By Yunus Kaymaz
LONDON
The striking duo at the forefront of Leicester City's charge to the English Premier League title have made fans' dreams come true with their performances.
English striker Jamie Vardy, 29, and his 25-year-old Algerian teammate Riyad Mahrez accounted for 61 percent of Leicester City’'s goal tally this season, as the team strolled to the Premier League for the first time in their 132-year-history.
To top it all, Vardy was named the Football Writers’ Association player of the year, and Mahrez was selected as the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year.
English international Vardy scored 24 goals in 35 league appearances this season. He produced six assists.
Mahrez is the team's second top scorer behind Vardy. His hat-trick against Swansea in December took the 25-year-old midfielder's tally to 17 goals and 11 assists.
Securing the league title after rivals Tottenham Hotspur's 2-2 draw against Chelsea with two matches to spare, Leicester scored 67 goals in 37 league matches.
With this figure, Leicester became the third top scoring team in this season's Premier League behind Manchester City and Spurs.
Vardy and Mahrez scored 41 goals and produced 17 assists in total.
Vardy breaks Premier League goals in consecutive games record
Vardy broke a record in the league by finding the net in 11 consecutive matches -- a record that previously belonged to Dutch former star Ruud van Nistelrooy who managed to score in 10 consecutive league matches.
Vardy's success story will be turned into a movie, which is expected to be filmed after the UEFA Euro 2016 finals in France this summer.
Born in Sheffield, England, Vardy was released by Sheffield Wednesday after trials. Earning his livelihood by working in a medical office for 12 hours a day, Vardy played for amateur club Stocksbridge Park Steels while he was 16.
In 2010 he was signed by amateur league club Halifax Town before moving to Fleetwood Town.
While playing in England's second-tier, the Championship, Leicester City purchased Vardy for one million pounds ($1.4 million) in 2012.
Mahrez grew up without father
Mahrez grew up without a father, as the Algerian star's dad -- a football coach -- passed away while he was just 15 years old.
Like his teammate Vardy, Mahrez started to play football for an amateur team.
Mahrez -- born of an Algerian-born father and Moroccan-born mother -- chose to earn his livelihood as a professional footballer when he was 18. He made his debut for French amateur team Quimper Kerfeunteun FC in 2009, and scored two goals in 22 appearances in his first season.
Having drawn attention with his pace and technical ability, Mahrez was transferred to Le Havre in 2010 after turning down the chance to play for the reserve teams of Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Marseille.
The Algerian midfielder found the net 24 times in 60 matches for Le Havre’s B team. He was then promoted to the club's senior team, where he tallied 10 goals and 12 assists in 66 matches.
The English club signed Mahrez from Le Havre for 320,000 pounds in the 2013-2014 mid-season.
*Anadolu Agency correspondent Can Erozden contributed to this story from Ankara.
