JOSE MOURINHO has hailed Leicester’s historic Premier League title win and praised former rival Claudio Ranieri.
The Portuguese won the league with Chelsea last season but was dismissed in December after a dismal first half to the 2015/16 campaign.
Mourinho replaced Ranieri at Stamford Bridge in 2004 and the pair clashed in the past when they were managing in Italy.
In 2010, Mourinho claimed Ranieri was considered to be a loser, saying: “I never said I was a phenomenon, but it’s certainly not my fault if, in 2004 after coming to Chelsea and asking why Ranieri was replaced, I was told they wanted to win and it was never going to happen with him.
“It is really not my fault if he was considered a loser at Chelsea.”
But Mourinho was full of praise for Ranieri’s Foxes following confirmation of their first league title.
In a statement via sports agency CAA, he said: “I want to congratulate everyone connected to @LCFC; players, staff, owners and fans.
“I lost my title to Claudio Ranieri and it is with incredible emotion that I live this magic moment in his career.”
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