Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy named Premier League player of the season

Vardy at the launch of his V9 academy

The accolades continue to pour in for Leicester City and their players as Vardy picks up the latest honour. The Foxes’ frontman was named the Premier League’s ‘player of the season’ after his exceptional performances this campaign.

Vardy was part of the initial 10-man shortlist announced by the Premier League committee. The list consisted of 5 players from the newly crowned champions, which included Kasper Schmeichel, Riyad Mahrez, N’Golo Kante, Wes Morgan and Vardy.

The English forward managed to beat all his teammates including Riyad Mahrez who was named the PFA player of the year last month to claim the award. He was also named the Football Writer;s player of the season.

The 29-year-old’s goalscoring exploits were almost too good to be true considering his humble past. He was playing non-league football a few years back when Leicester decided to take a gamble on the forward.  Vardy definitely had a lot of pace, but nobody expected him to reach the heights he has achieved.

Vardy also received an award for breaking Van Nistelrooy’s record earlier in the season. The former Red Devil held the record for scoring in 10 consecutive Premier league games. Vardy went one better scoring in 11 successive matches, his last goal coming against none other than Manchester United.

The other five players who were nominated along with the Leicester stars were Tottenham’s duo of Dele Alli and Harry Kane,  Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil and West Ham’s Dimitri Payet. The award was first introduced in 1995 and the people who decided the recipient are picked from a panel of administrators, supporters and members of the media.

Vardy’s performances have earned him an England call up and Roy Hodgson all but confirmed he will be part of the squad travelling to France for the Euros in June.  The manager showered praise on his latest star during the Football Writer’s awards.

He said, “"I can't recall an English player in recent times who has enjoyed such a spectacular season -- both as an individual and as part of a Premier League-winning team,”

Vardy will be part of an England side which will also include the likes of Harry Kane and possibly Wayne Rooney. It will a tough decision to make as to whom Hodgson should start at the Euros given the quality of attacking players at his disposal.

Vardy could pick up one last award at the end of the Premier League season and that would be the Golden Boot. He is currently one goal behind Harry Kane on 24 goals but could still win the award on the final day.