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The former Leicester City boss believes he trained the best England striker in recent years
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca has sparked debate by naming Jamie Vardy as the best English striker of his generation, placing him above renowned England icons Wayne Rooney and Harry Kane.
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Speaking ahead of Chelsea's clash with Leicester City, Maresca praised the 37-year-old’s adaptability, goal-scoring prowess, and mindset as the reason he has managed to have such a lasting career.
Maresca rates Vardy highly
Maresca spoke in glowing terms about Vardy during his pre-match press conference, calling the striker "fantastic," praising his ability to adapt and learn even in the twilight of his career.
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"I know England has been quite lucky with strikers, like Kane, Rooney, and many others, but if you ask me, [Vardy] has been the best one,” Maresca said, adding, “He can run in behind, finish, and link play. The best thing is his open mind.
"Last year he changed the way he was playing by dropping in, linking the play, and he still wants to learn. But of course, he still has the one thing that is most difficult to find, which is to score goals.
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“He can be out for a week without training, but when matchday comes, he’s the one who scores,” he added.
Vady still going strong at 37
Vardy, who led Leicester’s charge to Premier League promotion under Maresca last season, remains a crucial figure for the Foxes in their return to the top flight.
Although the pair have since parted ways with Maresca’s summer move to Chelsea, Vardy is still proving that age is just a number with four goals in ten Premier League appearances this season already.
With 140 Premier League goals under his belt, Vardy ranks as one of the greatest strikers that the competition has seen, placing 15th on the all-time top scorers list.
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Despite his fondness for Vardy, Maresca will be hoping to keep the ex-international quiet when his Chelsea side visit his old stomping grounds this weekend.
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