Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri admitted he was almost overcome by emotion after winning the Premier League and insisted it can be the start of a new era for the club.
Leicester sealed one of the biggest shocks in English football after they clinched the title following Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea on Monday.
Leicester finished 14th, just six points above the relegation zone, last season but Ranieri’s 5,000-1 shots are seven points clear at the top with two games left.
He flew back from Italy after visiting his 96-year-old mother in Rome on Monday and landed at East Midlands airport in time to return home and watch Tottenham’s draw.
Leicester have also qualified for the Champions League and Ranieri believes the club can continue to prove their doubters wrong.
“The emotion was at the maximum level,” he told reporters.
“It means the job is good. I am very, very happy now because maybe if I won this title at the beginning of my career maybe I would forget. Now I am an old man I can feel it muchbetter.
“I said every time I am very happy for the fans, for the chairman and for all the Leicester community. I don’t know the secret. The players, the heart, the soul and how they play. My message to the fans is now to keep going, we want to improve a lot.”
Ranieri watched the game at home with his family and admitted it is likely to be a one-off success.
“I think no,” when asked if the Foxes can defend their title.
“But we want to continue to build. When I came here the objective was to create a solid foundation and build together. This season is out of our project but our foundations are very solid and we want to do our best.
“We don’t want to sell anybody. If some player doesn’t want to stay with us I don’t want unhappy people.
“We are looking to add to the team but with the same mentality. Who comes must know we are working hard.”
But the 64-year-old admitted he did not take anything for granted despite the Foxes’ commanding lead going into the final three games.
He added: “Of course you feel something but I am a pragmatic man and I know football well. Something strange could happen.
“It was an amazing achievement. We wanted to do something special but no-one could have believed we would do this. I was at home with my wife. Nothing more. I celebrate with my wife and family.”
Team’s bond
The squad watched the Spurs game at striker Jamie Vardy’s house on Monday and midfielder Danny Drinkwater insisted their bond was key to their success.
The England midfielder told Sky Sports: “It was brilliant, all the lads were together whilst it happened and it kind of sums us up as a group of lads.
“I’ve not (known a bond like it), and I think the rest of the lads would answer the question the same. It’s a special moment for us lot.
“The manager has kind of put his trust in us and we’ve repaid him.
“He’s a laid-back kind of guy and that reflects on us. It helps us when it comes to games. You look around and in three years we’ve won the Championship, we’ve won the Premier League, it’s bonkers. It’s hard to put into words. It’s mad.
“I’ll be looking back at this for years. It’ll be something I’ll be able to tell my kids about.”
The squad arrived for training as normal yesterday but had a light session before going for a celebration lunch at an Italian restaurant in the city.
Reactions to Foxes’ big feat...
Lionel Messi spoke for the great and the good of world soccer, not to mention millions of grassroots fans, when he acclaimed Leicester City’s extraordinary Premier League triumph by tweeting: “The reason why we all love football... congratulations.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino echoed the most common and apt description of the “beautiful story” as a “fairytale” after the 5,000-1 outsiders, who performed a miraculous escape from relegation last season, were crowned champions on Monday.
Real Madrid’s former Spurs player Gareth Bale, whose side are battling with Messi’s Barcelona and Atletico Madrid for the Spanish title, took a similar view.
“Gutted for @SpursOfficial but congrats to @LCFC, amazing season!! Love Football,” the Welshman tweeted.
Ex-Leicester and England striker Gary Lineker said: “Leicester City have won the Premier League. The biggest sporting shock of my lifetime, and it’s only my team.”
Popular TV presenter Lineker had promised to front BBC’s Match of the Day in his underpants if his old club won it but few people thought he would ever have to go through with it, even when they opened a seven-point lead with two months remaining.
“All season long people kept saying they’ll lose the next one, lose the next one but they kept winning and churning out results,” said Chelsea skipper John Terry after the outgoing champions’ fightback from 2-0 down ended Spurs’ hopes.
“To do what they’ve done this year has been really unbelievable and given hope to the smaller teams in football.”
Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino, who must have thought the race would go into the final two games when his side led 2-0 at half-time on Monday, said: “First of all I congratulate Leicester and Claudio Ranieri and his players and supporters.
“It was a massive season for them – we just need to be stronger next season.”
Champions last 20 years
1996-97 – Manchester United
1997-98 – Arsenal
1998-99 – Manchester United
1999-00 – Manchester United
2000-01 – Manchester United
2001-02 – Arsenal
2002-03 – Manchester United
2003-04 – Arsenal
2004-05 – Chelsea
2005-06 – Chelsea
2006-07 – Manchester United
2007-08 – Manchester United
2008-09 – Manchester United
2009-10 – Chelsea
2010-11 – Manchester United
2011-12 – Manchester City
2012-13 – Manchester United
2013-14 – Manchester City
2014-15 – Chelsea
2015-16 – Leicester City
Since the League began in 1888-89, the following clubs have won the title:
20 times – Manchester United.
18 – Liverpool.
13 – Arsenal.
9 – Everton.
7 – Aston Villa, Sunderland.
5 – Newcastle United, Chelsea.
4 – Sheffield Wed., Man. City.
3 – Huddersfield Town, Leeds United, Wolves, Blackburn.
2 – Portsmouth, Preston, Burnley, Tottenham, Derby.
1 – Sheffield United, West Brom, Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town, Leicester City.