LEICESTER'S remarkable rise from Barclays Premier League relegation strugglers to champions is complete - with a little help from the previous holders.

Reigning champions Chelsea drew 2-2 at home to Tottenham on Monday night to gift their former boss Claudio Ranieri a stunning top-flight title.

Second-half goals from Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard were enough to finally down second-placed Spurs' charge but the night, and season, belongs to Leicester and their Italian manager.

Ranked as 5,000-1 outsiders at the start of the campaign, doubts were raised over whether Ranieri could stave off a battle against the drop when he was appointed as Nigel Pearson's successor on July 13.

Now, 294 days later, he had the luxury of jetting back home to Rome to have lunch with his 96-year-old mother before returning to the East Midlands a hero.

The 64-year-old, though, was far from the only knight in shining armour at the King Power Stadium this term.

Some of Leicester's unlikely stars were watching events unfold at striker Jamie Vardy's house on an evening of high drama.

Foxes fans have coined the 'Jamie Vardy's having a party' chant this season, and the England striker appeared to be actually throwing one at his Melton Mowbray home.

Pictures from the Daily Mail appeared to show a number of players such as Christian Fuchs, Robert Huth, Wes Morgan and Shinji Okazaki arrive at Vardy's home, while a number of supporters also gathered outside the gates of the house.

Vardy began his senior career at Stocksbridge Park Steels after being rejected by Sheffield Wednesday as a teenager and was playing non-league football for Fleetwood in 2012.

The 29-year-old, who claimed the Football Writers' Association player of the year award on Sunday, has gone on to score 24 goals for club and country this season and looks set to lead the line for England at Euro 2016.

Riyad Mahrez's 17 goals and 11 assists saw him crowned PFA player of the year, capping the Algerian's astonishing accent from the French second division as recently as 2014.

Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, defenders Morgan and Danny Simpson and midfielders N'Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater were also recognised by the voters in the FWA poll.

Winger Marc Albrighton, speaking after Sunday's 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford which edged the Foxes closer to their first-ever top-flight title, said: "We've got that never-say-die attitude. I think that's won us a lot of points this season.

"Early on this season you've got the draws at Stoke and Southampton, we were 2-0 down in both of them, and 2-0 down in the home game against Villa.

"So that showed our character early in the season and we've continued to do that. We've gone behind at Old Trafford, which is a daunting place. It's a big pitch and the fans are behind them, but credit to the lads, we carried on going, got the equaliser and held on."

Leicester lost 19 games in last season's bid to escape relegation yet, under Ranieri, they have tasted defeat just three times in the Premier League.

They have gone to Manchester City and Tottenham and won, while an unbeaten run since mid-February proved beyond any doubt Ranieri's side had the nerve to finish the job.

Albrighton admitted after the thrilling draw with United that a title success would take time to register.

"I don't think it will for a while," the former Aston Villa winger added. "It might sink in later on in the summer. If we can wrap up the title it will be such a fantastic achievement and maybe then it will sink in."

Seven years ago, to the day, after the Foxes rounded off their League One title-winning campaign with a 3-0 win away at Crewe, they can now savour the proudest moment in the club's history.

THE FOXES' FANTASTIC FIVE:

The Northern Echo:

JAMIE VARDY

The record-breaker has enjoyed a fairytale season and an astonishing rise after joining the club from Fleetwood in 2012.

Just four years ago he was helping the Cod Army out of the National League and this summer he will, barring injury, be in England's Euro 2016 squad.

He set a new Premier League record by scoring in 11 straight games, became the first Leicester play since Gary Lineker in 1985 to net 20 top flight league goals and was nominated for PFA Player of the Year.

RIYAD MAHREZ

The Northern Echo: Riyad Mahrez celebrates scoring for Leicester in their win over West Ham

The PFA Player of the Year is one of the hottest properties in football after a stunning season having scored, so far, 18 goals, assisted 11 more.

Two goals in the opening day win over Sunderland set the tone and while he has only netted four times in his last 18 games he remains one of Leicester's stars.

Boss Claudio Ranieri has always said he would allow players to leave if they wanted to and Barcelona have been linked with the Algeria winger.

N'GOLO KANTE

The Northern Echo: Leicester midfielder N'Golo Kante is not getting carried away

The midfielder was unknown when he arrived from Caen for a reported £5.6million last summer but was a PFA Player of the Year nominee and has become a France international.

Head of recruitment Steve Walsh pushed Ranieri to sign the 25-year-old and he has helped fill the void left by Esteban Cambiasso, who left last year.

Ranieri has reaped the rewards with relentless Kante doing the dirty work for Vardy and Mahrez to let loose going forward.

DANNY DRINKWATER

The Northern Echo: Danny Drinkwater is in line for his England debut in the upcoming friendlies

His form earned the midfielder an England debut in March and pushed him to the brink of Roy Hodgson's Euro 2016 squad.

Perhaps overlooked before being called up for the Three Lions as Kante, Mahrez and Vardy grabbed the plaudits but he has been central to Leicester's success.

A deep-lying playmaker he has complimented Kante with similar all-action displays in front of the defence.

ROBERT HUTH

The Northern Echo:

A Premier League veteran, the 31-year-old's career looked to be winding down when he joined Leicester from Stoke in January 2015.

But he has been a rock at the back for the Foxes and has also scored crucial goals, including the winner at Tottenham and a brace at Manchester City.

He won two league titles with Chelsea in 2004 and 2006 under Jose Mourinho having also played under Claudio Ranieri at Stamford Bridge.