Before the 2015/16 season got underway, Claudio Ranieri, 64, was considered by many as a moderately good coach but not an exceptional one.

Fiorentina’s Coppa Italia triumph in 1996 and Valencia’s success in the 1999 Copa del Rey represented his most remarkable achievements in a 29-year career before replacing Nigel Pearson on the Leicester City bench last summer.

At that time, the much-travelled Ranieri was coming from five sackings in the space of five years (2009-2014) – Juventus, Roma, Inter, Monaco and the national team of Greece.

Indeed, many were expecting Ranieri to become one of the first coaches to lose his job in the English Premier League as the campaign got underway.

Many had argued how could someone responsible for a series of poor results, including Greece’s shock home upset to Faroe Islands in a Euro 2016 qualifier, save the Foxes from relegation?

After defeat to the Faroe Islands, Greece football federation president Giorgos Sarris said: “Following this devastating result for our team, I take full responsibility for the un-fortunate choice of coach.”

However, things worked out differently with Ranieri at the helm at the King Power Stadium as last week Leicester were crowned champions for the first time in the club’s 132-year history.

Ranieri’s men did it without spending big and at the expense of more quoted sides Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United and outgoing champions Chelsea.

In other words, Ranieri triumphed when least expected, demonstrating that money alone does not buy you success.

Back in August, Leicester’s chances of becoming England champions were rated 5,000-1 – almost next to impossible!

Ranieri’s man management skills brought the best out of his players

This time a year ago, Leicester were in party mood, having secured their top-flight status on the final day of the season.

By the end of March 2015, Pearson’s Leicester had only managed four victories in the league. However, the Foxes then won six of their last eight matches to avoid the drop by a whisker. The season before, Leicester were playing Championship football.

In a way, Leicester reflected Ranieri’s story in that both needed to bounce back following a turbulent and an inspiring period.

Ranieri was shrewd enough to build on that April-May 2015 winning run as the side was immediately off to a strong start.

His tactics and style may not have been eye-catching while he was in charge elsewhere. But the module adopted at Leicester saw the side becoming almost unbeatable as Ranieri’s man management skills brought the best out of his players.

Not only that, Ranieri was also clever enough to set realistic objectives for his club.

First, a 40-point target for safety was established. Then, once relegation was avoided, Ranieri sought to keep his players on their toes by setting a Europa League berth as their next goal.

When it became crystal clear that Leicester’s blistering form was no fluke, Ranieri said a top-four finish was Leicester’s next objective.

Once this was also achieved a month or so ago, Ranieri started talking openly about the Foxes’ title chances.

Now, the wily Italian has already started talking down Leicester’s title chances for next season and said a top-10 finish will be the team’s initial aim once they make sure of safety.

Ranieri knows only too well that the hardest part of his job starts now in keeping the side on top.

This season’s triumph has augmented in no small way the sense of expectations. Now, one still needs to see if the club bosses will manage to keep all their best players and strengthen the side with quality signings.

The big question is… will Leicester be a one-year wonder or will they continue to challenge for the major honours?

At the same time, it is unthinkable that some of the top teams in the Premier League, particularly Chelsea, will not be involved in next season’s title race.

These are pertinent questions worth asking. But for the time being it is only right to let Ranieri bask in the glory of his big achievement with an unfancied team in the most challenging league on the continent.