Claudio Ranieri: Leicester sacking manager unforgivable – Gary Lineker

Leicester’s decision to sack Claudio Ranieri nine months after he won the Premier League is “unforgivable”, says former Foxes striker Gary Lineker.Ranieri took the Foxes to the title in 2015-16 despite them being rated 5,000-1 shots at the start of that campaign.Leicester are 17th this season and lost to League One Millwall in the FA Cup.Match of the Day presenter Lineker, who played for his hometown club for seven seasons, added that the Italian’s dismissal shows the “game’s gone”.“After all that Claudio Ranieri has done for Leicester City, to sack him now is inexplicable, unforgivable and gut-wrenchingly sad,” the 56-year-old posted on social media.Former Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, speaking on BT Sport, said: “I wasn’t that surprised, but am disappointed. He has done an amazing job.“When teams are down there now, with what’s at stake, owners do make those changes and panic. I’m sad to see it. He can walk away and hold his head high.”Ex-England striker and Match of the Day pundit Ian Wright said the Leicester players may feel they are responsible for Ranieri’s dismissal.“Unfortunate news,” Wright said on social media. “I wonder how I’d feel if I was a Leicester player right now? Could I have done more? At least Claudio left them as champions.”Former Wales striker and Match of the Day pundit John Hartson said: “Very hasty and very harsh. The owner/board are obviously having a major panic and feel a change in a relegation battle is needed.“Will the sacking of Claudio Ranieri seem so mad if Leicester appoint a manager who keeps them in the Premier League?”Former England striker Michael Owen said the sacking was a “total and utter disgrace”. He added: “I’ve lost a lot of love for the beautiful game today. The players and fans of Leicester have been massively let down.”
Leicester City: Premier League 2015-16 v 2016-17
Pts per gameShots per gameClean sheetsDefeats
2015-16 2.1 (81 from 38)13.8 (7th in league)153 (from 38)
2016-17 0.8 (21 from 25)10.8 (14th)514 (from 25)
On 7 February, Leicester issued a statement saying Ranieri had their “unwavering support”. Sixteen days later they sacked the 65-year-old Italian, who had signed a new four-year deal in the summer.His departure came a day after the Foxes won praise for their performance despite losing 2-1 in their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at Sevilla.“Ranieri was told he was sacked on Thursday afternoon in Leicester once the team returned from Spain, but the suggestion is the owners decided before that defeat by Sevilla,” said BBC sports editor Dan Roan.“The decision was taken very reluctantly but the club’s owners are desperate to avoid relegation and its consequences.”Foxes 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.”Srivaddhanaprabha added: “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.”A news conference with Leicester assistant manager Craig Shakespeare will take place at 13:00 GMT on Friday.I have support of everyone at Leicester – Ranieri

Analysis – ‘Leicester have shown a cruelty’

Phil McNulty, BBC chief football writer:It is almost the thought that dare not speak its name amid the wave of shock, outrage and disgust at Leicester’s decision to ruthlessly dismiss the hugely popular 65-year-old, who won the hearts of all supporters with his good humour, class and dignity as he led the Foxes to the title.But is there actually method in what many see as the madness of the club’s Thai owners?Leicester’s fall has been more dramatic than anything they could have foreseen in their worst nightmares. A win for any of Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Hull City this weekend would put the Foxes in the relegation places. Wins for all three and they would be bottom by the time they face Liverpool on what will now be a highly charged occasion at the King Power on Monday.After 26 games last year they were top on 53 points, two ahead of Spurs. This season they are 17th after 25 games, with only 21 points. Last season they had lost only three games compared with 14 in this campaign, and conceded only 29 goals compared with 43 this term. Indeed, they only conceded 36 in the entire 2015-16 season.The difference is stark and, very clearly in the opinion of Leicester’s owners, dangerous. Pat Murphy, BBC Radio 5 liveI remember the Thai owners at the Everton game when Leicester got the trophy, the players couldn’t get the trophy out of their hands. They loved dining at the top table and that’s what they are worried about.Has Ranieri lost the dressing room? Probably. They are clearly in trouble, sinking like a stone. But my word, they have shown a cruelty in this decision.Ranieri deserved everything. It sums up modern football. The owners have their eye on staying up.The chairman was at the Swansea game shaking his head a couple of weeks ago, making it quite clear how he felt. It was only a fortnight ago they promised unwavering support.Surely in terms of decency, respect and integrity, Ranieri should have been allowed to get them out of this mess?

A year (and nine days) in the life of Ranieri

14 February 2016: Leicester lose 2-1 at Arsenal, their final defeat of the 2015-16 season before a 12-game unbeaten run.2 May 2016: The Foxes are crowned champions of England for the first time in their history as Tottenham draw at Chelsea.16 July 2016: Midfielder N’Golo Kante leaves to sign a five-year deal with Chelsea.13 August 2016: Leicester lose their first game of the 2016-17 season – a 2-1 defeat at Hull City.15 October 2016: The Foxes are hammered 3-0 by table-topping Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.22 November 2016: Leicester secure top spot in their Champions League group with one game to spare.18 December 2016: Ranieri is named Coach of the Year at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.7 February 2017: After a run of two wins in 15 league games, Leicester give Ranieri their “unwavering support”.22 February 2017: The Foxes lose 2-1 to Sevilla in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.23 February 2017: Ranieri is sacked. 

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