Leicester City sprang a major surprise by hiring former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri as their new coach on Monday.
Ranieri makes his shock return to the English Premier League after emerging as the preferred choice of the club’s Thai owners to replace the sacked Nigel Pearson.
The 63-year-old Italian agreed a three-year contract at King Power Stadium and has been charged with building on the foundations left by Pearson, who saved Leicester from relegation last season despite a series of bizarre incidents involving the controversial boss.
Photo: AFP
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 coach scuppered that deal.
Former Inter and Valencia coach Ranieri then became Leicester’s top target and his return to the Premier League was quickly rubber-stamped.
“I’m so glad to be here in a club with such a great tradition as Leicester City,” Ranieri said. “I have worked at many great clubs, in many top leagues, but since I left Chelsea I have dreamed of another chance to work in the best league in the world again.”
“I wish to thank the owner, his son and all the executives of the club for the opportunity they are giving me,” he added.
Ranieri has not worked in English soccer since 2004, when he was sacked by Chelsea, and he was also dismissed from his last job as Greece coach last year.
He was axed by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich to make way for Jose Mourinho after finishing second in the Premier League and reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in his final season at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian was famously nicknamed “the tinkerman” for his habit of constantly making tactical changes at Chelsea.
Now Ranieri faces pressure to ensure Leicester stay away from negative headlines after Pearson’s colorful reign.
Pearson was involved in several incidents, including calling a journalist an “ostrich,” clashing with Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur during a match and telling a Leicester fan to “fuck off and die.”
In June, Pearson’s son, James, was one of three players sacked by the club for their involvement in a racist sex tape while on a tour in Thailand — home of the club’s billionaire owners, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and son, Aiyawatt.
Ranieri met the Leicester squad on Monday and is set to remain with the group for their training camp in Austria, seeing the team in action for the first time on Tuesday next week against Lincoln City.
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