Leicester City sack Claudio Ranieri nine months after historic triumph

SportsCafe Desk

BySportsCafe Desk, SportsCafe Editor

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After beating odds of 5000-1 to win a historic EPL trophy last season, Leicester City have sacked Claudio Ranieri as their manager just nine months from that historic day. Leicester find themselves in 17th place, hovering just one place above the relegation zone and on the brink of a European exit.

After the highs of last season, Leicester have come crashing down to earth this season and now find themselves just one point and place clear of the relegation zone. The Foxes have now lost six consecutive league games and have failed to score a single league goal since the turn of the year. Exit from the FA Cup at the hands of second division side Millwall did not help Ranieri's cause.

"The board reluctantly feels that a change of leadership, while admittedly painful, is necessary in the club's greatest interest," Leicester announced in a statement.

"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."

Ranieri's last game in-charge was the Champions League round of 16 clash against Sevilla, where the English team managed to get an away goal in a 2-1 defeat in Spain. 

After all that Claudio Ranieri has done for Leicester City, to sack him now is inexplicable, unforgivable and gut-wrenchingly sad

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," Leicester City vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said explaining the decision.

The decision has, however, not gone down well with Leicester fans. Former Leicester striker Gary Lineker who famously appeared in his underwear on live television, after promising the same if Leicester won the league, was highly critical of the decision. And so was Dion Dublin, who had two different stints at the now King Power stadium, calling the decision "shocking".

REALLY!!! Are you sure Leicester City. Sacking the manager that won you the Premier League title!! That's just shocking

While one can appreciate the sentiments associated with Ranieri, it is important to note that the Foxes have been struggling for form since the turn of the year. You can call the decision a critique on modern day football, but Ranieri did not look well equipped to deal with a relegation fight. Having said that, sacking him before the second leg of the Champions League seems like a very insulting move on Leicester's part.

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