Ex-Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri breaks silence on new managerial move
Former Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has spoken for the first time since his move to Nantes, where he has been appointed as manager of the French side.
The Italian guided the Foxes to the Premier League title in 2015-16 before being sacked in February during a relegation-threatened season, which saw his side suffer a run of five league losses in a row.
Ranieri succeeds Sergio Conceicao at Nantes after the former Portugal winger left the club to take over at Porto.
It will be his 17th managerial position in a career that has spanned 31 years and has seen stints at all the major Italian clubs except AC Milan.
The 65-year-old’s move to western France follows a string of other European clubs – including Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Valencia.
(Photo: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)
But Ranieri’s Premier League success with Leicester – which came after a dismal spell in charge of the Greek national side – remains his only top-flight title.
“I was convinced by the project at Nantes. There is a very strong youth academy and the president is very enthusiastic,” the former Foxes manager said.
“I was struck by the squad, as they were bottom of the table halfway through the season. Then, thanks toConceicao’s work, they finished seventh. That shows me good work can be done here.”
The Italian, who defied odds of up to 5,000-1 when he steered Leicester City to the 2015-16 title, added:“The other sides in Ligue 1 are reinforcing a great deal but we will try to have our say.”
