Jamie Vardy has delivered a heartfelt message to Susan Whelan — expressing gratitude to the outgoing Leicester CEO for the role she played in his success at the club.
It comes after her unexpected departure from the King Power Stadium on Thursday, ending a 15-year tenure.
Whelan has stepped down from her position, with chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha stepping in on an interim basis.
She was at the club when Vardy joined from Fleetwood Town in 2012.
The forward went on to net 200 goals in 500 matches for Leicester, becoming the third-highest scorer and appearance maker in the club’s history.
Vardy lifted the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield, as well as celebrating two promotions to the top flight during his 13 years with the Foxes.
Despite moving to Italian side Cremonese in the summer, he took to social media to honour Whelan.
The 38-year-old shared a picture of the pair on his Instagram story alongside an emotional message.
Alongside the image, Vardy wrote: “It’s hard to imagine Leicester without Susan.
“She’s been such a constant presence, not just in her work, but in the way she’s poured her heart into the people around her.
“Susan has given so much of herself – time, energy, passion, loyalty. She stood by people, worked tirelessly, and always went above and beyond, not because she had to, because that’s simply who she is.
“Those of us who know Susan personally know her value goes far beyond titles and positions.
“She is a force of kindness and clarity, a friend who listens without judgement and speaks truth with courage.
“On a personal level, I can’t thank Susan enough for everything she did for me.
“She believed in me when I doubted myself, she encouraged me when I was struggling, and she always had the right words at the right time.
“Her kindness, honesty and wisdom have left a mark on my life that I’ll carry with me always.
“Thank you, Susan, for everything you’ve done not only for me personally but also my family.
You’ve made a bigger difference than you’ll ever know. We wish you all the success for the future.”
Who is Susan Whelan?
Whelan had been Leicester’s CEO since 2010, serving 15 years in the role before her exit on Thursday.
During her leadership, the Foxes secured promotion to the Premier League in 2014.
They then followed up their survival by claiming their first-ever league title under Claudio Ranieri.
Whelan also oversaw Leicester’s journey to the Champions League quarter-finals as well as their FA Cup triumph in 2021.
The Foxes enjoyed three separate European campaigns during her era, though recent seasons have been more turbulent.
Last season concluded with their second relegation to the Championship in three years.
Meanwhile, the club face the threat of a points deduction from the EFL over alleged financial rule breaches.
Due to those potential sanctions, the club have scaled back on transfer spending following relegation.
Leicester did not sign any player for a transfer fee during the summer window.
The tighter finances and disappointing results on the pitch have fuelled growing frustration among supporters towards the hierarchy in recent years.