Claudio Ranieri Sacked As Leicester Manager
The
Foxes are one point above the relegation zone with 13 matches left.
"The
board reluctantly feels that a change of leadership, while admittedly painful,
is necessary in the club's greatest interest," read a statement.
Ranieri,
65, guided the Foxes to the title despite them being rated 5,000-1 shots at the
start of the campaign.
His
departure comes less than 24 hours after a 2-1 defeat at Spanish side Sevilla
in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
The
Foxes took the Premier League title by 10 points but have won just five
top-flight games this season, and could become the first defending champions to
be relegated since 1938.
They
have lost their past five league matches and are the only side in the top four
English divisions without a league goal in 2017.
"His
status as the most successful Leicester City manager of all time is without
question," added the Foxes statement.
"However,
domestic results in the current campaign have placed the club's Premier League
status under threat."
Earlier
this month, Leicester gave their "unwavering support" to the Italian,
who was appointed manager in July 2015 and signed a new four-year deal in
August 2016.
"After
all that Claudio Ranieri has done for Leicester City, to sack him now is
inexplicable, unforgivable and gut-wrenchingly sad," said former Foxes
striker Gary Lineker.
"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."
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