DILLY DING, DILLY GONE 

Leicester City sack Claudio Ranieri less than a year after their miracle Premier League triumph

LEICESTER CITY have sacked Claudio Ranieri, just nine months after he won a stunning Premier League title.

The Italian has been shown the door by the champions the night after they were beaten 2-1 in their Champions League last-16 first-leg tie at Sevilla.

REUTERS

Claudio Ranieri has reportedly been sacked by Leicester

Leicester’s owners confirmed the news in a statement – just 16 days after the club released one BACKING Ranieri.

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That previous article has since been deleted from their website.

The club said: “His status as the most successful Leicester City manager of all time is without question.”

Ranieri has endured a dire season at the King Power, in a Jekyll and Hyde situation compared to the year before.

Everything the 65-year-old touched seemed to turn to gold last term, with Jamie Vardy netting 25 goals in all competitions for the Foxes and Riyad Mahrez winning PFA Player of the Year.

EPA

Claudio Ranieri has been sacked nine months after winning the Premier League title with Leicester

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Claudio Ranieri took charge of Leicester’s defeat in Sevilla with their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread

Claudio Ranieri and Wes Morgan collect the Laureus Team of the Year award for Leicester

AP:ASSOCIATED PRESS

But Ranieri was full of praise for his players after they gave themselves a chance with a vital away goal at Sevilla

N'Golo Kante was also signed under the Italian's watch - and the Frenchman turned out to be one of the brightest diamonds in Premier League transfer history, becoming a ball-winning machine in midfield.

But Kante left for Chelsea for £32million and has helped the Blues to the top of the league this term.

Elsewhere, Ranieri's marshalling of the Foxes defence was magnificent last season, conceding just 36 goals with Wes Morgan and Robert Huth like rocks in front of keeper Kasper Schmeichel at the back.

They have leaked 43 already this term, with 13 games still to go.

PA:PRESS ASSOCIATION

When Ranieri was announced as Leicester's new manager, the knives were already out

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Tony Cottee speaks on the shock of Leicester City sacking manager Claudio Ranieri

REUTERS

But the awards started to roll in for the boss and hotshot striker Jamie Vardy, and something special was clearly happening

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Claudi Ranieri and the Leicester players enjoy a coach trip as they parade the Premier League trophy around Leicester

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And clearly the club's owners revelled in the success story at the King Power Stadium

PA:PRESS ASSOCIATION

Claudio Ranieri has become a folk hero in the East Midlands city - will he ever have to buy a pint or a pizza there again?

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Leicester City Parade: Claudio Ranieri speaks on stage

Leicester were defeated 2-1 in Sevilla on Wednesday, leaving their Champions League hopes hanging by a thread, but Vardy's away goal gave them hope of turning the tie around at home.

Yet it has been their league form that has been most worrying.

The club are just a point above Hull in the relegation zone - their 1-0 win over West Ham is their only victory in the last 10 games.

Leicester vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: “This has been the most difficult decision we have had to make in nearly seven years since King Power took ownership of Leicester City.

"But we are duty-bound to put the club’s long-term interests above all sense of personal sentiment, no matter how strong that might be.

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But Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha has shocked the football world to announce the sacking of Ranieri