Claudio Ranieri was appointed manager of Leicester City this summer following the sacking of Nigel Pearson after four years in charge. Pearson had managed the blues to promotion from the Championship and to the club’s very own great escape last season, winning seven of their last nine league games and becoming only the third team to avoid relegation having been bottom of the table at Christmas.
Ranieri had been, somewhat, a nomad and since leaving Chelsea back in 2004 and has managed: Valencia, Parma, Juventus, Roma, Inter Milan, Monaco and, more recently, the Greek national side, where he was sacked after losing four of his five games in charge. He has only won one piece of silverware during that time, which was the French second division with Monaco during the 2012/13 season.
Many were sceptical about Ranieri’s appointment as the Foxes boss and the club were soon installed as one of the early relegation favourites. Several questioned whether a British manager, with more Premier League experience, would have been a better choice. So how has the ‘tinker man’ proved his doubters wrong?
Leicester City have started the Premier League season on fire; a complete contrast to the side that required such a monumental effort just to stay in the Premier League last season. The Foxes, under Ranieri’s guidance, currently lie fifth in the table, having managed to win four and draw three, with their only loss from their first eight Premier League games a home defeat to Arsenal.
Just as impressive as their current fifth place standing is their style of play and ‘never say die’ attitude. The Foxes are set up to attack and press, and do so with fullbacks Jeffrey Schlupp and Ritchie De Laet bombing forward and Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki not allowing defenders a moment to rest with their tireless work rate.
Mahrez and Vardy have been influential in the Foxes fantastic start to the season and it is a testament to Ranieri, who appears to have improved, and got the best out of, the pair. Mahrez already has five goals in his first seven league games from an attacking wide position and Vardy, Leicester’s England International and man of the moment, has seven in his eight games so far.
City also lost their Player of the Year and an influential player in midfielder Esteban Cambiasso at the end of last season, but Ranieri was quick to replace him with the experienced and reliable Gokhan Inler. Inler was a shrewd signing by Ranieri, costing just £3million, and he will be vital to the Foxes progress as he provides the shield and protection which allows their attacking players the freedom to express themselves.
How far Mr Ranieri can take the Foxes is yet to be seen, but with his Leicester side lighting up the Premier League with their fearless approach, he is fast becoming a fan’s favourite.
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