Brendan Rodgers is finally getting the rewards and recognition for being one of the outstanding bosses in the English game.
Rodgers conquered Scotland with Celtic, was a slip away from winning the title with Liverpool and has now led Leicester to their first ever FA Cup.
Leicester boss Rodgers is one of the brightest, most enthusiastic and attacking coaches around and he has been a perfect match at the King Power Stadium.
He is the first British manager to win the trophy since Harry Redknapp with Portsmouth in 2008.
How a few other clubs must wish they had gone for him after Celtic but, as per usual, Leicester stole a march on the rest.
This is a club which is ahead of the game and that is why we should stop talking about their success as a fairytale.
(Image: Getty Images)
It was definitely the best story in the history of the Premier League when Claudio Ranieri led them to the title in 2016. A truly magnificent, unforgettable achievement.
But at Wembley, five years on from their greatest moment, the FA Cup was a different reward for the club – and every bit as deserved.
Rodgers, goal scoring hero Youri Tielemans and captain Kasper Schmeichel all dedicated the win to tragic Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the chairman who died in a helicopter crash in 2018.
His son Aiyawatt – nicknamed Khun Top – went onto the pitch after the game to celebrate in front of the magnificent 6,000 Leicester fans who were there as 22,000 supporters were back at Wembley to witness the incredible day.
How many owners could get a hero’s reception from their fans? Not many. Leicester arguably have the best owners in the Premier League.
While other fans – members of the selfish and greedy Big Six – are protesting about their owners signing up to the European Super League, this lot are giving theirs a standing ovation.
That says everything about Leicester – a club dedicated to its fans, led by a manager who is in tune with the supporters and no wonder the other clubs wanted to break away.
Because Leicester are a genuine threat to the Big Six by running the club brilliantly.
Great recruitment, shrewd signings, a world class new training ground and a cracking atmosphere at their stadium when its full.
(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
This is a model of how a club should be run and operated – and, equally, that is why it should not be regarded as a fairytale. That would be patronising and wrong.
No matter what Rodgers says about trophies being a bonus and their success is just competing, this club is more than that now. They belong among the elite.
They have made some super signings. Tielemans cost £32m but is worth every penny, Wesley Fofana was great business at £36m and, again, they have beaten bigger rivals to a top talent.
Chelsea did start well and were always favourites but Tielemans’ wonder strike, the 63rd minute winner was world class and worthy of being a winning goal in any final.
Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel, consistently one of the best No.1s in the Premier League, made a wonder save from Mason Mount. An astonishing stop, up there with one of Jim Montgomery’s diving saves from 1973 when Sunderland shocked Leeds.
The late VAR drama when substitute Ben Chilwell’s cross was eventually turned into his own net by Wes Morgan. But, ultimately, it was offside.
That is what VAR was made for – to make the big calls which can ultimately decide games.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel made big calls using Reece James at centre half and it did not work. They missed him on the wing. He chose Marcos Alonso over Chilwell. He got his wrong while Rodgers’ were spot on.
Now Leicester face Chelsea on Tuesday and if they can avoid defeat then they will take a big step to the top four.
A place in the Champions League and the FA Cup, will surely mean only Pep Guardiola has out-performed Rodgers this season.
Sign up to the Mirror Football email here for the latest news and transfer gossip.
