‘Taking the Mickey’ – Jamie Vardy Makes Italian Lessons Admission as Children Pose Challenge for Leicester Legend

On the Back of His First Serie A Goal for Cremonese, Vardy Opens Up About Life, Language, and a Late-Career Adventure in Italy

Jamie Vardy has never been one to shy away from a challenge. From factory floors to Premier League glory, the Leicester City legend has built a career on proving people wrong. Now, at 38 years old, he’s doing it all over again — this time under the Italian sun, wearing the red and grey of Cremonese, and learning how to say “offside” in another language.

It’s been just a few months since Vardy swapped the East Midlands for northern Italy, but already, his trademark grin and tireless work ethic have made him a cult favourite among fans in Cremona. And after scoring his first Serie A goal — a late strike against Atalanta that earned his side a 1–1 draw — the Englishman finally feels like he’s finding his rhythm.

But it’s not just the footballing adjustment that’s testing him. Speaking to Sky Sports Italia after his milestone goal, Vardy admitted he’s in a race of a different kind — to learn Italian before his children do.

“I only know the basics,” he laughed. “Good morning, thank you, numbers… that sort of thing. But I’m starting lessons next week. My kids are learning too, and I can’t have them learning it before me — they’ll be taking the mickey out of me!”

New Challenge: Vardy Leaves Leicester a Legend

When Jamie Vardy finally said goodbye to Leicester City in the summer of 2025, it wasn’t just the end of an era — it was the closing of one of football’s most remarkable stories. From signing for £1 million from non-league Fleetwood Town in 2012 to becoming a Premier League champion, a 200-goal club icon, and an England international, Vardy’s rise was the stuff of Hollywood scripts.

He could have retired there and then, a hero forever immortalised in Leicester’s golden history. But that’s never been his way. “I didn’t want to just stop,” Vardy said in his first Cremonese interview. “I still feel fit. I still love the game. I wanted something different — a new challenge.”

And so, in a move that raised eyebrows and warmed hearts in equal measure, he packed his bags and joined newly promoted Cremonese. A club steeped in history but light on glamour, they offered Vardy exactly what he thrives on: a fight.

Jamie Vardy Rebekah 2025

Life in Serie A: A Tactical Test for the Foxes Legend

Adjusting to life in Italy, Vardy admits, has been a learning curve — both on and off the pitch.

“It’s more tactical and possession-based here,” he said. “In the Premier League, it’s all high intensity, fast-paced, end to end. In Serie A, you have to think a bit more, position yourself better, pick your moments.”

That blend of patience and precision doesn’t always come naturally to Vardy, whose career was built on lightning breaks and chaos in transition. But if there’s one thing he’s never lacked, it’s adaptability. Even at 38, his pace — still electric — and sharpness in the box make him a handful for defenders.

His first goal in Italy was pure Vardy: a clever run, a sharp finish, and a celebration that reminded everyone that age hasn’t dulled his exuberance. He even marked it with a vintage backflip, a nod to the youthful energy that refuses to fade.

“I’m over the moon,” he said after the match. “To get my first goal, that’s massive for me. A bit gutted we couldn’t hold on for the win, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

“I Feel Great” – Vardy Defies Time Once Again

For years, pundits have asked when Vardy might finally slow down. Yet here he is, still leading the line at nearly 40, still sprinting, still celebrating like a teenager who’s just scored in the park.

“I feel great,” he insists. “I look after myself, I do all the right recovery, and I’m as close to 100 per cent as I can be for every game. If the manager wants me, I’m ready. Simple as that.”

That determination has long been his trademark. From turning down nights out to stay fit in his non-league days, to maintaining elite conditioning deep into his thirties, Vardy’s professionalism has quietly matched his passion.

And now, under Cremonese boss Giovanni Stroppa, he’s being used as both a finisher and a mentor — guiding a young squad that includes several players who grew up watching him win the Premier League with Leicester.

A Family Affair: The Vardys Take on Italy

If footballing adjustments are one thing, adapting to Italian life as a family has brought its own challenges. Vardy’s wife, Rebekah, and their children have joined him in Cremona, and together they’re navigating everything from new schools to new cuisines.

The striker laughs when asked who’s settling in fastest. “The kids, definitely. They’re fearless. They’re already chatting to other kids in Italian and I’m stood there smiling, not having a clue what’s going on! That’s why I’ve got to start lessons — can’t have them mocking me at dinner time.”

The Vardys’ Italian adventure is also being documented for an upcoming TV series, set to follow their move abroad — from language lessons and training sessions to everyday family life in a new country. With his larger-than-life personality and quick humour, Jamie promises that the cameras will capture plenty of laughs.

“It’s going to be good fun,” he said. “It’s not just about football — it’s about us trying something new, together. And if people get a few laughs out of it, even better.”

From Sheffield to Serie A: A Journey Few Could Imagine

Vardy’s move to Italy might seem like a left-field twist, but in many ways, it’s the perfect final chapter to his career. This is a man who’s spent his life defying expectations. From being released as a teenager, to working long shifts at a factory before training at Stocksbridge Park Steels, to becoming the oldest outfield Premier League Player of the Season — every step has been about resilience.

His story is proof that hunger doesn’t fade with age. “Football’s football,” he said, shrugging. “It’s 11 against 11 every week. Anyone can beat anyone if you’re on it. As long as we’re switched on, we’ll get points.”

That mentality has quickly made him a respected figure in Cremona’s dressing room. Teammates describe him as light-hearted but laser-focused, the first to arrive at training and the last to leave. His trademark grin, once a fixture at the King Power, now lights up the Stadio Giovanni Zini.

A Goal to Build On: The Start of the Italian Chapter

For Cremonese, Vardy’s arrival was about more than marketing — it was about belief. A squad short on Serie A experience now has a forward who’s faced Europe’s elite and lifted trophies few dared dream of. His first goal may have come in a draw, but it symbolised the start of something more significant: the moment he truly became part of this team’s story.

The fans, known for their passionate support, have taken to him instantly. Banners reading “Vardy Italiano” have begun to appear in the stands, and chants of “Jamie! Jamie!” echo through the narrow streets around the stadium after games.

If Cremonese are to stay up — or better still, thrive — they’ll need Vardy’s goals, yes, but also his spirit. The man who once inspired Leicester’s miracle now has another underdog mission to lead.

Still Hungry, Still Laughing, Still Vardy

As he stood pitchside after the Atalanta game, sweat still dripping, smile wide as ever, Jamie Vardy summed it all up in his own uncomplicated way:

“It’s just about enjoying it. That’s what football’s for, right? New country, new league, same game. I’ll learn the language, I’ll get the goals, and I’ll keep smiling.”

That’s Jamie Vardy in a nutshell — a striker who’s never been afraid to take a leap, to laugh at himself, to outwork the odds. And now, as he navigates espresso orders, tactical team talks, and the playful taunts of his Italian-speaking kids, he’s writing a new chapter in one of football’s most unlikely and enduring fairytales.

After all, if there’s one lesson Jamie Vardy has taught us over the past decade, it’s this: underestimate him at your peril.

He’s learned to beat defenders, silence critics, and lift trophies. Learning a bit of Italian? That’s just the next challenge.

“Buona fortuna, Jamie — and don’t let the kids take the mickey.”