The dream has come true. With the 2-2 draw between Chelsea and Tottenham on Monday night, Leicester finds itself with a 7-point lead over Spurs with two games to go. The Foxes therefore won the Premier League for the first time in their history.
The English media praise the triumph of Claudio Ranieri's team as the greatest sporting feat ever seen in Great Britain, and not only because no team had won the title for the first time since 1978 – at the time it was Nottingham Forest of the miracles, also winner of two consecutive European Cups – but above all because this Leicester has become a symbol of redemption. A year ago the Foxes narrowly escaped relegation and at the start of this championship their Scudetto was quoted at 5 to one by the bookmakers.
A good revenge for Ranieri, who despite having coached much more famous teams in his career (from Valencia to Chelsea, from Juve to Inter via Roma) had never managed to bring home a national title.
Leicester's other icon is undoubtedly Jamie Vardy, a 29-year-old capable of transforming himself within a few years from a metalworker in the Sheffield factories to top scorer of the England champion team. A film will be made about his story.
It was precisely at Vardy's house that the team watched Chelsea-Tottenham last night. Everyone was there: from Okazaki to Kasper Schmeichel, from Drinkwater to Morgan, from Mahrez to Kanté. At the final whistle, of course, celebrations erupted across Leicester. And immediately the streets were invaded by a very un-British enthusiasm: car horns, flags, choirs and songs. All washed down with rivers of beer offered by pubs, which have transgressed the obligation to close at 23pm and have remained open much longer.
They did not participate in the celebrations but the protagonists of this formidable ride were still present. Starting with Ranieri himself, the most idolized, portrayed in a gigantic mural in the city center. They have already named a type of spicy sausage after him, they will dedicate a street to him and probably they will also give him the keys to the city: with his never over the top manners, he has conquered everyone.
Next Sunday, the last home match against Everton will turn into a parade of honor for the heroes of this fairy tale. Vardy has served the disqualification that kept him sidelined in the last two rounds and will thus be able to celebrate the best player of the season award received by the press. Leicester wrote the most beautiful Hollywood-style finish, just as Ranieri had asked. "We're gonna win the league and now you gotta believe us," chanted the club's fans. And they were right.
