Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was delighted at winning his 10th league title and the club's 17th, after the 2-0 win at Wigan Athletic. "I said before the game that I am not bothered about records. This is what it is about, championships and trophies," said the Scot. "If we'd lost the title it would have been a great knock but we are bouncing into the Champions League final. "I am at a great club which makes it easier for me than the rest."

Sir Alex Ferguson's touchline celebrations would earn him an early exit on Strictly Come Dancing - but when it comes to collecting silverware he has no peers. So while the jig in the rain at Wigan may not earn marks for artistic merit, it was a signal that the greatest manager of the modern era had clinched Manchester United's 10th Premier League title.

And the club's 17th championship in all was won by a side that exhibited all the attacking instincts Ferguson insists are indelibly imprinted in Old Trafford's history - but with a touch of defensive steel. It was fitting that the goals that sealed the title were scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, a symbol of Ferguson's present and future, and Ryan Giggs, who has been alongside the Scot for all of his Premier League triumphs.

United were deserved champions, and the headlines will be claimed by Ronaldo after 41 goals this season, plus the flair of his attacking colleagues Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez. But the unsung heroes were United's back four, who showed their quality right up until the final seconds of the campaign with another display of defiance and excellence to keep Wigan out when the tension was at its height.

Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic provided a superb base, while Patrice Evra and Wes Brown completed an outstanding defensive unit. It was a title victory for a lavishly-gifted but well-rounded United side that will now go into the Champions League final against close rivals Chelsea on 21 May on a high.

For Chelsea, the pain of missing out on the title to United will prove both a disappointment and an incentive. Avram Grant and his side deserve massive credit for keeping the race going to the wire, but they can still make up for missing out with victory in Moscow. Chelsea were eventually undone by a poor start under Jose Mourinho and a nasty habit of losing crucial late goals, particularly in conceding points to Aston Villa and Wigan at home and Spurs away.

But there has never been an unworthy title winner and United deservedly added their name to the roll of honour. And for a man who arrived at Old Trafford in 1986 with the stated intention of "knocking Liverpool off their perch", he now stands only one title behind United's arch-rivals.

Now Ferguson will turn his attentions to his second Champions League triumph, with no sign of his appetite or burning desire for trophies waning.

If it was dramatic at the top, then in its own way Roy Hodgson's achievement at Fulham has been just as remarkable. Fulham's win at Portsmouth completed the revival for a team that was effectively relegated just after 4pm on 26 April when they were losing at Manchester City and Birmingham were beating Liverpool. A stunning win at Eastlands was the catalyst for recovery, and boss Hodgson has done it by preaching a passing game that has sent Birmingham and Reading down.

But once again the plaudits and respect go to United and Ferguson - and the look in his eye told you this was a man turning his attentions to more trophies even as the champagne corked popped at the JJB Stadium.