Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy becomes co-owner of American football club

Leicester City forward Jamie Vardy has emerged as co-owner of American football franchise Rochester Rhinos.

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Former Three Lions striker has acquired a minority stake in the club based in the state of New York but has no intentions to retire from active football, and will continue to play games from https://www.australianonlinecasinosites.com/ when he feels like it.

Formed in the year 1996, Rochester Rhinos have not taken part at any level of football for 4 years, but they have on four occasions won the national championships and are the only non-MLS side to have won the prestigious United States Open Cup.

With the Leicester City striker heavily involved, the team plan to field a squad again in 2022.

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Owners of the club since 2016, the Dworkin family, have been in talks with the Englishman and his agents for over two years.

A big part of the striker’s plan is to try to replicate a few of the successes he achieved with his “V9 Academy” in the UK, which gave a second opportunity to non-League footballers who the striker felt were good enough to play professionally.

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Jamie Vardy launched V9 Academy in November 2015 as an annual week-long camp aimed at offering guidance and coaching to 60 non-League footballers and offer them the chance to showcase their incredible football talent in front of football scouts from top league clubs. 

In addition, Rochester has penned a partnership with Empire United Soccer Academy, a highly respected academy, which will operate along with the Rhinos to offer a pathway to the first team for elite local footballers that play slots online.

Despite Vardy’s involvement at Rochester, Leicester City have given the striker permission to pursue this dream while he still focuses on playing football at the King Power Stadium.

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Vardy said, “I’m really excited to be part of the Rhinos,”

“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.

“I love the story of the US Open Cup win, and although the club has been through some difficult years since, in a way that makes this more appealing to me.

“Once I started speaking to David and Wendy (Dworkin) – and we’ve had so many talks via video calls – I could see how excited and enthusiastic they are about the club (Rhinos), and I knew that I wanted to get involved and try to play a part in helping to turn things around.

“It won’t be easy, but I never do anything the easy way in life!”

The Dworkin’s also part-own the Sacramento Kings in the NBA.

“This is a huge coup for Rochester and the Rhinos,” David Dworkin said.

“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.

“Aside from the experience, knowledge, and profile that Jamie will bring to our club, one of the things that have really shone through during our discussions with him is how incredibly passionate he is about this project.

“Jamie absolutely shares our desire to give Rochester a successful soccer team again.”