literally wake up in the morning straight house there sky remote bosh bosh bosh search i might mate what you're watching yeah he's like oh jane body untold that's what he's watching highlights from last week i'm like you watched them already he's like yeah when i want to swim i'm like do you know what yeah go on does he play yeah good so volley one in in the documentary quite nice tidy he's all right but i'm not i'm not push parent no no i didn't think you know laid back yeah possibly i can't do that it's not it's not fair on them no if he wants to do it all right mate yep i'll support if you don't want to do it absolutely fine that's what all parents should do jamie to be perfect you know some don't i know some are pushy some are very pushy indeed james absolute pleasure and um and keep going as long as you can and keep banging in the goals will do thank you

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