0:00
Now is former Leicester City striker Steve Claridge
0:03
And Steve, really the end of an era today? Yeah, very much so
0:09
There'll be a lot of supporters of Leicester with heavy hearts, I've got to say. The memories that he's left are incredible
0:18
I mean, who would have believed that? And none more so than him playing the part that he did
0:23
and then winning the Premier League was obviously a memory that no one could forget
0:28
Absolutely. Although that was some time ago now and the fortunes of Leicester haven't been so rosy in recent years and recent months
0:36
Could that be informing his decision, perhaps? Yeah, quite possibly. I mean, it's always easier when a club is doing well for them to keep you on and obviously to look after you
0:50
And it's always easier to play in a good side rather than in a side that's really, really struggling, especially when you get to his age
0:56
I think what I found when I played later on in my career was you get to a point where people almost write you off before you begin because of your age, which makes it, you know, difficult in itself
1:10
And then to really keep grooving yourself at the top level you know particularly in a side that isn doing well is very very difficult for a striker in particular So you can see just on watching the Twitter feed that he did
1:26
that there's a huge amount of emotion going behind what he's saying. Yeah, I mean, 13 years at a club, such a bond, such an association
1:33
not just with him and his teammates, but I think the whole country, any football fan really feeling that Jamie Vardy is so linked to Leicester
1:43
I mean, what happens next? Well, firstly, if his missus keeps doing what she's doing
1:50
he's going to have to play till he's 50, I should think. But I think, look, I don't see him packing in
1:58
I think we'd have known that already. So I don't see him packing in. What I do see is it's very important that he gets the next decision right
2:05
because at his age, as I say, it's not a gimme that he's just going to go somewhere
2:10
and everything's going to be great. But he's the type of footballer that you think really has a passion for the game
2:16
Some players give up and they give up and they're pleased to give up. I was one of those that couldn't give up
2:21
And I think he sort of gives me that impression. He's a little bit like that where without football
2:27
there'll be a huge hole in his life
