Dick Advocaat - the veteran hard man of management known as "The Little General" - was reduced to tears as Sunderland sealed survival in the Premier League.
The 67-year-old Dutchman was pushed over the edge of emotion by the sight of his long-time assistant Bert van Lingen in a similarly reduced state after the Black Cats secured the point they needed to stay up with a goalless draw at Arsenal.
Advocaat had nine games to save Sunderland from relegation when he replaced Gus Poyet after the Uruguayan was sacked by owner Ellis Short following the 4-0 home defeat at Aston Villa on 14 March.
The fact Advocaat achieved safety with a fixture to spare is another achievement on the CV of one of the game's most widely travelled and experienced managers - and gives Sunderland the chance to rebuild after their latest great escape.
The Advocaat effect
The sight of Advocaat tearfully falling into the arms of his old friend and colleague Van Lingen in front of thousands of joyous Sunderland fans at Emirates Stadium showed how much keeping up Sunderland meant to him - and how much it has taken out of him.
Advocaat looked drained and delighted in equal measure in his post-match briefing, admitting it was the first time football had ever moved him to public tears.
Managing Sunderland has always had the capacity to reduce grown men to tears but it was a still a surprise to see a battle-hardened character renowned for occasionally employing the iron fist in an iron glove in such a condition.
He was hailed in a slightly X-rated song by Sunderland's supporters after the final whistle and he deserves huge credit for the manner in which he turned around a club and a team that looked locked on course for the Championship when he arrived on Wearside.
Sunderland fans
Sunderland fans have been through the emotional mill this season
Poyet left a Sunderland side devoid of spirit, easily beaten and prone to the sort of spectacular collapse that proved the final straw against Villa.
Advocaat's appointment was a gamble on the part of owner Short and the manager himself. He had no Premier League experience, although he had worked in the Scottish Premier League with Rangers between 1998 and 2002.
He opened with defeat at West Ham United but followed that up with the perfect tonic for any Sunderland manager - victory against Newcastle United in the Wear-Tyne derby.
How vital does that win look now with Sunderland safe and Newcastle fighting it out with Hull City to avoid relegation on the season's final day?
There have been bumps in the road, such as the 4-1 home defeat by Crystal Palace, but otherwise Advocaat has concentrated on injecting steel where there was previously a soft centre.
Crucial wins at home to Southampton and away at Everton demonstrated that Advocaat's ability to organise, a tactical acumen accumulated over a long career, and a belief in players who had lost their way was giving Sunderland a chance.
Even Jermain Defoe, a striker who has forged a reputation as an expert penalty box predator, showed his willingness to be flexible under Advocaat, operating on the right at Everton then switching to the left at Arsenal.
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