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Leicester parade Premier League trophy

Richard Connor (AFP, AP)May 16, 2016

The English city of Leicester has celebrated its football side's unexpected Premier League title win. Aboard an open-top bus, in a party few might have expected to see, the squad showed off the trophy to fans.

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Leicester City Spieler
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/J. Super

The Leicester City story reached its jubilant crescendo on Monday as thousands turned out to revel in the side's Premier League success.

Leicester, who started the season as 5,000-1 outsiders to win the league, confounded pundits and fans by clinching the title. The achievement came as richer rivals such as Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur fell by the wayside.

The side, which spent a fraction of the amount on players as some of its rivals and which was nearly relegated last season, won the league by a clear 10 points.

An estimated 100,000 fans packed the city streets to hail the side's stunning win, with Leicester coach Claudio Ranieri also there to soak up the celebrations.

The club said it thought as many as a quarter-of-a-million people had turned out to celebrate.

"The city is here. It's something special. I'm very glad," Ranieri told broadcaster Sky Sports. "This is because the team played with their soul and their hearts. The people understood this.

"It's unbelievable. I can only say thank you to the people."

Video highlights of the "Fearless Foxes" incredible season were played in the city's Victoria Park, with cheerleaders and a gospel choir providing entertainment before the team bus arrived with the Premier League trophy.

"It's crazy. We knew there was going to be a good turnout but this is something else," winger Marc Albrighton told the Agence France-Presse news agency. "Seeing a celebration like this will live with us forever. It shows what it means to this fantastic city."

Earlier in the day there was more good news for Leicester players Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater, who were selected in the 26-man provisional England squad for the Euro 2016 championship in France.