I had pick of Saints or Greece ...I made a mistake
And the veteran Italian says he made a big mistake by choosing Greece instead.
The two men clash in the Premier League at St Mary’s tomorrow with Ranieri in charge of the high-flying Foxes.
But the 63-year-old has revealed he could have been in the home dugout after having talks with the Saints last year about replacing Mau r i c i o Pochettino.
Ranieri took charge of the Greece national team instead and lasted just four months before being sacked, while Koeman (right) led Southampton to a seventhplace finish.
“I was interested, but after that there was also Greece,” said Ranieri. “And I made a mistake.
“It was important it was the right moment – and it wasn’t the right moment for me.
“This is the right moment at Leicester.”
Ranieri has paid tribute to Koeman, who overcame the sale of a host of key players to lead the Saints to another successful season.
And he says Koeman’s side are still more advanced than hi s de s p i t e Southampton currently sitting ninth in the table, three points behind the fifth-placed Foxes.
“Southampton has a very good project and they want to be at a high level,” said Ranieri. “They started it with Mauricio Pochettino a long time ago.
“Now we’re starting. We’re a little bit behind, but we want to fight and arrive.”
Ranieri will consider recalling Riyadyad Mahrez for the trip to the he south coast after leaving g out his s t a r playmaker for the win at Norwich rwich b e f o re thet h e international nal break.
He admits ts the Algerian an was upset t to miss out. “Riyad isn’t happy, but if he was I would uld be angr y,” s saa i idd Ranieri.
“If he’s hungry,ungry, I’m happy.”