Leicester City sack Claudio Ranieri nine months after title win

Ranieri led Leicester City to a maiden Premier League title last season but the Foxes currently sit just one place and one point off the relegation zone after a tumultuous defence of their title.

The former Greece coach was given a vote of confidence only two weeks ago but the East Midlands club have now sacked the 65-year-old with 13 games to go in the season.

“His status as the most successful Leicester City manager of all time is without question,” read a statement on the club’s website.

“However, domestic results in the current campaign have placed the Club’s Premier League status under threat and the Board reluctantly feels that a change of leadership, while admittedly painful, is necessary in the Club’s greatest interest.”

Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare and first team coach Mike Stowell will assume responsibility of first team affairs until a successor can be appointed the statement added.

Leicester, who were beaten 2-1 by Sevilla in their Champions League last 16, first-leg tie on Wednesday, face Liverpool in the league on Monday.

“This has been the most difficult decision we have had to make in nearly seven years since King Power took ownership of Leicester City," vice chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said.

"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.”

Ranieri was appointed Leicester City in the summer of 2015 after the company parted company with Nigel Pearson.