You’re a perfect gent, Claudio... and you’re axed
Ranieri’s Craven Cottage reign over after 17 games
CLAUDIO RANIERI’S return to English football was ended after only 17 games when the “perfect gentleman” was axed by Fulham yesterday.
The Italian wrote his name into Premier League folklore by winning the title with Leicester in 2016 but this could be his sad farewell to the English game.
His November appointment at Craven Cottage was called “risk free” by chairman Shahid Khan but he was unable to repeat the magic of Leicester where when he sensed something wrong he told his players “Dilly-ding, dilly-dong”.
After losing eight of the last nine games – including an FA Cup defeat to League Two Oldham – the Fulham board lost faith with the club 10 points from safety with 10 games to go.
Furious fans also turned on the 67-year-old during the limp defeat at Southampton and protests were planned for Sunday’s clash with Chelsea which has not sold out.
He took training yesterday morning but was fired after a board meeting in the afternoon which Khan joined from the United States.
Khan, who axed Slovisa Jokanovic after £100million was spent haphazardly in the summer, said: “Following our discussion, Claudio Ranieri agreed to my decision that a change was in the best interest of everyone. No surprise to me, Claudio was a perfect gentleman, as always.
“Claudio’s tenure at Fulham didn’t produce the outcome we anticipated and needed when I appointed him as manager in November but be assured he is not solely to blame for the position we are in today.”
Former Chelsea and Juventus boss Ranieri was also sacked by the Foxes in February 2017 but this could now be his farewell to the English game.
Ranieri, who beat Saints in his first match and picked up nine points in his first eight, said: “I am disappointed with the recent results and that we could not build on the good start we made following my appointment.”
First-team coach Scott Parker will take caretaker charge for Sunday’s clash.