The emotions briefly became too much to hold in for Claudio Ranieri on Sunday night, after his Cagliari side won promotion back to Serie A thanks to a dramatic 94th minute winner from Leonardo Pavoletti away to Bari.
The former Premier League winner returned to the club that gave him his first opportunity as a professional coach back in 1988 this January, with the club floating in mid-table in Serie B at the time of his re-appointment.
In the months since then, Cagliari have slowly risen up the division, eventually finishing the campaign in fifth place, partly thanks to their run of five consecutive wins at the end of the season.
As a result, the Rossoblu earned a spot in the play-offs, and after overcoming Parma in the semi-finals, set up a two-legged encounter with third-placed Bari for the final promotion spot.
Cagliari could not have left it much later to find the winner, eventually breaking the deadlock in the second leg in the 94th minute, sparking emotional scenes from Ranieri and his staff on the touchlines.
After wiping away the tears, Ranieri delivered a quick telling off to a number of the travelling Cagliari supporters at the Stadio San Nicola, who had been taunting their hosts by chanting “Serie B” from the stands.