Andrea Bocelli to sing as part of Leicester Premier League title celebrations
Famous tenor will perform as a favour to his friend, Claudio Ranieri
World-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli will serenade Leicester City’s Premier League title-winners on Saturday in the latest phase of the Foxes’ remarkable week.
The Italian singer will perform at the King Power Stadium before the game against Everton at which Leicester will be presented with the Premier League trophy.
In the latest twist in a week that has seen Leicester players’ lives turned upside down by unprecedented media attention, Bocelli will be the star pre-match attraction on Saturday while the club’s famous ‘Ice Kings’ team of the 1960s will also attend.
Bocelli will perform as a personal favour to his fellow Italian Claudio Ranieri, Leicester’s title-winning manager.
Ranieri’s first press conference since the title was confirmed included a round of applause from more than 100 journalists, while the club laid on champagne to toast the 64-year-old’s success.
And he revealed Bocelli’s first offered to perform around two months ago, long before Ranieri conceded publicly that his side were title contenders.
“He called me one and a half or two months ago and he was so happy at what’s happening to Leicester,” said Ranieri.
“About singing, he said ‘why not?’
“Then I give all my info to the club and they made all the arrangements and everything – for all of Leicester and the community.
“I met him a long time ago when was at his concert at Wembley. I met him, I was not sure if he remembered me.”
The ‘Ice Kings’ - the Leicester side who narrowly missed out on the title in 1963 - will be presented to the crowd at half-time.
Then Leicester captain Wes Morgan will be presented with the Premier League trophy after the game.
Ranieri, who had not previously won a domestic league title in his long coaching career, said: “I enjoyed all the season.
“In the beginning I felt something special, but of course I could never have imagined this.
“We worked so hard. I know all the players, clubs and managers worked so hard but only one can win and this year it happened to me.
“It is my karma because I worked so hard to achieve all my things.
“It has a special flavour, I’m very happy and want to say thank you to all my players, the chairman, staff and fans. They were amazing.”
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