“Jamie Vardy’s Jaw-Dropping Leicester City Decision Will Leave You Speechless – It’s Absolutely PERFECT!”
Ricardo Pereira on succeeding Vardy as Leicester captain, his growth, and vision for the team
Across his first seven seasons as a Leicester City player, Ricardo Pereira has lived through a remarkable range of experiences: two pushes for Champions League qualification, two European campaigns, an FA Cup victory, the disappointment of two relegations, and the joy of a Championship title.
That is only part of his story. On a personal level, Ricardo has endured contrasting fortunes.
He has been crowned player of the year and played a central role in the club’s successes, yet he has also suffered seasons ruined by serious injuries, including ACL and Achilles setbacks.
Arriving from Portugal at the age of 24, he will soon celebrate his 32nd birthday. Reflecting on his journey from Leicester’s Seagrave training base, he admits the years have changed him.
“I’ve changed a lot as a person, with experiences that happen through your life and career,” Ricardo explains.
“I’m much more mature now. I’m a different player with different qualities than I had before.
Maybe if you’d asked me when I first arrived if I could do what I do today, I might have doubted it. Now I understand the game better—through experience, playing time, and understanding people.”
Those traits, coupled with his ability and longevity, made him the natural choice to take on the captaincy.
Following Jamie Vardy’s departure, Leicester needed a new leader, and Ricardo’s credentials were unmatched.
As one of the squad’s longest-serving players, a skilled technician, and a fan favourite, his appointment was greeted warmly. Vardy himself called it “perfect.”
Asked how he intends to lead, Ricardo outlines a simple but firm philosophy. “I’ll try to lead by example, by being professional, by helping others,” he says. “But it shouldn’t just be the captain who does that—it should be everyone. That’s how I see it.
I’ll do my best to support my teammates and guide them during difficult moments, especially on the pitch, saying the right things so we improve as a team. That’s the ultimate goal.”
Ricardo now hopes to mark his captaincy with his first start of the season this Saturday, in the eagerly awaited M69 derby against Coventry.
