Leicester City have confirmed that they have sacked manager Claudio Ranieri just nine months after he steered the club to the Premier League title.
Reports emerged earlier this evening that the Foxes had parted company with the 65-year-old in the wake of their 2-1 defeat to Sevilla in the last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday night - a result that was widely regarded as a positive one for the Foxes due to the away goal.
The club have now confirmed the reports, with Leicester currently sitting just one point clear of the relegation zone having failed to win or even score in the Premier League so far this calendar year.
Ranieri last season led Leicester to arguably the most remarkable achievement in football history as they overcame 5,000-1 odds to win the Premier League title having been tipped for the drop before the campaign began.
"Leicester City Football Club has tonight parted company with its first team manager, Claudio Ranieri. Claudio, appointed City manager in July 2015, led the Foxes to the greatest triumph in the club's 133-year history last season, as we were crowned champions of England for the first time. His status as the most successful Leicester City manager of all time is without question," read a statement from the club.
"However, domestic results in the current campaign have placed the club's Premier League status under threat and the board reluctantly feels that a change of leadership, while admittedly painful, is necessary in the club's greatest interest."
Vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha added: "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."
Craig Shakespeare and Mike Stowell will take over first-team duties while the club search for a new manager and are likely to be in the dugout for Monday's Premier League clash with Liverpool.
Barney Corkhill
