RANIERI
Leicester City took the astonishing decision to sack Claudio
Ranieri on Thursday night only nine months after the Italian guided them to the
greatest title win in English football history.
The club's Thai owners appeared to back their manager
earlier this month when they insisted his position at the club was secure. He
was given their 'unwavering support'.
But after a Champions League defeat in Seville followed six
Premier League games without scoring, Ranieri was summoned to the King Power
Stadium. There, Leicester confirmed the brutal call to part company.
Ranieri achieved the impossible by guiding a team who
narrowly escaped relegation the previous season to the Premier League title in
May at odds of 5,000-1.
But with the team a place and a point above the relegation
places with 13 games of the season left, Leicester decided a change was needed.
The news was broken on MailOnline and revealed by sources in
Italy before the club issued a statement at 8pm on Thursday, saying: 'The board
reluctantly feels that a change of leadership, while admittedly painful, is
necessary in the club's greatest interest.
Leicester City Football Club has tonight (Thursday) parted
company with its First Team Manager, Claudio Ranieri.
Claudio, appointed City manager in July 2015, led the Foxes
to the greatest triumph in the Club's 133-year history last season, as we were
crowned champions of England for the first time. His status as the most
successful Leicester City manager of all time is without question.
However, domestic results in the current campaign have
placed the Club's Premier League status under threat and the Board reluctantly
feels that a change of leadership, while admittedly painful, is necessary in
the Club's greatest interest.
Vice Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: 'This has
been the most difficult decision we have had to make in nearly seven years
since King Power took ownership of Leicester City. But we are duty-bound to put
the Club's long-term interests above all sense of personal sentiment, no matter
how strong that might be.
'Claudio has brought outstanding qualities to his office.
His skilful management, powers of motivation and measured approach have been
reflective of the rich experience we always knew he would bring to Leicester
City. His warmth, charm and charisma have helped transform perceptions of the
Club and develop its profile on a global scale. We will forever be grateful to
him for what he has helped us to achieve.
'It was never our expectation that the extraordinary feats
of last season should be replicated this season. Indeed, survival in the
Premier League was our first and only target at the start of the campaign. But
we are now faced with a fight to reach that objective and feel a change is
necessary to maximise the opportunity presented by the final 13 games.'
First Team preparations for Monday's Premier League fixture
against Liverpool will resume on Saturday, with Assistant Manager Craig
Shakespeare and First Team Coach Mike Stowell taking charge of the squad until
a new manager is appointed.
Assistant Manager and First Team Coach Paolo Benetti and
First Team Sport Science and Conditioning Coach Andrea Azzalin have also parted
company with the Club and leave with our thanks for their service and best
wishes for the future.
The Board will now begin the recruitment process and will
make no further comment until that process is completed.
'His status as the most successful Leicester City manager of
all time is without question.'
The club's vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha added:
'This has been the most difficult decision we have had to make in nearly seven
years since King Power took ownership of Leicester City.
'But we are duty-bound to put the club's long-term interests
above all sense of personal sentiment, no matter how strong that might be.
'We will forever be grateful to him for what he has helped
us achieve. Survival in the Premier League was our first and only target at the
start of the campaign.
'But we are now faced with a fight to reach that objective
and feel a change is necessary to maximise the opportunity presented by the
final 13 games.'
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