Jamie Vardy Snubbed by RB Leipzig Boss Ralf Rangnick Because He Was Too Old

Jamie Vardy’s journey from non-league to the national team with Leicester City could have taken a detour via RB Leipzig had manager Ralf Rangnick not declined the chance to sign the striker two years ago.

The reason for the snub? The then-27-year-old Vardy was too old. 

Rangnick revealed he was offered the player when he was the sporting director at the club—he became the manager last year—although wasn’t willing to deviate from his ethos of signing players under the age of 24, per Sport Bild (h/t Liam Prenderville of the Daily Mirror):

"

We desperately wanted to sign Joe Gomez, who later chose Liverpool, and we were flying back from London to Leipzig with his agent.

In the plane, the agent said to me 'Mr Rangnick, it's a crying shame that you are so radical about who you sign and only go for players who are under 24 because I've got somebody who would be just perfect for you. I can guarantee he would become a national team player under you, but he's already 27 and he's also spent time in prison after a little fight.’

It was [Vardy].

"

Boris Streubel/Getty Images

Vardy has enjoyed a tremendous 2015-16 season, flourishing at the point of the Leicester City attack and scoring the goals that have been central to what looks like a title triumph.

Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri has fashioned a system to get the best from the rapid forward and the club can clinch the Premier League title with a couple of games to spare with a win over Manchester United on Sunday.

OptaJoe summed up just how important Vardy's goals have been for Leicester on their way to this stunning achievement:

Rangnick is rated as one of the most innovative coaches in German football and his desire to assemble hungry young squads is admirable. It’s bearing fruit, too, because at the moment his team look poised to secure promotion to the top flight; they’re currently in second place, four points clear of FC Nurnberg with three games remaining.

Perhaps having watched on and witnessed how late Vardy has bloomed into an elite forward, the veteran coach may loosen his approach to signings should a similar opportunity surface.