Leicester City have named Claudio Ranieri as their new manager. The Italian makes a surprise return to the Premier League after emerging as the preferred choice of the club’s Thai owners to replace the sacked Nigel Pearson.
After Pearson’s dismissal last month, following a breakdown in his relationship with Leicester’s owners, the club had been linked with a host of high-profile replacements including Martin O’Neill and Guus Hiddink. O’Neill was believed to be close to agreeing to return to his old club over the weekend, but issues regarding his exit from his current role as Republic of Ireland manager scuppered that deal. Ranieri then became Leicester’s top target and his return to the Premier League was quickly rubber-stamped.
“I wish to thank the owner, his son and all the executives of the club for the opportunity they are giving me. Now I’ve only one way for returning their trust: squeeze all my energies to getting the best results for the team.”
Ranieri hasn’t worked in English football since 2004, when he was sacked by Chelsea, and was also dismissed from his last job as Greece coach last year.