{"id":5552,"date":"2024-04-30T00:13:35","date_gmt":"2024-04-30T00:13:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=5552"},"modified":"2024-04-30T00:13:35","modified_gmt":"2024-04-30T00:13:35","slug":"jamie-vardy-responds-to-retirement-talk-as-leicester-clinch-championship-title-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=5552","title":{"rendered":"Jamie Vardy responds to retirement talk as Leicester clinch Championship title | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Leicester\n<\/div>

Leicester hero Jamie Vardy has no plans to retire just yet (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Jamie Vardy shut down talk that he could be set to retire as Leicester sealed the Championship title with a 3-0 victory over Preston North End, insisting he is \u2018not ready to hang the boots up yet\u2019.<\/p>\n

The 37-year-old striker \u2013 who is out of contract this summer \u2013 scored either side of half-time before Kasey McAteer\u00a0put the icing on the cake with a close-range header in the 67th minute at Deepdale, sending Leicester\u2019s away fans into raptures.<\/p>\n

Leeds\u2019 thumping 4-0 loss to QPR on Friday night had already confirmed Leicester\u2019s immediate promotion back to the Premier League and Enzo Maresca\u2019s men will look to cap off their memorable campaign at home to Blackburn this weekend.<\/p>\n

Monday\u2019s comprehensive defeat of Preston ensured the Foxes remain on course to equal Tottenham\u2019s record of 32 wins for a single season in the second division, a feat Spurs managed way back in 1919\/20.<\/p>\n

Speaking to Sky Sports after his double against the Lilywhites, Vardy \u2013 considered one of the greatest players in Leicester\u2019s history \u2013 paid tribute to the fans for remaining loyal in the wake of the club\u2019s painful relegation from the top flight.<\/p>\n

\u2018The season has gone quickly but it\u2019s a graft! Not many days off, I\u2019ll tell you that for nothing!\u2019 the veteran forward said in his post-match interview.<\/p>\n

\u2018The lads have given it their all. As you\u2019ve seen us play, that\u2019s like it is in training. It\u2019s full throttle.<\/p>\n

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\"Jamie\n<\/div>

The veteran striker completed a brace with goals either side of half-time at Deepdale (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018It\u2019s thoroughly deserved and I\u2019m just glad we\u2019ve had 5,000 here tonight to come and celebrate with us.<\/p>\n

\u2018The fans are massive. It\u2019s not like it\u2019s 20 minutes up the road. It\u2019s a night game and to come out in those numbers, all still here now and wanting to celebrate.<\/p>\n

\u2018If you let them, they\u2019d be here on the pitch with us! It\u2019s great to do it.<\/p>\n

\u2018We can celebrate this tonight but now we\u2019ve got another target which is 100 points on Saturday so we\u2019ll make sure we celebrate that tonight and we\u2019ll go again on Saturday where we get to celebrate with all the home fans.\u2019<\/p>\n

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The Foxes confirmed their return to the Premier League at the first time of asking (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The former England international praised his team-mates for \u2018taking in everything\u2019 and being able to implement what Maresca had worked on in training across the campaign.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re obviously over the moon because that was the target at the start of the season,\u2019 Vardy added.<\/p>\n

\u2018But we knew it could have gone the other way if we\u2019re honest as obviously we\u2019ve only been together since July so you never know what\u2019s going to happen.<\/p>\n

\u2018The lads have taken in everything that the gaffer\u2019s wanted, how he wants us to play, and listen to the fans now. It\u2019s obviously worked.\u2019<\/p>\n

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The ex-England forward is out of contract in the summer (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before kick-off, Vardy made it clear he had no intention of quitting, with the attacker keen for another season in the Premier League \u2013 eight years on from the club\u2019s unforgettable title-winning campaign.<\/p>\n

\u2018Listen, I\u2019m not ready to hang the boots up yet,\u2019 Vardy said when quizzed on his future.<\/p>\n

\u2018The legs feel fine and I feel as fit as I ever have so we\u2019ll just see what happens.\u2019<\/p>\n