If life is shaped by coincidence, chance and fine margins – sport often comes down to even tighter calls. Moments we treat as routine or inevitable might never have happened without the specific chain of events that set them in motion.
Put differently, history’s tales and narratives could look completely different—or be entirely rewritten—if just a single decision went another way. Leicester City’s own story is no exception.
Why say this? Because one or two pivotal discussions at a major football club might have steered the course of LCFC glory away from a legendary former Foxes striker.
Back in 2011, Vards was playing for what is now a Football League Two side, Fleetwood Town. He caught the eye of the club in question while starring for the Cod Army, but nothing materialised and the Leicestershire outfit swooped soon after.
Such was the buzz and impact made by Vardy that the scout observing him refused to submit his report for fear of leaks and bigger clubs stepping in to hijack a potential deal.
What was said? How do we interpret it all? And would the retired England forward have succeeded north of the border? The team Vardy might have joined instead of Leicester has finally been disclosed.
Rangers scout admired Leicester City icon Jamie Vardy:
Picture spotting the Cremonese No.10 in non-league football and reporting him to your recruitment chiefs, only for them to pass. A gem slips through their fingers.
That’s apparently what unfolded when ex-Rangers scout John Brown “urged” the Scottish giants to sign Vards:
“The Ibrox hero observed the striker playing for Fleetwood Town in 2011.
At that time, Brown was working as a scout for the club.
He phoned Ally McCoist after the first game.
On the Let Me Be Frank podcast, Brown said: “What I saw from him in the first game, I phoned Ally McCoist and said, ‘I’m not putting the report in, in case somebody leaks it.’” – [Glasgow Times]
Brown is said to have pleaded with popular coach Ally McCoist to approach owner Craig Whyte about the situation. Nothing emerged from it. Still, the former believes Vardy would have been “the difference” at Ibrox. I’d agree. But Leicester got him!