Leicester City menyelesaikan satu perjuangan yang paling luar biasa dalam sejarah olah raga dengan menjuarai Premier League musim 2015/2016.
Gelar juara pertama untuk klub yang telah berusia 132 tahun, saat satu-satunya pesaing, Tottenham bermain imbang 2-2 melawan Chelsea, yang berarti tidak mungkin mengejar ketinggalan 7 poin dari 2 partai sisa Tottenham.
Tottenham unggul dua gol di babak pertama, lewat aksi Harry Kane pada menit ke-35 dan Heung-min Son pada menit ke-44. Namun, The Blues tidak mau kalah di kandang sendiri dan mereka tampaknya memang ingin membantu mantan manajer, Ranieri, untuk memastikan gelar dengan hanya bermain imbang. Dua gol akhirnya datang di babak kedua. Gary Cahill memperkecil kedudukan pada menit ke-58 dan Eden Hazard menyamakan skor pada menit ke-83.
Pasukan Claudio Ranieri’s kehilangan kesempatan merayakan juara di Old Trafford pada Minggu malam saat bermain imbang dengan Manchester United, mereka hanya perlu menunggu 24 jam sesudahnya untuk memastikan gelar juara.
Former Leicester striker Gary Lineker: “Saya telah mengikuti perjalanan Leicester sejak saya masih masih anak-anak. Saya adalah pemegang tiket terusan untuk pertandingan Leicester semusim saat berusia 7 tahun. Saya menyaksikannya di laga final FA cup dan kami kalah, itu adalah momen terdekat Leicester pada juara yang pernah kami miliki. Walau setelahnya Leicester memenangkan beberapa juara FA cup, namun menjadi juara liga adalah sesuatu yang luar biasa. Ini benar-benar mustahil. Tidak ada peluang juara sama sekali saat memulai musim ini, kalian bisa mengajakku taruhan 10 juta berbanding 1, saya tetap tidak akan memilih Leicester, “Itu sama saja membuang uang.”
Prime Minister David Cameron on Twitter: “Many congratulations to Leicester. An extraordinary, thoroughly deserved, Premier League title.”
Kasabian guitarist and Leicester fan Serge Pizzorno: “Winning the Premier League? After that, even if we get relegated and we’re in the Conference in 10 years, I won’t care. We’ll always have that.”
One Direction singer Niall Horan on Twitter: “Congratulations Leicester City. What a story. Fantastic players, fantastic manager. Enjoy. Jamie Vardy’s having a party .”
New World Snooker champion and Leicester fan Mark Selby: “I can’t believe it – I don’t know what’s more of a shock, me winning the title twice or Leicester becoming the champions. Hopefully in another two years I’ll come back and win it again and Leicester will be Premier League champions again.”
Chelsea captain John Terry: “Congratulations to Leicester because they have been superb this year. The rivalry with Tottenham means a lot but that still hurts us tonight losing the league title after the way we won it last year. It hurts passing the Premier League title to Leicester but credit to them, they’ve been superb. We’ve not been good enough but we’ll be back next year.”
Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli on Twitter: “Leicester city.. champion. Congratulations to the players and to an amazing manager as RANIERI!”
Peter Schmeichel, father of goalkeeper Kasper, on Twitter: “Congratulations to @kschmeichel1 and his @LCFC teammates for winning @premierleague.”
Former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard on Instagram: “Up the Chels! Top finish from @hazardeden-10. Huge congrats to everyone at Leicester and particularly Claudio Ranieri. A gentleman who changed my life. #Ranieri #chelsea”
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero on Twitter: “Congratulations are due for Leicester City, deserving champions of the Premier League!”
Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany on Twitter: “Congratulations to the new Champions of England, Leicester City. Respect.”
Pop star Robbie Williams: “Go on Leicester x”
Former Man Utd and Arsenal striker Robin van Persie on Twitter: “Congratulations to Leicester City on winning the Premier League! What an incredible achievement!”
Leicester mayor and lifelong fan Sir Peter Soulsby: “When we were burying a king they were seven points adrift at the bottom and here we are just over 12 months on and they are Premier League champions. It’s hard to believe.”
