Claudio Ranieri named new Leicester City manager
Italian makes a surprise return to the English Premier League; in 2004 he was sacked by Chelsea
Leicester City have hired former Chelsea soccer boss Claudio Ranieri as their new manager, the English Premier League club announced on Monday.
Ranieri makes a surprise return to the English top flight after emerging as the preferred choice of the club’s Thai owners to replace the sacked Nigel Pearson.
“Leicester City football club is delighted to announce the appointment of Claudio Ranieri as the club’s new first team manager,” a statement on the club’s website confirmed.
I have worked at many great clubs, in many top leagues, but since I left Chelsea I have dreamt of another chance to work in the best league in the world again
“The 63-year-old Italian has agreed a three-year contract at King Power Stadium to begin his second spell of Premier League management, following a successful four years at Chelsea between 2000 and 2004.”
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.
Former Inter Milan and Valencia boss Ranieri then became Leicester’s top target and his return to the Premier League was quickly rubber-stamped.