Robin Van Persie moved to Manchester United from Arsenal last summer in search of his first ever English Premier League title, while Sir Alex Ferguson targeted the 13th crown of his time at Old Trafford, after seeing Manchester City take one from his grasp in the last kick of last season.
It really could not have gone any better even if either of them had imagined it, as the masterful Dutchman fired home a splendid hat-trick to lead Manchester United to the easiest of 3-0 victories over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, and with it clinch the club's 20th league title - their 13th in the Premier League.
In an anti-climax to last season's title challenge, when United had the title snatched from them in the final moments in the most dramatic of circumstances, this year it was just normal business that was resumed really by the lean and mean and unrelenting Red machine.
The 16-point lead at the top of the table from second-placed Manchester City means, United's cross-town rivals cannot catch them, with only five games remaining for the Blues of Manchester.
There were certainly no blues for the Red Devils, though, as an incredible season was duly rewarded. Now the record point total of Chelsea awaits, with United needing to win the rest of their four games to overhaul the 95-point mark. The first of those four will be against Van Persie's old side Arsenal on Sunday.
Ferguson sprung a bit of a surprise at the back, playing Jonny Evans and Phil Jones in defence with Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic carrying slight injuries.
It did not really matter much though as the game was played almost entirely in one half. It took United just two minutes to add the first candle of the title cake.
Wayne Rooney, playing a deeper role, sprayed a brilliant pass to find Antonio Valencia down the right, who found Ryan Giggs at the far post, with the veteran calmly putting the ball on a plate for Van Persie to tap-in.
Rafael hit the woodwork with the 25-yarder soon after, before the second goal was struck on 13 minutes. This one was right out of the book of Van Persie specials, as the Dutchman fired home a brilliant left-footed volley off a pass from Rooney.
The second candle was firmly planted and now it was time for the third. Van Persie, who else, obliged, completing his hat-trick and his 24th Premier League goal of the season, with a simple strike from six yards, off another setup from Giggs.
Now it was just a matter of running out the clock and enjoying the rest of the 60 minutes or so; allowing the crowd to savor the moment as United inched ever closer to an incredible 20th league title - two more than Liverpool.
Jonny Evans and Shinji Kagawa came close in the second half, with the Japanese missing a sitter, but it did not even remotely matter in the end as the Red Devils regained their dominance of not just Manchester but the entire Premier League.