Cremonese manager Davide Nicola has made it clear he is more than willing to accommodate Jamie Vardy’s unorthodox eating habits, insisting that the forward’s personal routines are an integral part of what keeps him performing at elite level.
Nicola has overhauled the club’s catering approach specifically to allow players to follow individualised diets – a shift that has delighted Vardy, who became famous in England for starting his days with cheese-and-ham omelettes and a side of baked beans during his Leicester City peak.
Rather than asking the 38-year-old to conform to Italian norms, Nicola has encouraged the squad to embrace tailored menus, abandoning the one-size-fits-all approach common at many training grounds.
The policy appears to be paying dividends: Vardy struck twice in Cremonese’s 3–1 victory over Bologna on Monday evening, taking his season tally to four and propelling the newly promoted club up to 11th in Serie A.
It marked Vardy’s fourth goal in five weeks and ended a three-match losing streak, reinforcing his status as a central figure in Cremonese’s survival bid.
For Nicola, the veteran striker’s dietary quirks are not a problem to be managed but a reflection of the habits that have underpinned a career spanning more than a decade at the top of English football.
“We now have individualised breakfasts and lunches,” Nicola said.
Cremonese manager Davide Nicola has made it clear he is more than willing to accommodate Jamie Vardy’s unorthodox eating habits, insisting that the forward’s personal routines are an integral part of what keeps him performing at elite level
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“There is no longer a single menu for everyone. Cultures are different, needs are different, and so are allergies.
“Each player has their own personal menu, there’s not even need to monitor these things because they’re part of the players’ lifestyle.”
The coach has been equally effusive about Vardy’s professionalism since his arrival from Leicester in the summer, praising both his output and mentality.
Davide Nicola is enjoying managing Jamie Vardy in Italy
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“Jamie is a point of reference for us,” he said.
“As a coach, I can only say that great champions are incredibly simple people.
“They already know what they must do and how they must do it. They never show attitudes that aren’t constructive to the team.
“A champion differs from an ordinary player not only because he has immense qualities on the pitch, but also because he has the spirit and awareness of what he represents.”
Nicola highlighted Vardy’s reliability in both training and matches.
“A true champion never gets his attitude wrong. He’s very self-confident and light-hearted, someone who always trains. He has his habits, but he came here with the mentality of making himself available,” he added.
Jamie Vardy has scored four Serie A goals this season
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GETTYVardy’s longevity continues to surprise observers.
After 145 Premier League goals, more than 300 Leicester appearances and 26 England caps, he has transitioned into Italian football with minimal fuss.
His long-documented pre-match rituals – including double espressos, energy drinks and his signature omelette-and-beans breakfast – have not faded with age.
Indeed, some of those habits have begun to filter through the squad, with Red Bull cans spotted on the bench during his debut.
Nicola praised the way Cremonese’s dressing room has embraced its new talisman.
“I’ll also add that the Cremonese group, those who welcomed Vardy, have just as many qualities from this point of view,” he stated. “A player like him must be understood in his habits and integrated in the best way. The Cremonese group welcomed Vardy with great privilege. Vardy has recognised it, and he’s proving to be a great man in every aspect.”
