Leicester City sack Claudio Ranieri less than a year after their miracle Premier League triumph
LEICESTER CITY have sacked Claudio Ranieri, just nine months after he won a stunning Premier League title.
The Italian has been shown the door by the champions the night after they were beaten 2-1 in their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at Sevilla.
Leicester's owners confirmed the news in a statement - just 16 days after the club released one BACKING Ranieri.
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That previous article has since been deleted from their website.
The club said: "His status as the most successful Leicester City manager of all time is without question."
Ranieri has endured a dire season at the King Power, in a Jekyll and Hyde situation compared to the year before.
Everything the 65-year-old touched seemed to turn to gold last term, with Jamie Vardy netting 25 goals in all competitions for the Foxes and Riyad Mahrez winning PFA Player of the Year.
N'Golo Kante was also signed under the Italian's watch - and the Frenchman turned out to be one of the brightest diamonds in Premier League transfer history, becoming a ball-winning machine in midfield.
But Kante left for Chelsea for £32million and has helped the Blues to the top of the league this term.
Elsewhere, Ranieri's marshalling of the Foxes defence was magnificent last season, conceding just 36 goals with Wes Morgan and Robert Huth like rocks in front of keeper Kasper Schmeichel at the back.
They have leaked 43 already this term, with 13 games still to go.
Leicester were defeated 2-1 in Sevilla on Wednesday, leaving their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread, but Vardy's away goal gave them hope of turning the tie around at home.
Yet it has been their league form that has been most worrying.
The club are just a point above Hull in the relegation zone - their 1-0 win over West Ham is their only victory in the last 10 games.
Leicester 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.
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“Claudio has brought outstanding qualities to his office. His skillful 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.”
The news will come as a blow to many Leicester fans, who wanted the Italian to succeed after his miracle achievements last term.
He will always be remembered fondly in the East Midlands.
And he proved that football's nice guys can truly win big.