Ana Sayfa Genel Premier League, after being ranked as 5,000/1 outsiders at the beginning of...

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Premier League, after being ranked as 5,000/1 outsiders at the beginning of the season

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7 Mayıs 2016

Bocelli in blue: Leicester fans fall silent as the Italian tenor joins his friend Ranieri to perform rousing rendition of Nessun Dorma before the 5,000/1 Premier League outsiders lift the trophy

Thousands of fans are celebrating Leicester City’s Premier League title victory ahead of last home game of season
Claudio Ranieri’s team are playing Everton at the King Power Stadium, with supporters in party mood
Thai billionaire owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha promised supporters a free beer ahead of the game
Shops, pubs and stalls have been kitted out in blue and white selling City-themed products to mark occasion
Classical Italian singer Andrea Bocelli sang Nessun Dorma before the match in a Leicester City shirt

It’s a party thousands of people have been waiting their entire lives for – and many still can’t believe it’s taking place at all.

Thousands of Leicester City fans have made their way to the club’s King Power Stadium this afternoon to celebrate winning the Premier League, after being ranked as 5,000/1 outsiders at the beginning of the season.

Thai billionaire owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has promised fans attending the final home game of the season against Everton a free beer, if they needed any more incentive to get in the mood.

After a pre-match performance from Italian singer Andrea Bocelli, the place was rocking – and the decibel levels hit the roof when Jamie Vardy netted after only five minutes to put Leicester 1-0 up. On the half hour mark Andy King slotted home to double the champions’ lead at half time.

The heavens opened on the King Power Stadium, but it didn’t dampen the spirits as the fans continued the party.

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There was a sea of blue and white as the team, managers and all the staff walked out onto pitch in front of a packed stadium to hear a rendition of Nessun Dorma and Time To Say Goodbye by classical singer Andrea Bocelli

Andrea Bocelli shows off his Leicester City shirt as he performs before the game as Foxes manager Claudio Ranieri looks on

Italian classical singer Andrea Bocelli and Claudio Ranieri, manager of Leicester City, on the podium before the game against Everton

A couple of Leicester City fans don Foxes hats at the King Power Stadium to celebrate their club winning the Premier League title

A pregnant Leicester City fan is in party mood at the King Power Stadium for their game against Everton in the Premier League

Andy King doubled the lead for Leicester City as the heavens opened at the King Power Stadium on title party day

Jamie Vardy is having a party! After only five minutes, the England striker and PFA Player of the Year put Leicester City 1-0 up

Leicester City fans hold up a banner at the King Power Stadium, saying ‘Give Ranieri a knighthood’ in tribute to the club’s manager

An Italian flag which read ‘Grazie Claudio’ could be seen in the crowd at the King Power Stadium on title party day in Leicester

Andrea Bocelli walks out to perform before the game as Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri looks on at King Power Stadium

Classical singer Andrea Bocelli sings Nessun Dorma at the King Power Stadium in a Leicester City shirt before the match with Everton

Japanese fans show off a banner honouring Shinji Okazaki of Leicester City at the King Power Stadium on the day they get the trophy

Andrea Bocelli sings for the Leicester City fans next to manager Claudio Ranieri at the King Power Stadium as the title celebrations began

Andrea Bocelli sings to the crowd at a packed King Power Stadium, as the Leicester City fans began their title party before the game

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri waves to fans before the match as Andrea Bocelli waits to perform

The game kicked off at 5.30pm, with Claudio Ranieri’s team wearing its brand new Puma kit, but supporters had been turning up since 2pm to soak up the atmosphere.

There was a sea of blue and white as the team, managers and all the staff walked out onto pitch in front of a packed stadium to hear a rendition of Nessun Dorma and Time To Say Goodbye by classical singer Bocelli.

During the performance Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri looked like he was close to tears, as emotions ran high before the match.

The day is extra special for Steve Worthy, 39, who won the Barclays ‘I Am One’ competition to present the team with the trophy.

Huge swarms of fans gathered in celebration outside the King Power Stadium, pictured, as the victory party began in earnest

Steve Worthy, 39, was awarded the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hand-over the trophy as the winner of the Barclays ‘I Am One’ competition to celebrate the end of season

Mr Worthy has been warming up for his big opportunity by polishing the Premier League Trophy, pictured, now bearing Leicester’s colours

Thousands of jubilant Leicester City fans have been celebrating today ahead of the team’s final game of the season against Everton

A sea of supporters have been moving through the streets of the city to a championship party at the King Power Stadium since 2pm

Dressed in replica kits, pictured, they have been in fine voice, carrying flags and inflatables to emphasise their joy at the unlikely title

Mr Worthy is dedicating the experience to his 97-year-old grandmother Gladys Kenny, the oldest season ticket holder at the King Power until she had to give up her ticket earlier this year due to ill health.

Fansare marching through the city, which is decked out in blue and white from market stalls to pubs, with a sea of smiling fans carrying flags and inflatables moving through the streets.

Some have even been pictured kissing a giant black-and-white mural of the Italian manager’s face to show their appreciation for his part in the wonderful achievement.

Meanwhile traders have been trying to cash in on the success by selling City-themed products such as sweets, while crisps giant Walkers, founded in Leicester in 1948, has brought out a limited edition Salt and Victory (salt and vinegar) flavour.

Mr Worthy could not hide his delight after he took the Premier League trophy off a special Barclays bus and raised it in the air in triumph

He received a guard of honour from his fellow Leicester fans as he carried the trophy through the streets on his way to the stadium

Vendors are set to do a roaring trade in commemorative scarves not only celebrating the title win but entry into the Champions League

Manager Ranieri, right, has spent time shaking hands with supporters today ahead of the final home match of the season with Everton

Tributes to the Italian have come in many forms, with several fans donning Ranieri masks and scarves to honour his achievements

Whatever the result today, club captain Wes Morgan will lift the Premier League trophy after the final whistle to what will no doubt be a deafening noise from the jubilant supporters.

Fans began collecting their free bottles of Singha Beer from specific turnstiles around the stadium from 3pm. Leicester’s Thai owners organised the same after earning promotion, staying up, and at the end of 2015.

Each ticket-holder will also get a free pizza courtesy of Pizza Hut. Fans will get a voucher to be redeemed at any of four restaurants around the city while there is some speculation champagne will also be available.

Opera star Andrea Bocelli will sing before the match kicks off following six weeks of secret talks.

The classical singer, who went blind at the age of 12 after being hit in the head by a football, is expected to alter the words of his biggest hit ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ to ‘Time To Win Again’ as well as performing the 1990 World Cup classic Nessun Dorma.

Fans were even spotted showing their appreciation for manager Claudio Ranieri by kissing a black-and-white mural of his face, pictured

It seemed like everyone across the city was getting in the party mood with market traders decking out their stalls in blue and white

Even street preachers, pictured, got into the spirit of the occasion with one Christian donning a Leicester shirt during his talk

The new Puma Leicester kit had hordes of fans queuing outside the stadium yesterday in what was described as a ‘record-breaking’ sale

As previously reported by Sportsmail, the chairman plans to buy each of his title-winning squad a £32,000 Mercedes and his casino winnings would cover the lot.

All that is in addition to a £6.5million pot split between the squad under the terms of the club’s bonus agreement with the Premier League.

However, Mr Srivaddhanaprabha believes his over-achievers should be further rewarded for their extraordinary season and is looking at ways of doing so.

Leicester’s remarkable campaign has seen the club’s global profile sky-rocket and secured millions of pounds worth of extra revenue.

That will continue next season when they make their debut in the lucrative Champions League, and the tycoon feels it is only right the players receive their share of the pie.

Traders also tried to cash in on the football club’s success by selling Leicester-themed products such as these blue and white sweets