Vardy to be a part of the Leicester-like story in the US

Starting the 2015–16 season as relegation candidates, Leicester City improbably went on to win the title in one of the most extraordinary seasons in English football.

Across the 'pond', in the United States, there is also a team that carries the label of an underdog and a lower-tier club - and one of the members of that Leicester championship squad wishes to rise the US team to a higher level.

Interesting news come from United State of New York where Leicester city goal scorer Jamie Vardy has stepped into football club ownership after buying a minority stake in Rochester Rhinos.

The plan of the club (formed in 1996) and the club executives, Vardy included, is to help the team which have not competed since 2017 due to lack of funding to rejoin the league in 2022.

Vardy is believed to have been working on the project for two years as he sees similarities between his home town of Sheffield and Rochester – an industrial city about 300 miles north-west of New York.

'I've been looking at opportunities in the United States for a while, but there was something about Rochester and the Rhinos that just felt right,' said Vardy.

'I love the story of the U.S. Open Cup win (when Rochester were the first club outside the MLS to do so 22 years ago), and although the club has been through some difficult years since, in a way that makes this more appealing to me.

'I can't thank Leicester enough for allowing me to do this. They know, and I know, that it will not in any way distract me from my priority, which is helping Leicester to be successful and scoring goals in the Premier League for many more years to come.'

Though the exact sum invested by Vardy is unclear, it is described as a 'meaningful share'.

Vardy is making plans for life after his playing days but even so - the 34-year-old is also clear that he has no intention of hanging up his boots just yet.

Last season, Vardy became the first player to feature in every round of the FA Cup and eventually helped Leicester win the competition for the first time in club history.

Vardy is now one of the best-known players in English football thanks to his remarkable progress from non-league to the Premier League title in 2016, playing in the World Cup two years later and winning the top flight Golden Boot in 2020.

Current owners of the Rhinos are David and Wendy Dworkin and they have been since 2016. The couple are also part-owners of NBA franchise Sacramento Kings.

'This is a huge coup for Rochester and the Rhinos. Jamie Vardy is known throughout the soccer world because of his success and his inspirational story, and we are delighted that he has chosen to join us as a co-owner.' David Dworkin added.

Vardy will have a strong say in appointing a new head coach while Lee Tucker, who led Vardy's V9 academy aimed at finding place for non-league players in the professional game, will be the club's new sporting director.

And there are talks that a movie will be made on Vardy's rise to stardom. One of the most interesting characters in the history of football, for sure.