Leicester City have sacked coach Claudio Ranieri, nine months after he won the Premier League, around six weeks after he was named as Fifa’s coach of the year, and less than 24 hours a gutsy 2-1 loss in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 game against Sevilla.
This decision might not come as a complete surprise to Premier League followers as the Italian coach has been staring at the bottom of the barrel as the defending champions hover near the relegation zone. Despite the Foxes stunning win last season, they haven’t been able to hold on to the momentum and there were rumours of problems within the dressing room as well.
Leicester have won just five of their 25 league games and have even been knocked out of the FA Cup by third-tier Millwall. This may have been the final straw, even though the statement from Thai-owned club confirming his departure from the King Power Stadium called him the “most successful manager” in the history of the 133-year-old club.
But while the club may pay him glowing tribute, not everyone was on the same page. Several former players and football writers have expressed shock and anger over the unceremonious sacking, while the team was still in with a chance in the premier European competition.
From Gary Lineker (remember how he presented Match of the Day in his underwear after Leicester won the title) to perennial Twitter troll Piers Morgan, everyone had something to say, and most of it was bordered on disbelief for sacking the 65-year-old who had done so much for the club.