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LONDON. — Leicester captain Wes Morgan hailed the English Premier League soccer champions as “a band of brothers” as they celebrated their astonishing title triumph on Monday night. Claudio Ranieri’s side were confirmed as kings of English football for the first time in their 132-year history after second placed Tottenham’s 2-2 draw at Chelsea ended their hopes of overhauling the leaders.

Leicester’s incredible rise from 5 000-1 pre-season outsiders to best in the Premier League has captivated millions of fans around the world and Morgan was quick to pay tribute to his team-mates for making the seemingly impossible into a glorious reality.

“It’s the best feeling of my career and I couldn’t be prouder that it’s as part of this team,” Morgan said.

“Everyone’s worked so hard for this, nobody believed we could do it, but here we are, Premier League champions and deservedly so. I’ve never known a spirit like the one between these boys, we’re like brothers.

“People saw it last season when everyone expected us to be relegated, but we fought back to prove people wrong.

“This season’s been a continuation of that. We’ve built on the momentum, but I don’t think anyone believed it would come to this.” Morgan, a previously unheralded journeyman defender, will become the most unlikely captain to ever lift the Premier League trophy when the Foxes have their title party at home to Everton on Saturday.

“Saturday can’t come quickly enough. I can’t wait to get my hands on the trophy,” he said.

Aside from Leicester’s tremendous team-spirit, the blistering form of England striker Jamie Vardy was the most crucial component of his club’s charge to the title.

Vardy’s 22 goals put Leicester in position to take the trophy just a few years after he was playing in the non-league and only 12 months after the Foxes narrowly avoided relegation.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling. I’ve never known anything like it,” Vardy said. — AFP.