Leicester City won a record-breaking eighth second-tier title with the help of Jamie Vardy goals in either half of a comfortable win for the promoted Foxes at Preston North End.
Out-of-contract Vardy may not join Leicester in the Premier League if the striker cannot agree a new deal, but the 37-year-old added another memorable moment to his legendary career at the club by turning to fire in their 36th-minute opener at Deepdale.
Against lacklustre opponents who had one shot on target, the dominant visitors soared towards their 31st win of the season when Vardy lifted the rebound into the net after Wout Faes’ shot hit a post seven minutes after half-time.
Kasey McAteer added a third midway through the second half, heading in Abdul Fatawu’s cross, and Fatawu hit the woodwork from 20 yards out with 18 minutes remaining.
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Former England international Vardy was suitably satisfied after Leicester gave themselves another reason to celebrate their instant return to the Premier League under manager Enzo Maresca.
“It’s thoroughly deserved and I’m glad we’ve had 5,000 fans come and celebrate with us,” Vardy told Sky Sports.
“It’s not like it’s 20 minutes up the road. We are over the moon. It has gone by quick but it’s a graft – not many days off, I’ll tell you that.
“I feel fresh. I look after myself. I’m fortunate enough where I can put all the recovery stuff in my house. I’ll carry on doing it.
Jamie Vardy couldn’t resist pulling off a “Klinsmann” diving celebration 😂
👏 @vardy7 pic.twitter.com/NuQtFBT00o
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 29, 2024
“They took a massive punt on me when I first signed here as the first £1 million player from non-league.
“I did take a while to adapt. I struggled in the first season but in the second season, we hit it off like a house on fire.”
Third-placed Ipswich Town were the only team who could have caught Leicester, having started the evening four points behind them with two matches left to play.
Leicester’s next target is to finish on 100 points – at least four more than Ipswich – by winning their final game of a glorious campaign at home to relegation-threatened Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.