The question of who would succeed Jamie Vardy lingered over Leicester City’s summer, and there are several plausible answers.
Jordan Ayew stepped forward to claim the number nine shirt and has led the line in all of City’s Championship matches so far this season.
But Julian Carranza was the striker signing that so many supporters longed for. When he gets fully settled, he’s a contender.
However, that only addresses the Vardy replacement issue from one angle. As the club’s talisman, Vardy was more than just City’s starting striker.
He was the face of the team and the fans’ favourite. By performing consistently over such an extended period, he strengthened the bond between the squad and the supporters. There was a link between those in the stands and those on the pitch because of Vardy’s presence.
Since Andy King reached 200 City appearances early in the 2012-13 season, the squad has always included at least one player who had passed a double-century of outings for the club.
Most of the time, there were a few. Alongside King and Vardy, Lloyd Dyer, Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan, Danny Drinkwater, Marc Albrighton, Wilfred Ndidi, Kelechi Iheanacho, and James Maddison all reached 200 City appearances over the past 13 years.
It shouldn’t be underestimated how rare that is. City are traditionally a club that players pass through, often staying for a couple of years before moving on. City see a constant flow of players coming and going.
For instance, Tottenham have begun publicising their legacy numbers, showing where players feature on the all-time list of club representatives. Making his debut on Tuesday was Randal Kolo Muani, the Frenchman becoming the 899th player in Spurs’ history.
That’s a stark contrast to City, who reached 1,000 players more than 16 years ago when right-back Robbie Neilson made his debut.
After relegation, there are numerous calls for a squad overhaul, with fresh recruits arriving in the hope they become new heroes.
But if the squad keeps turning over, players are never around long enough to forge strong connections with supporters.
Following the departures of Vardy and Ndidi over the summer, City entered this campaign without anyone on 200 appearances. Ricardo Pereira, at 181 when the season began, was the nearest.
And truly, he is Vardy’s successor. It’s not only because he’s assumed the captaincy, and it’s not only because he’s a clinical finisher, with two goals in his 70 minutes on the pitch this season.
It’s because he’s perhaps the only player in the squad who comes close to inspiring the same emotions within the fanbase that Vardy once did.
When he’s on the pitch, he performs consistently. When he’s on the scoresheet, it sparks that extra excitement.
He’s only 31, and he may resist being described as a City stalwart, but he’s now in his eighth season with the club. Even with injuries, he’s managed to build a reputation as someone fans genuinely connect with.
It’s vital for the club and for the supporters that it feels like there is someone worthy of taking this specific baton from Vardy. Ricardo is that man.