Rome, Leicester: The Italian Premier called it “insane.” The country’s national sports newspaper called him “King Claudio.”
Claudio Ranieri was hailed as a national hero at home in Italy after coaching Leicester to a highly improbable English Premier League title.
“King Claudio,” read the headline on the front page of Gazzetta dello Sport on Tuesday, above a statuesque image of Ranieri as the Roman emperor Claudius.
Leicester secured their first top-flight title without playing on Monday after second-place Tottenham drew at Chelsea 2-2.
Leicester was playing in the second tier only two years ago, came close to be relegated again last year, and started this season as a 5,000-1 outsider for the title.
For the first time in its 132-year history, Leicester is champion of England.
“It’s the greatest achievement in the history of English football, and it was led by an Italian,” Matteo Renzi, the Italian Premier, tweeted, adding a hashtag message of “insane” in Italian.
The 64-year-old Ranieri was known as a journeyman manager who never won any major titles in a career that saw him bounce from club to club, rarely staying more than a couple of seasons in one.
Before signing with Leicester, Ranieri had an embarrassingly short reign as the coach of Greece, and was fired following a loss at home to the Faroe Islands.
“I always thought that sooner or later I would win a league title,” Ranieri told Italian state TV Rai late Monday. “I’m the same man who was sent away by Greece.
“The only dedication I want to make to everyone is to tell them to believe and give things a try, not only in football but in every area of life.”
The son of a butcher and raised in Rome’s working-class neighborhood of Testaccio, where the slaughterhouses were, Ranieri played briefly for his hometown club of Roma before spending most of his career as a defender for southern club Catanzaro.
Ranieri, however, warned the fans that a repeat next season could not happen. back at the Leicester training ground and meeting up with his players for the first time since they were crowned champions, described their success as “unbelievable”.
Yet asked if Leicester could repeat the feat, which had been rated a 5,000-1 shot at the start of the season, in their next campaign, Ranieri told Sky Sports: “No. I think no, but of course we want to continue to build.
“When I came here, the project was to build a very good foundation and slowly, slowly grow up together and in three, four years to fight for the Europa League, then the Champions League.
“This season is out of our project, but our foundations are very, very solid. We know very well we have to fight for 10th position,” he said.
“We want to do our best. I’m positive and I want to fight. Yes, a top 10 target, to make a very good campaign in Europe and the Cup and to make sure the season is safe and then something more.” The Italian reckoned that he did not want to sell any of his players, some of whom may well be the target for bigger clubs after their stellar season, but any new signings would have to buy into Leicester’s all-for-one spirit.
“I don’t want to sell nobody. If some players don’t want to stay with us because they’re not happy with us, then I don’t want unhappy people. Then we are looking to reinforce the team but with the same mentality. Because it’s my mentality.”
Ranieri said there had been no great celebrations in his house in the Midlands, unlike those of his players who had enjoyed a party at the home of their star striker Jamie Vardy after watching Spurs draw 2-2 with Chelsea on TV, the result that sealed the crown.
He had flown home from Italy, where he had lunch with his 96-year-old mother Renata, on Monday evening and watched the game with his wife, before calling the rest of his family back in Rome.
“It was unbelievable because we wanted to do something special, but nobody could think we could have achieved this. It was an amazing season for us. I believe in my players but I was so happy last night.”
