CIAO CLAUDIO
Leicester criticised for sacking Ranieri
>> LONDON: Former Leicester City and England striker Gary Lineker said the club had taken an “unforgivable” decision in sacking manager Claudio Ranieri on Thursday, less than a year after he led them to a shock Premier League title success.
Ranieri’s position had come under intense scrutiny this season during a slump that has left the Foxes just a point above the relegation zone following last term’s starting title triumph, with Leicester 5,000/1 no-hopers before the start of the 2015/16 campaign.
Former Leicester City and England striker Gary Lineker said the club had taken an “unforgivable” decision in sacking Ranieri.
BBC television football presenter Lineker said: “After all that Claudio Ranieri has done for Leicester City, to sack him now is inexplicable, unforgivable and gut-wrenchingly sad.”
Meanwhile, Lineker’s fellow former Leicester strikers Alan Smith and Tony Cottee also questioned the timing of the decision, which came just a day after the Foxes’ gutsy effort in only losing 2-1 away to Sevilla.
“We’ve seen some surprising, shocking decisions over the last 10 years maybe as things have heated up in the Premier League. I think this one tops the lot given his amazing achievements last season, along with the players,” Smith told Sky Sports News.
“I just thought that unless they did go down they would stay with the manager that engineered the finest moment in the club’s history and the most romantic story we’ve ever seen in football over the last 20-30 years or so.
“[I am] absolutely flabbergasted that they didn’t hold their nerve and stay with that man.”
Smith, himself a former England forward, said Leicester’s players also had to take their share of responsibility for Ranieri’s departure.
“As always in these situations, the players have got to take a long, hard look at themselves,” he insisted. “These are the same players he was picking last season.”
Leicester have 13 games left in which to make sure of their top-flight status, starting with Monday’s match against Liverpool.
“From that point of view the timing couldn’t have been any worse,” Cottee told Sky Sports. “They’ve got a massive game coming up against Liverpool on Monday night.
“I can only think that something’s gone on somewhere or there’s been a disagreement and they’ve obviously come to this decision.”
Leicester vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said ditching Ranieri had been the hardest decision the current owners had made but one they had to take when, with 13 games left to play, there was still a chance of Premier League survival.
“This has been the most difficult decision we have had to make in nearly seven years since King Power took ownership of Leicester City,” he said.
“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.
“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 i n 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.”
The dismissal of Ranieri has caused barely a ripple in Thailand, where even last season’s stunning Premier League title triumph for a locallyowned team failed to break traditional club loyalties.
On the streets of Bangkok yesterday, it proved a challenge to find anyone moved by the decision, or even a Leicester City supporter.
“I don’t think Leicester City is part of the conversation,” said Kulthida Wattana, a 34-year-old office worker and Manchester United fan.
“Thai people see them as an example of Thais succeeding on the world stage but in terms of football, its not really anything”.
Leicester’s odds-defying success brought plenty of interest in the home country of owner and King Power duty free magnate Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha with some Thais going as far as adopting Leicester as their ‘second team’.
However, most fans remained reluctant to give up their historic loyalties in a country where the Premier League has considerably more followers than any other foreign sport.
“Most Thai people support either Manchester United or Liverpool,” said Adisorn Pheungya, a columnist and sports TV presenter.
“Leicester only came into the conversation after King Power bought them. They boomed again last year when they achieved success but now that they are struggling, no one is talking about them anymore.”
News of Raineri’s sacking made it to local news bulletins, but generally took second billing to a police standoff at Wat Phra Dhammakaya.
One Leicester supporter and fan club member whose loyalties date back to before the recent success, said the Thai owners had acted disgracefully.
“I understand that their money led to promotion and the Premier League title but without Ranieri we would be nowhere either,” Phet Adirekul, 36, said.
“At least now maybe some of the fake fans will go and support other teams.”
“If Leicester were successful for a few years then maybe they will have more fans. If they get relegated this year then the fans will move on,” said 42-year-old Liverpool supporter Amornthep Kittiwichislip.