Nine months after guiding the Foxes to one of the most improbable title runs in sports, Leicester City have fired manager Claudio Ranieri. As good as Leicester were last season, they have been that godawful this season, and find themselves one point out of the relegation zone. They haven't won a Premier League game yet in 2017, haven't scored a goal in a league game in six games (just 3 goals in their last 11 league games), and just lost their first leg against Seville 2-1 yesterday in Champion's League round of 16 play.It had been speculated the move was in the offing, and the rumblings grew louder once Ranieri got the dreaded vote of confidence from ownership earlier this month. Today, Vice Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, dropped the other shoe, on the team's website:"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."Claudio has brought outstanding qualities to his office. His skilful management, powers of motivation and measured approach have been reflective of the rich experience we always knew he would bring to Leicester City. His warmth, charm and charisma have helped transform perceptions of the Club and develop its profile on a global scale. We will forever be grateful to him for what he has helped us to achieve."It was never our expectation that the extraordinary feats of last season should be replicated this season. Indeed, survival in the Premier League was our first and only target at the start of the campaign. But we are now faced with a fight to reach that objective and feel a change is necessary to maximise the opportunity presented by the final 13 games."Leicester next face Liverpool on Monday.
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