Muzzy Izzet: 'Claudio Ranieri is wrong man for Leicester City'

Former Leicester City midfielder Muzzy Izzet has suggested that the club have made the wrong choice to bring Claudio Ranieri in as manager.

The Italian was appointed as successor to Nigel Pearson on Monday, signing a three-year deal at the King Power Stadium.

Izzet has stated that his former Leicester teammate Neil Lennon, who is currently in charge of Bolton Wanderers, should have been given the job.

"I was surprised when [Ranieri] got the job to be honest," Izzet told talkSPORT. "There was a shout for Neil Lennon, my old teammate, and I think he would have been great for us.

"He did well Celtic, he is a winner, and it would have shown the club was going in the right direction with a young, hungry manager. If Neil would have sat down in front of the owners he would have showed his passion and hunger. He would have been perfect.

"I know he hasn't got the experience of managing in the Premier League but he has worked in the Championship and in Scotland, and he has played in the Premier League. He would have been ideal."

Ranieri's previous experience of Premier League football came as Chelsea boss between 2000 and 2004.