Stephen Bradley thanked supporters and players after Shamrock Rovers lifted their 20th SSE Airtricity League title.
Bradley's son Josh, who has been treated recently for a serious illness, raised the cup alongside Ronan Finn in front of a sold-out Tallaght Stadium.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, the Rovers manager confirmed that he had asked the players to win the league for his son when his condition became serious in the summer.
"It's an incredibly special moment," he said afterwards.
"I asked the players when my son got ill, could they win this trophy for him, and they've done that for us.
"It's a special moment for him, obviously for the club, for everyone involved. He's had a tough time and this is a special night for him.
"It's all he's been talking about since he's been sick is can we go and lift the trophy for him, so I'm absolutely delighted that he's had that moment tonight.
"That'll give him the lift he needs to go and fight the rest of this."
"I asked the players when my son got ill, could they win this trophy for him, and they've done that for us"
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) October 30, 2022
Stephen Bradley on @ShamrockRovers special night and his son Josh lifting the league trophy with the squad #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/rT4fsLsyvI
Ireland international Jack Byrne, who returned to Rovers ahead of the start of the season, said that giving the Bradley family that moment on the pitch had given the squad a huge drive.
"That was the motivation, to win the league and give him a night like this," the 26-year-old said.
"We spoke about it quite a lot before big games. Just to see it come to life tonight is brilliant. The club has done three in a row.
"Where the manager has taken the club from when he first came in here is incredible. What he's gone through this year, and to come out if it with another league medal is frightening really."
On the pitch, Rovers beat Derry City 1-0 in their final home game of the season. The Hoops will finish off the campaign that has brought them their 20th title against UCD at Belfield next Sunday.
Graham Burke, Gary O'Neill, as well as Finn and Byrne, were players that Bradley had suggested wouldn't be able to take part in any more games this season owing to injury, but they were all given game time on a historic night for the club.
Stephen Bradley wants more domestic dominance to boost Shamrock Rovers' European ambitions
That fixture against UCD might see both teams giving fringe players minutes, with the Students involved in the promotion/relegation play-off against either Galway or Waterford on the following Friday.
Bradley though is already looking to next year and says his squad wants to match the great Shamrock Rovers team of the 1980s, who won four League of Ireland titles on the bounce.
"It's not easy, we played on Thursday in a tough game," Bradley continued.
"We're down bodies but this group don't look for excuses, they don't want excuses - that's why they're the best in the country.
"Hats off to them, fantastic. We're not finished. The aim was to put two stars on the jersey. Now can we go and beat that famous team of the 80s?
"It's going to be tough, we know teams are coming, but we'll do our very best to do it."
