Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri was sacked on Thursday, nine months after leading the Foxes to their first ever Premier League title. Ranieri was shown the door owing to Leicester’s dismal performance this season. Defending champions Leicester are one point above the relegation zone with 13 matches left.

“The board reluctantly feels that a change of leadership, while admittedly painful, is necessary in the club’s greatest interest,” read a statement, issued by the club. “His status as the most successful Leicester City manager of all time is without question. However, domestic results in the current campaign have placed the club’s Premier League status under threat,” it read. Ranieri was sacked within 24 hours after a 2-1 defeat against Spanish side Sevilla in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.

The Foxes won the Premier League title by 10 points but have won just five top-flight games this season, and are on the verge of becoming the first defending champions to be relegated since 1938.