Vardy launched his non-league career after being released by boyhood heroes Sheffield Wednesday, going through spells at Stocksbridge Park Steels, Halifax Town and Fleetwood Town before joining Leicester in the Championship in 2012.
In four seasons, he scored goals as the Foxes’ top scorer to help the Foxes win the Premier League in unlikely circumstances, scoring in 11 consecutive games to break a record set by Ruud van Nistelrooy, winning the Premier League and the award of the Football Writers Association. Player of the year awards.
Vardy subsequently won the FA Cup in 2021, but his limited international career was disappointing, scoring seven goals in 26 games.
He is the oldest player to win the Premier League golden boot and the one who has scored the most goals in the division, at over 30 years old (106).
In comparison, Kane has surpassed both Vardy and Rooney, becoming the second highest scorer in Premier League history behind Alan Shearer with 213 goals. He joined Bayern Munich at the start of last season and broke the Bundesliga scoring record in a single campaign, scoring 36 goals and 44 in all competitions.
Kane also continues to add 69 goals to his record for England, surpassing Rooney’s tally of 53 in March 2023.
But Rooney’s club career sets him apart from the other lethal duo, winning five Premier League titles, three League Cups and a Champions League, an FA Cup, a Europa League and a FIFA Club World Cup. He also holds Manchester United’s all-time goalscoring record with 253 goals in all competitions.
Current Plymouth manager Rooney also played as a number 10 for much of his career, having appeared at number nine, on the wing and in central midfield. Kane, 31, has primarily been a classic number nine up front but has fallen to a number 10 position in setting up attacks.
At his best, Vardy was a composed finisher who caused problems with his pace, running in behind defenses and forcing errors with his pressing. Despite his age, he remains Leicester’s first attacking option under Steve Cooper.
