Claudio Ranieri sacking by Leicester City leaves managers and coaches stunned and cautious of replacing popular Italian
Managers and coaches from around the world have contacted the League Managers Association to express their stunned “disbelief” at Leicester City’s decision to sack Claudio Ranieri.
Indeed there is a growing sense within the managerial community that the way Leicester have acted may even make it more difficult for them to hire a successor.
Privately two potential candidates have told Telegraph Sport that although they regard Leicester as a very attractive proposition and would be interested in the job they have serious reservations because of the brutal way Ranieri was sacked and also the potential backlash from supporters.
Meanwhile Richard Bevan, the LMA chief executive, told Telegraph Sport that his organisation had been inundated with an unprecedented number of calls and messages in support of Ranieri who was dismissed on Thursday just nine months after winning the first league title in Leicester’s 133-year history and with the prospect of reaching the Champions League quarter-finals which also meant a lot to the Italian.
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“There has been a wave of disbelief from managers and coaches around the world at this decision,” Bevan said. “It has led to the most number of calls the League Managers Association has ever received with everyone wanting to pass on their best wishes to Claudio and their disbelief as to what has happened.
“When a team performs the remarkable achievement of delivering the Holy Grail of the Premier League in the way that Leicester did then there is often a dip. What you need at that stage is strong leadership but sadly we have not seen that from Leicester’s owners and again it appears to be another case of foreign owners being out of touch.”
Ranieri, who is understood to have been overwhelmed by the messages of sympathy and support he has received, was considering holding a press conference in London on Saturday but has now decided to travel back home to Italy after releasing his statement on Friday afternoon.
There is also a fear that Leicester may suffer a backlash from some of the ‘new’ fans they have gathered around the world given their recent exploits following the decision to sack Ranieri just 16 days after a public vote of confidence.
