The China Mail - Vardy signs off in style with 200th Leicester goal

Vardy was making his 500th and final appearance for Leicester after a remarkable spell including a stunning Premier League title triumph in 2016 -- the Foxes were rank 5,000/1 outsiders before that campaign started -- and FA Cup glory in 2021.

The fact the 38-year-old began his career in non-league football, having been released by hometown club Sheffield Wednesday before going on to win 26 England caps, just added to his cult appeal with Leicester fans.

Sunday's match also came exactly 13 years to the day since Vardy joined Leicester from Fleetwood for a non-league record fee of £1 million (£1.3 million).

"I've enjoyed every minute of this," Vardy, speaking on the pitch after full-time told the Leicester faithful. "I look forward to keeping an eye on the club I love. They are in my heart.

"From the bottom of my heart, thank you for taking myself and my family in as your own. I hope I've repaid you."

With Leicester demoted from the Premier League long before Sunday's match against fellow relegated side Ipswich, Vardy had already announced he was leaving the Midlands club at the end of the season.

It was then agreed Vardy, the club's record goalscorer, would not play in next weekend's final game of the campaign, away to Bournemouth, to ensure his last Leicester appearance came at the King Power Stadium.

And he gave fans one more moment to savour when he opened the scoring in the 28th minute before being given a guard of honour by his team-mates when substituted with 10 minutes to go as he walked off the pitch as a Leicester player for the last time.

He had led Leicester out onto the pitch before kick-off, with fans waving flags in the stands with "Thank you Vards" printed on, while two banners were hung up behind each goal end as the scoreboard read "Goodbye GOAT (Greatest of All Time)".

The 2019/20 Premier League Golden Boot winner had already missed the target with two chances but it was third time lucky just before the half-hour when he finished expertly for his ninth league goal of the season following a through ball from James Justin.

Kasey McAteer ensured Vardy would be on the winning side in his final Leicester appearance by making it 2-0 -- the midfielder's first Premier League goal -- in the 69th minute.

"I'm happy I could play my way into the game and get on the scoresheet as well as Vardy," McAteer told Premier League Productions.

"It's classic Vardy, it's spoken about how he always delivers and that's what he's done for 13 years at this club... To play with him and call him my team-mate is an honour. I was buzzing he got his 200th goal."

D.Pan--ThChM