Match of the pray: Leicester City’s incredible Premier League victory was all thanks to Claudio Ranieri’s faith in St Rita, the patron saint of impossible causes, claims Italian priest 

• e-mail

Leicester City's unbelievable run to winning the Premier League has been billed as the greatest sporting story ever but now an Italian priest suggests they might have had some divine help. 

Father Mario De Santis, rector of a basilica dedicated to St Rita in Roccaporeana, claims that it was manager Claudio Ranieri's faith in St Rita, the patron saint of impossible causes, that might have been the difference.

The 5,000/1 Premier League champions won the league on Monday with two games to spare after title-chasers Tottenham could only manage a draw with London rivals Chelsea.

Father Mario De Santis, rector of to a basilica in Roccaporeana, claims that it was manager Claudio Ranieri's faith in St Rita, the patron saint of impossible causes, that might have been the difference

Ranieri, who was fired from his previous job with Greece, is thought to have previously taken his past teams to the village of Roccaporena for pre-training, where St Rita was born

Father Mario believes Ranieri was regularly praying to St Rita and suggested 'she could well have been out there on the field with the players,' according to The Times. 

Ranieri, who was fired from his previous job with Greece, is thought to have previously taken his past teams to the village of Roccaporena for pre-training, where St Rita was born.

Past players under Ranieri reportedly practiced hill sprints on the slope near to where St Rita is thought to have prayed. 

'Leicester's exploits this season have been an impossible cause and I believe Ranieri will pay us a visit soon to offer a prayer,' said the manager of the shrine to St Rita, Alfredo Cherubini 

In a change of strategy, Ranieri took Leicester on a pre-season trip to Austria, where his team quickly showing a continuation of its end of season form which saw them win six out of their last eight games under Nigel Pearson to stay in the Premier League. 

Delighted Leicester City fans celebrate their fairytale end to an unbelievable season under Claudio Ranieri

Leicester City's Marc Albrighton scores his side's fourth goal of the match against West Brom last month

Reflecting on his side's staggering achievement, Claudio Ranieri said he is still struggling to comprehend how he managed to transform Leicester from 5,000-1 outsiders to Premier League champions

'I said to them ... `It is difficult to understand 25 people. It is important you understand only me. If we link very well we can do something good,'' Ranieri recalled when he first met his squad.

As well as the help of St Rita, the Foxes have been regularly visited by Buddhist monk Phra Prommangkalachan over the last three seasons.

He has provided the players with good luck charms and blessed the pitch. 'I hang some amulets on their necks and I gave them these fabric talismans,' he said in March.

'I'm not sure if they understood what I explained to them about it, but they knew that it would bring them luck.' 

Reflecting on his side's staggering achievement, Claudio Ranieri said he is still struggling to comprehend how he managed to transform Leicester from 5,000-1 outsiders to Premier League champions.

'You have to leave a little more (time) and taste slowly, slowly like a good wine. Savor it,' Ranieri said. 

'Maybe now is too early to think what we have done. Maybe in one or two years it could be better to understand.' 

As well as the help of St Rita, the Foxes have been regularly visited by Buddhist monk Phra Prommangkalachan over the last three seasons

'I'm not sure if they understood what I explained to them about it, but they knew that it would bring them luck,' said Buddhist monk Phra Prommangkalachan