Claudio Ranieri hailed his Leicester players after their incredible ascent to the Premier League title was completed, saying he "never expected" to win the title.
Tottenham's failure to win at Chelsea -- one of Ranieri's former clubs -- means Leicester cannot be caught with two games of the season to go.
As a result, the 5,000-1 outsiders have put the seal on the most amazing of stories, with Ranieri's one worth telling.
A journeyman manager who was derided by many upon his appointment by Leicester last summer, the 64-year-old has now won the first league title of his career.
A popular man, Ranieri typically passed on the plaudits.
"I'm so proud. I'm happy for my players, for the chairman, for the staff at Leicester City, all our fans and the Leicester community. It's an amazing feeling and I'm so happy for everyone," he said.
"I never expected this when I arrived. I'm a pragmatic man, I just wanted to win match after match and help my players to improve week after week. Never did I think too much about where it would take us.
"The players have been fantastic. Their focus, their determination, their spirit has made this possible. Every game they fight for each other and I love to see this in my players. They deserve to be champions."
Oggi in edicola: King Claudio #Ranieri in paradiso con il #Leicester! La favola Foxes nello speciale di @ETGazzetta pic.twitter.com/BGocEx9H1t
- LaGazzettadelloSport (@Gazzetta_it) May 2, 2016
Ranieri's whereabouts during the evening remain unknown. He said after Monday's 1-1 draw at Manchester United he would be heading back to Italy to fulfil a lunch date with his 96-year-old mother and as such would be flying to England when the full-time whistle was blown.
Footage showed him leaving Rome Ciampino airport ahead of schedule, so it is likely he was able to see his old club do him the greatest of favours.
Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink revealed that Ranieri phoned to thank him after Chelsea came from two goals down to end Tottenham's title challenge at Stamford Bridge.
"He called and thanked us for what we did in the second half, and I congratulated him for being champion," Hiddink said. "I didn't see any tears because it wasn't a FaceTime conversation, but his voice was trembling a bit.
"He didn't say much -- 'Thanks' five times."