In May 2015, Leicester City football club succeeded in escaping what seemed almost certain relegation from the English Premier League. In August, at the start of 2015-16 season, few gave them much hope of achieving anything other than relegation and the bookmakers offered 5000 – 1 against them winning the title.

Against the odds, Leicester surprised not only its fans but fans across the world from Argentina to Zimbabwe by winning in the Premiership in style. And, a few die-hard fans who had wagered small sums of money found that the bookmakers’ odds had turned these into fabulous winnings.

Since the establishment of the Premier League in 1992 the game has been dominated by a small number of wealthy clubs with the rest appearing to make up the numbers. For most football fans the belief that their team would win the title was just a dream, a fantasy. But Leicester had altered perceptions by living the dream and even a film was made about their journey. Claudio Ranieri, the coach, became FIFA World Coach of the Year and the team were awarded team of the year at the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year.

That dream, however, came crashing down for Ranieri when he was sacked because of the team’s poor performance during the 2016-17 season.

A day later he showed his style and good humour when he said:

“Yesterday, my dream died. After the euphoria of last season and being crowned Premier League champions, all I dreamt of was staying with Leicester City, the club I love, for always. Sadly this was not to be.

“My heartfelt thanks to everybody at the club, all the players, the staff, everybody who was there and was part of what we achieved.

“But mostly to the supporters. You took me into your hearts from day one and loved me. I love you, too. No one can ever take away what we together have achieved, and I hope you think about it and smile every day the way I always will. It was a time of wonderfulness and happiness that I will never forget. It’s been a pleasure and an honour to be a champion with all of you.”

Whatever the rights and wrongs of the sacking, Ranieri is right to emphasise how people should use their memories of the good times to tide them over the less happy ones. Positive memories can be dipped into and re-lived again and again to bring happiness. Our power to re-imagine the good times is one which we should nurture and, who knows, may give us the confidence to strive for a new dream.