Why Jamie Vardy is playing final Leicester game this afternoon and not on last day of season

There will be more than one or two tears this afternoon at the King Power Stadium as Jamie Vardy says goodbye. The Leicester City legend has won the Premier League and FA Cup with the Foxes, but after 13 years, this game against Ipswich Town will be his last. It’s time for Vardy to move on, bringing an end to a magnificent career in the East MidlandsGetty Images - Getty Of course, this isn’t the final day of the season, but the club have decided Sunday will be his last match in the blue of Leicester. There is a very good reason for that, and there is a big party planned, one that Vardy himself would be proud of. Why is this Vardy’s last Leicester game? When Vardy leads the team out at a packed King Power Stadium, it will mark his 500th appearance in a Leicester shirt, and he’s seen it all. From two relegations to two major trophies, Vardy’s time as a Leicester player has been full of ups and downs and plenty of goals. The striker is sitting on 199, so it would be fitting if, on his 500th appearance, he could score his 200th goal. This is Leicester’s last home game of the season, so the club want the fans to be able to say a proper goodbye to the striker, while going out on 500 appearances is also a nice number to end on. Of course, he could be back at Leicester next season as an opposition player because he has no plans to retire yet, but Sunday will all be about celebrating Vardy. Vardy is Leicester’s greatest modern-day playerGetty Vardy is leading the line for Leicester today May 18 also marks the exact day that Vardy signed for the club 13 years ago, so it’s a fitting send-off for this legendary striker. In honour of their talisman, the Fan Zone has been open from 12pm. There will be a special flag display pre-match, and, after the game, fans have been asked to remain in their seats to honour Vardy in a post-match celebration. This will involve Vardy walking around the pitch with his family and a selection of former teammates. Manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy has spoken about his striker’s incredible career at Leicester ahead of the weekend. Van Nistelrooy told his press conference: “When you see the amount of times a player is performing at the highest level, that’s the biggest achievement. “When you’ve performed 13 seasons at this level, coming up to 500 games, 200 goals, that says it all. The standards you set yourself, you live your life around football and how you perform. “Then you look at the trophies he has won, the individual achievements. It’s the total package for one of the greatest.” The Foxes boss also commented on the incredible coincidence that Vardy will make his 500th appearance exactly 13 years on from him signing for the club. Despite this season being a struggle, Vardy leaves Leicester with more good than bad memoriesGetty He added: “There’s many dates and numbers coming together, but the way I know him, he’ll come in and do his best to try and win the game. “That’s what he’ll think about, that’s his aim. If that comes with a goal for him, or an assist, that’s how he’ll think. “Of course, he will be leading the team out on Sunday. “It is important to prepare for the match like I always do. Today and tomorrow is big in that. “Prepare the team as best as we can as staff for the team to perform as well as they can that is the most important thing I can do. “The rest is up to him and he will be ready for that.” Leicester vs Ipswich: Date and how to follow This Premier League game is set to take place on Sunday, May 18. Kick-off at the King Power Stadium is scheduled for 3pm. talkSPORT will have updates throughout the afternoon with Sam Matterface on the Sunday Session. talkSPORT.com will also have the action as it unfolds via our dedicated Premier League blog. To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

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Why Jamie Vardy is playing final Leicester game this afternoon and not on last day of season

There will be more than one or two tears this afternoon at the King Power Stadium as Jamie Vardy says goodbye.

The Leicester City legend has won the Premier League and FA Cup with the Foxes, but after 13 years, this game against Ipswich Town will be his last.

It’s time for Vardy to move on, bringing an end to a magnificent career in the East Midlands

Of course, this isn’t the final day of the season, but the club have decided Sunday will be his last match in the blue of Leicester.

There is a very good reason for that, and there is a big party planned, one that Vardy himself would be proud of.

Why is this Vardy’s last Leicester game?

When Vardy leads the team out at a packed King Power Stadium, it will mark his 500th appearance in a Leicester shirt, and he’s seen it all.

From two relegations to two major trophies, Vardy’s time as a Leicester player has been full of ups and downs and plenty of goals.

The striker is sitting on 199, so it would be fitting if, on his 500th appearance, he could score his 200th goal.

This is Leicester’s last home game of the season, so the club want the fans to be able to say a proper goodbye to the striker, while going out on 500 appearances is also a nice number to end on.

Of course, he could be back at Leicester next season as an opposition player because he has no plans to retire yet, but Sunday will all be about celebrating Vardy.

Vardy is Leicester’s greatest modern-day player

Vardy is leading the line for Leicester today

May 18 also marks the exact day that Vardy signed for the club 13 years ago, so it’s a fitting send-off for this legendary striker.

In honour of their talisman, the Fan Zone has been open from 12pm.

There will be a special flag display pre-match, and, after the game, fans have been asked to remain in their seats to honour Vardy in a post-match celebration.

This will involve Vardy walking around the pitch with his family and a selection of former teammates.

Manager Ruud Van Nistelrooy has spoken about his striker’s incredible career at Leicester ahead of the weekend.

Van Nistelrooy told his press conference: “When you see the amount of times a player is performing at the highest level, that’s the biggest achievement.

“When you’ve performed 13 seasons at this level, coming up to 500 games, 200 goals, that says it all. The standards you set yourself, you live your life around football and how you perform.

“Then you look at the trophies he has won, the individual achievements. It’s the total package for one of the greatest.”

The Foxes boss also commented on the incredible coincidence that Vardy will make his 500th appearance exactly 13 years on from him signing for the club.

Despite this season being a struggle, Vardy leaves Leicester with more good than bad memories

He added: “There’s many dates and numbers coming together, but the way I know him, he’ll come in and do his best to try and win the game.

“That’s what he’ll think about, that’s his aim. If that comes with a goal for him, or an assist, that’s how he’ll think.

“Of course, he will be leading the team out on Sunday.

“It is important to prepare for the match like I always do. Today and tomorrow is big in that.

“Prepare the team as best as we can as staff for the team to perform as well as they can that is the most important thing I can do.

“The rest is up to him and he will be ready for that.”

Leicester vs Ipswich: Date and how to follow

This Premier League game is set to take place on Sunday, May 18.

Kick-off at the King Power Stadium is scheduled for 3pm.

talkSPORT will have updates throughout the afternoon with Sam Matterface on the Sunday Session.

talkSPORT.com will also have the action as it unfolds via our dedicated Premier League blog.

To tune in to talkSPORT through the website, click HERE for the live stream.

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.