This is a nice touch. Chelsea FC have announced that there will be a special presentation to honour Claudio Ranieri’s achievements with Leicester City this afternoon.
Claudio Ranieri returns to Stamford Bridge this afternoon, some 12 years after he was sacked as manager of Chelsea FC. However, he returns as a Premier League champion and the club will recognise his success ahead of the Leicester City clash.
The Blues official website announced that a presentation will take place to honour the Italian after he led the Foxes to an incredible league title.
"A special club presentation will be made to Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri today to recognise his achievement of winning the Premier League."
Fans are being encouraged to take their seats early in order to enjoy festivities and I don’t see why anyone would not.
Jose Mourinho is often credited with ushering in the modern Chelsea era, but Ranieri is the man who truly laid down the foundations. A 2-1 victory over Liverpool on the final day of the 2002/03 season secured Champions League qualification for the Blues. As is widely accepted, this was a key factor in convincing Roman Abramovich that Chelsea was the club for him.
The first campaign under the new owner did not yield any silverware and Ranieri was somewhat coarsely tossed to the side. He has since managed around the world with limited success but he has finally won that elusive league title.
To their credit, Blues fans recognise his contribution to the club’s history and still hold him in high regard. As a result, expect Stamford Bridge to be packed in time for Ranieri’s presentation.
It will probably be an emotional moment for the Italian as his old club honour his unlikely heroes. In fact, the script could only be more fitting had Leicester needed to beat the Blues in order to confirm their triumph.
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From last season’s Premier League champions to this season’s victors, this should be a great afternoon. Chelsea fans may well take the opportunity to forget about their struggles and instead revel in the success of one of sport’s greatest stories.