Claudio Ranieri sacked: Leicester call time on Italian's Premier League reign

CLAUDIO RANIEIRI has been sacked by Leicester.

By DAN GIBBS

The Italian boss has been given his marching orders with the club just one point above the drop.

Ranieri guided Leicester to an historic Premier League title last season but his time at the helm as reportedly come to an end.

Leicester have struggled to replicate the form of last term, winning just five league matches all season, leaving them 17th in the table.

An official statement on the club's website read: "Leicester City Football Club has tonight (Thursday) parted company with its First Team Manager, Claudio Ranieri. 

"Claudio, appointed City manager in July 2015, led the Foxes to the greatest triumph in the Club’s 133-year history last season, as we were crowned champions of England for the first time. His status as the most successful Leicester City manager of all time is without question. 

"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 take charge of the squad for the visit of Liverpool on Monday (8pm).