From Rags to Riches: Jamie Vardy

Last week we explored Leicester City's spectacular run. Once in a lifetime type of season. But within this team, within this season, there is a man whose story may be even more surprising. This story is so great it couldn't even come from a movie. Jamie Vardy. Currently the top scorer in the EPL. He has 19 goals in the league through 26 games. This season Vardy has been part of a Leicester team who leads the league. Vardy has broken the record of consecutive games with a goal scored. Which was formerly held by legendary striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The record, which once stood at 10 consecutive games was broken by Vardy against Van Nistelrooy's old team, Manchester United. 

But this story doesn't just start with a player on a team that no one thought would ever be this good. The story begins in 2011. Vardy signs with a team called Fleetwood Town. Now I guarentee that no one has ever heard of Fleetwood Town, and would be shocked if anyone even knew what league the club plays in. Fleetwood Town plays in the Conference Premier, the fifth division in England. It wasn't even a fully professional league. A little over four years ago to the day, Vardy scored a goal to tie a game for Fleetwood. Last week, Vardy scored what will go down as the best goal of the season against one of the biggest clubs in England, Liverpool.

This goal is amazing. There is no doubt about that. Vardy's season amazing. That's a fact. Yet the story of a man who is 29-years old, and has bloomed to being the top forward in the EPL is fascinating. Vardy's career seemed over when at the age of 25, he was playing in the 5th division. Yet today, Vardy sits at the top of the scorer's table and the EPL, looking to finish the making of history.

Who would have ever thought this was possible? I can tell you that Jamie Vardy certainly didn't. I mean, look at how his value has shot up since July 2012. Talk about return on investment. 

http://www.transfermarkt.com/jamie-vardy/marktwertverlauf/spieler/197838