Claudio Ranieri saw his fairytale story at Leicester City come to an end last night after the Italian received his marching orders only nine months after leading the Foxes to Premier League glory. Ranieri remarkably led Leicester to their first Premier League title in his first season in charge at the King Power Stadium, despite the fact that they were 5,000-1 underdogs to lift the trophy at the start of the campaign. However, Leicester now sit 17th in the Premier League this season, just one place above the relegation zone and recently exited the FA Cup at the hands of League One (Tier 3) side Millwall.
Ranieri sacking from Leicester is heavily criticized
Ranieri's sacking has been met with heavy criticism throughout the soccer world, with many complaining about the lack of loyalty shown by the Leicester board towards the man that miraculously brought them Premier League glory last season. None more so than life-long Leicester fan, club legend and "Match of the Day" pundit Gary Lineker, who described the decision as "inexplicable" and "gut-wrenchingly sad".
After all that Claudio Ranieri has done for Leicester City, to sack him now is inexplicable, unforgivable and gut-wrenchingly sad.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) February 23, 2017
Ranieri's sacking makes Lineker "shed a tear"
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 about what had materialized over the last 24 hours, Lineker described Ranieri's sacking as a "panic decision" that for him was ultimately "wrong".
On discovering the news, Lineker also admitted that he had "shed a tear" for not only Ranieri but for "football and for my club". The timing of the sacking comes as somewhat of a surprise after Leicester left their Champions League round of 16 first leg tie with a respectable 2-1 defeat to currently 3rd placed La Liga side Sevilla, a result which sees the Foxes go into the return fixture at the King Power Stadium (a ground where they only conceded twice during the Champions League group stages) with an away goal and still in a strong position to advance to the quarter-final stages.
Lineker famously bet last season that if Leicester won the Premier League, he would present the first episode of this season's "Match of the Day" in his underwear, a promise he made good on. Ranieri's departure from Leicester now means that the last two Premier League winning managers have both been fired from their roles the following season.
Jose Mourinho was sacked last season by Chelsea after winning the Premier League during the 2014/2015 campaign.
Ranieri's sacking a "sign of modern football" says Lineker
Ranieri's departure from Leicester now means that the last two Premier League winning managers have both been fired from their roles the following season. Jose Mourinho was sacked during Ranieri's title-winning campaign by Chelsea after winning the Premier League the previous season. Lineker famously said last season, that if Leicester won the Premier League he would present the first episode of this seasons "Match of the Day" in his underwear, a promise he adhered to in August of last year.
YES! If Leicester win the @premierleague I'll do the first MOTD of next season in just my undies.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) December 14, 2015
