Leicester City have sensationally sacked title winning manager Claudio Ranieri.
The reigning champions have struggled this season following their phenomenal title campaign, and sit just one point above the relegation zone.
Their title win was built upon a tight defence, and counter attacking football. However this season, the champions defensive solidity has crumbled, and their goals have dried up.
Sacked
In a statement released on the club website this evening, Vice Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said:
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.
Despite their Premier League struggles, The Foxes are still in the Champions League. They lost 2-1 away to Sevilla last night but the away goal that they secured gives them genuine hope of reaching the quarter finals.
Leicester’s next game will be no walk in the park as they take on Liverpool on Monday evening.
