Jamie Vardy speaks on goading Tottenham fans with brutal title jibe after Leicester heroics

Evening Standard

·19 August 2024

Jamie Vardy speaks on goading Tottenham fans with brutal title jibe after Leicester heroics

Foxes talisman could not resist a dig at the travelling Spurs support after denying the visitors all three points in Premier League opener

Jamie Vardy taunted Tottenham’s travelling fans after scoring the equaliser for Leicester in Monday night’s eventful 1-1 draw in the Premier League.

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The former England striker, 37, made a remarkable recovery from injury to start and captain the newly-promoted Foxes in the opening game of their top-flight return at the King Power Stadium, when it had initially appeared that new boss Steve Cooper would have only youth strikers to call upon for his first competitive match in charge with Zambian international Patson Daka also now sidelined for several months following ankle surgery.

Despite being initially expected to miss the game due to a muscle issue that had ruled him out for much of pre-season, Vardy pushed to start against Spurs and his decision paid off handsomely when he headed home shortly before the hour mark to secure an unlikely point for Leicester after the hosts had been absolutely dominated and found themselves hugely fortunate to only be 1-0 behind.

His effort flipped the game on its head as a previously subdued King Power came alive, with Vardy also denied from close range by Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario in what was the best chance for either side to win the match thereafter.

A not fully-fit Vardy - who could be seen drinking a can of Red Bull as he walked out for the second half of the game - was eventually replaced by Stephy Mavididi with just over 10 minutes to play on Monday night, and he couldn’t resist aiming a parting jibe at the Spurs fans as he also appeared to have an angry exchange with Tottenham defender Cristian Romero as he headed off.

The veteran forward, a constant thorn in the side for Spurs over many years, pointed to the Premier League badge on his shirt sleeve and then made ‘one’ and ‘zero’ gestures with each of his hands, referencing the number of Leicester Premier League title wins to Tottenham’s.

Leicester memorably beat Tottenham to a fairytale title win in 2015/16, with Spurs eventually ending up third that season behind Arsenal.

Asked about his banter with the Spurs travelling fans after the game, Vardy told Sky Sports: “You take a bit of stick during the game. As long as they can take it when I give it back then it's all good.”