“SHOCKING FATE of the Mystery Striker Who HUMILIATED Vardy & Kane by BENCHING Them at Leicester – You WON’T Believe Where He Is Now!”
Jamie Vardy and Harry Kane are two of the most prolific strikers in Premier League history, but their rise to the top wasn’t straightforward.
Vardy, known for leading Leicester City to their historic Premier League title in 2015/16, has scored 143 goals in the competition and claimed the Golden Boot in 2019/20.
He also lifted the FA Cup in 2021. Kane, despite not winning major honours with Tottenham Hotspur, has amassed 213 Premier League goals, second only to Alan Shearer.
However, both players had humble beginnings and uncertain futures early in their careers.
A key moment highlighting this was Leicester’s Championship play-off semi-final second leg against Watford in 2012/13. Incredibly, both Kane and Vardy were on the bench for the match.
The game is best remembered for Troy Deeney’s iconic last-minute winner after a dramatic turn of events. Leicester, having won the first leg 1-0, trailed 2-1 on the night and were on course for extra time.
When Leicester won a contentious penalty deep into stoppage time, the chance to win the tie presented itself.
But Watford goalkeeper Manuel Almunia saved Anthony Knockaert’s spot-kick and the rebound, setting off a stunning counter-attack.
The ball found Deeney, who lashed it into the net, securing Watford’s place in the final.
Kane, who was on loan from Spurs and came on in the 61st minute, watched the heartbreak unfold, while Vardy remained an unused substitute. Manager Nigel Pearson had instead chosen Chris Wood to lead the line, partnering David Nugent.
Wood, who had scored 20 goals that season, was Leicester’s preferred striker, with Kane and Vardy still developing.
Vardy, then 26, had only managed four league goals and would not make his Premier League debut until the age of 27.
Chris Wood also took a winding path to the top. After leaving Leicester for Leeds United in 2015, he scored 44 goals in 88 games, earning a move to Burnley.
There, under Sean Dyche, he established himself in the Premier League.
Following a brief, less successful stint at Newcastle, Wood joined Nottingham Forest in January 2023. As of April 2025, he has scored 88 Premier League goals, with 19 of them coming this season—his best yet.
Also on the bench that day was Danny Drinkwater, who later played a key role in Leicester’s title-winning campaign.
He moved to Chelsea the following season, but his career declined and he retired in 2023. In 2024, he made headlines for working on a construction site, stating he was happy with his new path.
