His diet and specialized training sessions, life by the lake, and his teammates are the foundation of the Englishman’s success—he’ll turn 39 in January

After leaving Leicester this summer—the club with which he made Premier League history—Jamie Vardy is enjoying a third youth in Italy. The Englishman’s two-goal performance against Bologna has revived Cremonese after three straight losses and treated Serie A to the exploits of a true champion. Here, beneath the Torrazzo, he has rediscovered the spirit and form of his golden years. But how did Cremonese manage to revive his career? What lies behind the exploits of a talent who, at 38, is still making a difference?

Cremonese environment—  First and foremost, the atmosphere. Davide Nicola explained: “The team welcomed him as a privilege.” This suggests how much the team takes pride in playing alongside him. In return, he’s delivered goals and a low-key, constructive style that has won everyone over. After arriving on September 1, Jamie decided to live on the Brescia side of Lake Garda, where his children attend an international school, while he divides his time between the field and his villa in Salò, enjoying walks and family life. The unfortunate burglary that occurred while the whole family was at the Zini Stadium (with 100,000 euros stolen) for the match against Roma didn’t faze him. His response was a stellar performance in Bologna—one that began long before. He spent the summer out of work, keeping fit and focusing on specific training sessions designed for a speedy striker. “My drills are high-speed, aimed at breaking through the lines with a decisive burst of speed.” That’s the very quality that defines true goal-scorers: he’s relentless. Like Pippo Inzaghi, Paolo Rossi, or Gerd Müller, he wears down his opponents’ stamina, instilling in defenses a constant sense of danger. Just look at Monday night’s match at the Dall’Ara to see what I mean: Lucumi, Heggem, and especially Casale paid the price for that pressure, completely losing their composure. Not much time in the gym—which he hates—and plenty of time in the pool, which he loves (he even uses his own pool for hydrotherapy); those are his habits. He has others, too, actually, as Floriani reveals: “He drinks a ton of Red Bull. We have a full-height fridge packed with Red Bull. I think he drinks it every day, but he handles it like a champ. When he trains, he looks like he’s from another era.”

Vardy’s diet—  The narrative, especially during his Premier League days, was rife with details about a carefree lifestyle. Red Bull, of course, caffeine, ham and beans in the morning, and a glass of port the night before games to relax. The present, however, seems to tell a different story: a lean physique and explosive speed over short distances that belies his 38 years. Cremonese has reignited his innate qualities through targeted training. Two weeks of personalized sessions with high-intensity sprints and endurance drills, his debut in Verona, a muscle issue that slowed his progress, half an hour against Inter, and then—starting with the match against Udinese—the real Vardy emerged. “I take care of myself when it comes to recovery, to the fullest extent possible. I have everything I need at home.” Scrambled eggs and bread or toast for breakfast. Plain pasta or pasta with tomato sauce for lunch, and meat in the evening. This is the diet behind his incredible longevity. His teammates: A special bond formed in no time. His teammates adore him. “It’s a source of pride to play with Jamie; he’s made himself available in an incredible way. It’s up to us to put him in the best possible position to perform at his peak. How do we understand each other? A little in Italian and a little in English—language is the least of our problems,” says Federico Bonazzoli, the “Robin” to Vardy’s “Batman.” “The strongest player I’ve ever worked with, along with Umtiti. I told him I’d followed that entire Leicester season. Feats like that are an inspiration for those who, like me, started from the bottom,” adds Baschirotto. “What strikes you most about Jamie is his hunger, his desire to get back in the game, his love of a challenge,” reflects Zerbin, while captain Bianchetti says, “He never complains; he works hard and encourages the young players.” He’ll turn 39 in January, and his contract expires in June, but there’s a growing sense—now more than ever—that the story won’t end there.