Leicester City announced the firing of manager Claudio Ranieri on Thursday, less than a year after he miraculously guided the Foxes to Premier League glory by winning the league title.
This season things haven’t gone Ranieri’s way, with the team fighting for its survival in the Premier League, currently sitting in 17th place, one spot above the drop zone.
From the club:
“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.”
Club vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said the club will forever be grateful to the Italian manager, who pulled off one of the most amazing runs last season with Leicester, winning 23, drawing 12 and losing just three league matches on the way to the Premier League title.
But the team has lost 14 of 25 games this season in the league, seemingly focusing on the Champions League, where it is in the Round of 16. With just five wins in 25 league matches this season, Leicester is on pace for 32 points, which has never been enough for any team to remain in the top flight.
Facing relegation often results in a coaching change, as we have seen with Crystal Palace and Swansea this season.
The club said assistant Craig Shakespeare and first-team coach Mike Stowell will take charge of the team until a new manager is appointed.
With Ranieri gone, Leicester turns the page. But they’ll never forget what he did for the club. Want to know how much he means to them and the fans? Just watch this:
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