For most football clubs in the Premier League, winning it is not the target. Avoiding relegation is always the goal.
I don't care about this year. This man turned a doormat team into a champion last year. It caused this American who never cared about soccer to learn about and follow the EPL. And the preseason odds told us that they would have a bad year this year. To the manager: thank you.
You know, what happened to Ranieri is not that big of a surprise. In American sports, when a team does poorly defending their title, the worst that happens is they finish in last place. Which isn't really worse than finishing second to last. (In fact, it's actually better since you get a better draft lottery position. Teams in American sports tank all the time. One could argue that the Spurs dynasty was started when they went from 59 wins in 1996 to 20 wins in 1997, and then got lucky in the draft.)
But in the Premier League, if you do badly enough, you get relegated. I would bet that Ranieri gets a free pass as long as he doesn't put them at risk of relegation. But they are now just a point above 3 teams that have been exceedingly inept this season. Just one point means all it takes is a little bad luck and they're in the Championship next season. You can't be sentimental in that situation. It's a bummer, but at some point you've got to let the survival instincts takeover.
But in the Premier League, if you do badly enough, you get relegated. I would bet that Ranieri gets a free pass as long as he doesn't put them at risk of relegation. But they are now just a point above 3 teams that have been exceedingly inept this season. Just one point means all it takes is a little bad luck and they're in the Championship next season. You can't be sentimental in that situation. It's a bummer, but at some point you've got to let the survival instincts takeover.
Leicester's decision to fire Claudio Ranieri amazed and upset me. Soccer, and specifically the Premier League, displays a very temporary business style. Jose Mourinho and Manuel Pellegrini, some of the more recent Premier League winning managers, were fired due to poor seasons after their wins. Their case is different to Ranieri's, however. These managers already had successful teams. Mourinho had an immovable defense, with a deadly attack force in Eden Hazard and Diego Costa. Pellegrini had a terrific Sergio Agüero who was supported by players like Yaya Toure. They were stacked teams built by money.
Leicester City, and their Premier League winning run, was built on hope and passion. Ranieri brought in unknown players and turned them into superstars. Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kante, were purchased for a fraction of what other Premier League stars are bought for. Ranieri took the team and created a beautiful counter-attacking powerhouse, displaying the true beauty of the league. Leicester should have at least let Ranieri finish the season. He still had another leg of the Champions League matchup between Sevilla to play.
His dismissal was premature and unnecessary. I can't help but think that players like Mahrez, a new footballing diva who had garnered interest among bigger clubs, had had enough of losing and wanted a change.
It is just upsetting to see a club give up on a man who deserves a statue in front of King Power Stadium.
Leicester City, and their Premier League winning run, was built on hope and passion. Ranieri brought in unknown players and turned them into superstars. Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy and N'Golo Kante, were purchased for a fraction of what other Premier League stars are bought for. Ranieri took the team and created a beautiful counter-attacking powerhouse, displaying the true beauty of the league. Leicester should have at least let Ranieri finish the season. He still had another leg of the Champions League matchup between Sevilla to play.
His dismissal was premature and unnecessary. I can't help but think that players like Mahrez, a new footballing diva who had garnered interest among bigger clubs, had had enough of losing and wanted a change.
It is just upsetting to see a club give up on a man who deserves a statue in front of King Power Stadium.
5
Consider Jupp Heynckes, one of a very few managers to with the European Cup with two different teams. He was fired TWICE right after winning Europe's biggest gong.
He won an unprecedented (in Germany) treble having found out, without personally being told, that he was a lame duck. He managed a notoriously fractious locker room, one known to go over the manager's head, or to air grievances to the press, based on force of will alone.
Ranieri will manage again. It would serve Leicester right to ply their trade in the Championship next term.
He won an unprecedented (in Germany) treble having found out, without personally being told, that he was a lame duck. He managed a notoriously fractious locker room, one known to go over the manager's head, or to air grievances to the press, based on force of will alone.
Ranieri will manage again. It would serve Leicester right to ply their trade in the Championship next term.
1
I was hoping they wouldn't get relighted. But now, after treating Ranieri so badly, I hope they go down hard.
1
Ranieri was and is a class act, a good manager and a obviously a kind person. One can see it, if you watch him on the sidelines and his press conferences. Unfortunately, modern football has no patience at all, always looking for a scapegoat. But then, the Premier League is much overrated. The good managers will eventually leave. They stay mainly for the money anyway. It is discouraging that disgusting characters such as Mourinho thrive in this atmosphere. They contaminate the environment.
1
I guess this will make for a realistic Disney ending when the Leicester City movie is made.
It isn't about the joy of the game, or the drama that brings people together win, lose or draw. There is no loyalty, and there is no faith. It is about the money and the corporate interests.
The constant churn of coaches and players. The dark money, the complicit and transactional media. A watershed, Nietzschean moment in sports.
It isn't about the joy of the game, or the drama that brings people together win, lose or draw. There is no loyalty, and there is no faith. It is about the money and the corporate interests.
The constant churn of coaches and players. The dark money, the complicit and transactional media. A watershed, Nietzschean moment in sports.
6
This is the modern game unfortunately. No time for sentimentality as far as business is concerned. What's bizzarre is why wait until after the Seville game and two weeks after giving him a statement of confidence? The players need to look long and hard at themselves - they have let Ranieri down big time.
6
Everybody knows that the dreaded "vote of confidence" is uttered just before the axe falls...
1
The players basically shafted Ranieri by complaining to the Thai owners behind his back and that betrayal is what is hard for people to take - he is a kind and congenial person who put up with the poor games because of the shock the players felt when stardom and higher wages hit them and their enlarging heads because of last season's triumph - their standard of play this season has been appalling.
Yes, Ranieri should have left on that high, last May. Poor guy.
Yes, Ranieri should have left on that high, last May. Poor guy.
5
Kante made everyone better. Huge loss for LC.
3
From another Frank: Sad to see. We Leicester supporters have always been used to living on the edge of disaster. Last year was definitely unreal. Here's hoping that the players will pull together and salvage some intensity and camaraderie, both of which have been missing all year.
To tell you what sort of a good human they had in Ranieri, when Eden Hazard of Chelsea curled in a late equalizer against Spurs last spring to eliminate Tottenham and secure the trophy for Leicester, Claudio was in Italy having dinner with his 90-year-old mother.
His priorities in this game - and it is a game - were fully on his players and supporting them. The tinkering he's done this season was aimed at reigniting a spark and fanning back some of last year's flame.
Alas, the former nobody players were now somebody with lots of extra cash to go with that.
The Foxes will surely go to relegation now. If Hull win this weekend and Liverpool beat Leicester on Monday, the defending champions will be in the bottom three right away.
He should have been given the chance to save the ship, or go down with it. That would have been a good fight.
His priorities in this game - and it is a game - were fully on his players and supporting them. The tinkering he's done this season was aimed at reigniting a spark and fanning back some of last year's flame.
Alas, the former nobody players were now somebody with lots of extra cash to go with that.
The Foxes will surely go to relegation now. If Hull win this weekend and Liverpool beat Leicester on Monday, the defending champions will be in the bottom three right away.
He should have been given the chance to save the ship, or go down with it. That would have been a good fight.
8
I am a Gooner through and through, but have always considered Ranieri a class act (even when his Chelsea side defeated us in the Champions League several seasons ago); Leicester, on the other hand, are going down. I cheered for them last season (after it became painfully obvious we were never going to be anything but another top four team), but the Foxes, a bottom-dwelling team, over-performed - way over-performed - and for that they owe Ranieri a great deal more than a swift kick in the backside . . .
6
LC never very good with possession, but they parked the bus and were clinical on counter attack. Then LC traded N'Golo Kante to Chelsea in July. He was the glue and tireless engine of the midfield. LC still not v good w possession, defense has dropped. Counter is inconsistent. Not a surprise they are in trouble this year.
They didn't trade Kante. They sold him when the player demanded that they do so.
2
N'Golo Kanté requested to be transferred... straight transfer no chaser.. and to say that he was glue of the midfield is inaccurate.. that would belong to #26 ...
As for possession it isn't the amount one has, but what is done with the time of the possession
As for possession it isn't the amount one has, but what is done with the time of the possession
Mahrez was the playmaker. Kante ran circles around everyone, led the Prem in tackles and passes broken up, made up for Danny Drinkwater's deficiencies.
Mahrez is still there. How is he doing this year? Not going to repeat as African footballer of the year, is he?
Mahrez is still there. How is he doing this year? Not going to repeat as African footballer of the year, is he?
1
It could only have ended this way. A team of overachievers reverts to the norm, and the manager takes the fall. I hope they stay up, but Ranieri deserves better.
6
Well said! Succinct!
We are now living in a sporting world where managers and coaches are fair game even when they produce winners. NC State fires its basketball coach before the season is even over but still allows Mark Gottfried to coach out the season -- a little like letting a man stand on a stool a little bit longer before he is hanged. The fact that Gottfried took his team to four NCAA tournaments? It means nothing. So Ranieri is fired before his season is over, so soon after such a magical campaign. Winning is everything and losing, even after winning, is not tolerated. Such a sad, sad state we're in.
John, consider Jupp Heynckes. Kalle and Uli made contact with the Catalan Genius on his sabbatical here in Noo Yawk City, where he had made no attempt to see his terminally ill former assistant and successor, undergoing cancer treatment in NYC. They signed Guardiola to replace Heynckes without telling Heynckes, who then went on to win a treble as a lame duck, something his replacement somehow never even came close to replicating. Sometimes a lame duck gets justice...
1
The very sad thing about this, is that a decent man got caught up in an impossible situation. Rory is right with his assertion that Ranieri should have left the team last May.
He realized that a repeat was near impossible, but stayed with the sinking ship, and should be commended for that.
He realized that a repeat was near impossible, but stayed with the sinking ship, and should be commended for that.
1
Unfortunately, he had to be let go but the blame lies with the players. From the start of the season, nothing ever seemed quite right with this team. Alas, there is no more magic dust remaining from last year.
7
Rory,
Very well done. Sad in so many ways, but such is life. Let us hope that Ranieri and Leicester both find happiness or at least contentment in the future.
As Frank said "They will always have Paris" and not everyone has a moment that bright and shining to recall as time takes its toll.
John
Very well done. Sad in so many ways, but such is life. Let us hope that Ranieri and Leicester both find happiness or at least contentment in the future.
As Frank said "They will always have Paris" and not everyone has a moment that bright and shining to recall as time takes its toll.
John
One of the most nice histories in the Sports history, Leicester winning the Premier League -probably the best Soccer Championship of the World-, and after that the human reaction, "we want win again!", but this is not possible, the dream is over, and now they kill the father of the Dream.
1
the man did not tell the players to kick the ball well enough. now they will have to get another man to do it. some people will be made happy by these events, others less so. tawdry bathetic escapist tripe.
At least he's spared the ignominious exit when his club is relegated as current champions. Although it would have been a singular achievement and would have been the ultimate fairy tale ending.
We'll forever miss his dilly-ding dilly-dong euphoria as soccer fans of his miracle championship.
We'll forever miss his dilly-ding dilly-dong euphoria as soccer fans of his miracle championship.
The simple fact is that the board allowed their best player to be sold last summer - interestingly to the team who is most likely to win the league this season - and made no effort to replace him.
It's also true that while Leicester are struggling, they are not in the relegation zone at the moment and their are teams below them in the table that are in a worse position. In Europe, they have a solid chance at getting through to the next round after snatching a vital away goal.
At the very least, Ranieri deserved to see them through to the end of the season to try and put right what was going wrong. The owners have seen their team go from the most loved team in England to the most hated for their actions, and I suspect a mass selling of their best players is to follow this summer.
Back to the lower leagues for this team for many years to come. Claudio Ranieri, you have my sympathy. The Leicester board, you deserve nothing less than relegation and humiliation.
It's also true that while Leicester are struggling, they are not in the relegation zone at the moment and their are teams below them in the table that are in a worse position. In Europe, they have a solid chance at getting through to the next round after snatching a vital away goal.
At the very least, Ranieri deserved to see them through to the end of the season to try and put right what was going wrong. The owners have seen their team go from the most loved team in England to the most hated for their actions, and I suspect a mass selling of their best players is to follow this summer.
Back to the lower leagues for this team for many years to come. Claudio Ranieri, you have my sympathy. The Leicester board, you deserve nothing less than relegation and humiliation.
5
Great Moments are not forgotten. Leicester, champions of the English Premier League, the most competitive league in the world. Icarus himself would have been proud.
4
Not sure who showed more 'poor form': players or Mgt.?
Players quit by mid-season - Mgt. bails end of Season.
Who's going to change what now?
Bravo Claudio!
Players quit by mid-season - Mgt. bails end of Season.
Who's going to change what now?
Bravo Claudio!
1
Poor form by...............players and the owners.
A most beautifully written article on the brightest, hottest burning falling star among the footballing constellations.
4
Wow, a team that was nowhere winning the Premiere League last year in one of the greates upsets in sports history and firing the coach that led them there before the following season is over, while advancing to the Champions League Round of 16. How is that not wrong? They will likely NEVER win the Premiere League again, that feat was beyond incredible. Ranieri didn't even get the opportunity to get relegated this season before they canned him. His success last season with the team should have left him immortalized and with the opportunity to stay at Leicester as long as he desired. He brought them to heights they never could have dreamed of and will never attain again. By firing him this ownership deserves relegation this season.
8
The English Premier League is an incredibly tough place to excel, not as viciously dangerous as the NFL, but winners must be fast, smart, and physical. Leicester's luck was an early season surprise ambush, they barely held their lead to finish first, repeating was impossible. Champions play a grueling schedule of extra games in Europe; the champions league games exposed the Foxes thin talent and sped their coaches doom. Even teams with extraordinary depth of talent fade, witness today's Spurs' knockout tie. Bask in the memories, Leicester.
Didn't they finish 10 points ahead of Arsenal? That is a yuge margin over 38 matches. The Prem Champion has been decided on goal difference, you know. That is hardly "barely held their lead."
1
I beg to differ, the EPL and NFL are two different animals entirely. More sacking occur at the EPL level than in any other sport. Fact! More games and cup commitments in European football especially in the EPL. Leicester club was merely a group of journeymen players that got the job done. Leicester aren't the same team for many reasons, namely players such as Kanté being snached up by Russian clubs like chelski. Yes, the team has no depth, but this is where the owners come in and invest for the future purchasing CL hungry players to beef up the roster. No commitment from the owners whatsoever. What happened to the $70 million CL qualification money? Claudio was set up to fail.
Thanks for the memories
1
Selling Kante did not help the cause...
Still trying to figure out how all this happened. Really like the guy.
Owners are fickle and heartless, and too often send the death knell to the object of their disappointment in soothing words a few days before , telling them that their will support the coach (or player) through the rough patch only to lower the ax within a week.
The Thai owners of the Foxes did just that to Claudio just a week ago and perhaps I may be one of th few surprised at the swift turn-about having heard similar words sais of may favorite centreback with similar outcome just six year hence.
Sir Claudio took a ragtag group who was going nowhere from rags to riches in a fairytale where a midfielder was purchased for peanuts (400,000 British pounds ) and became EPL Player of the Year, and a street tough was top scorer, and the team the EPL Champions 2015-2016, all with a dilly ding, dilly dong and a huge grin and never a harsh word to anyone.
Ranieri was a coaches coach and a team's cream come true.
In Football every player wears a patch on their kit's sleeve that says RESPECT. Leicester City's Thai owners instead gave Sir Claudio DISRESPECT. Quel dommage.
Thank you Claudio Ranieri for scouting Le Havre's and Algeria's Riyad Mahrez and for giving him the means to become a superstar. Thank you for taking a team to and though what was an impossible dream- The EPL Championship.
Algeria is seeking a national coach, and I am sure Mahrez and Slimani would be delighted to see you at CTN at Sidi Moussa and Blida.
The Thai owners of the Foxes did just that to Claudio just a week ago and perhaps I may be one of th few surprised at the swift turn-about having heard similar words sais of may favorite centreback with similar outcome just six year hence.
Sir Claudio took a ragtag group who was going nowhere from rags to riches in a fairytale where a midfielder was purchased for peanuts (400,000 British pounds ) and became EPL Player of the Year, and a street tough was top scorer, and the team the EPL Champions 2015-2016, all with a dilly ding, dilly dong and a huge grin and never a harsh word to anyone.
Ranieri was a coaches coach and a team's cream come true.
In Football every player wears a patch on their kit's sleeve that says RESPECT. Leicester City's Thai owners instead gave Sir Claudio DISRESPECT. Quel dommage.
Thank you Claudio Ranieri for scouting Le Havre's and Algeria's Riyad Mahrez and for giving him the means to become a superstar. Thank you for taking a team to and though what was an impossible dream- The EPL Championship.
Algeria is seeking a national coach, and I am sure Mahrez and Slimani would be delighted to see you at CTN at Sidi Moussa and Blida.
4
Terrible decision and terrible timing. Yes, it's been a crap season but he deserved to see it out. We'll see if this will motivate the players....I doubt it
The 1964 baseball season had an ending that tops this story:
Rookie manager Yogi Berra, despite many stumbles along the way took the Yankees to Game 7 of the World Series. Cardinals manager Johhny Keane, despite some stumbles, won Game 7 behind Bob Gibson. The new Yankees' owners, CBS, fired Yogi. Several days later, Keane quit and the Yankees hired him. It turned out that both teams had planned, in August, to change managers at the end of the season.
The Yanks in 1958 had planned to ax Casey Stengel but the Yanks came back from 3-1 to win te World Series. Instead he got canned after the 1960 WS which he lost in Game 7 to PIT and Maz's iconic home run.
Follow up
The Yanks went into a rapid decline under Keane: 6/10 in 1965 and DEAD LAST in 1966. Maris got traded and Mantle and Ford went downhill fast.
Yogi never did win a WS as a manager.
Yanks went from 1965-75 with no WS appearances.
Cards won WS in 1967 and lost in 1968.
Mets with Yogi as a coach won 1969 WS and lost 1973 WS with him as manager.
Managers are hired to be fired.
Rookie manager Yogi Berra, despite many stumbles along the way took the Yankees to Game 7 of the World Series. Cardinals manager Johhny Keane, despite some stumbles, won Game 7 behind Bob Gibson. The new Yankees' owners, CBS, fired Yogi. Several days later, Keane quit and the Yankees hired him. It turned out that both teams had planned, in August, to change managers at the end of the season.
The Yanks in 1958 had planned to ax Casey Stengel but the Yanks came back from 3-1 to win te World Series. Instead he got canned after the 1960 WS which he lost in Game 7 to PIT and Maz's iconic home run.
Follow up
The Yanks went into a rapid decline under Keane: 6/10 in 1965 and DEAD LAST in 1966. Maris got traded and Mantle and Ford went downhill fast.
Yogi never did win a WS as a manager.
Yanks went from 1965-75 with no WS appearances.
Cards won WS in 1967 and lost in 1968.
Mets with Yogi as a coach won 1969 WS and lost 1973 WS with him as manager.
Managers are hired to be fired.
As has also been said in basesball, you fire the manager because you can't fire the players.
Last year, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth, Danny Drinkwater, Marc Albrighton, Riyadh Mahrez, N'Golo Kante, and Jamie Vardy ALL had career years. This year, all of those regal coaches returned to their prior status as pumpkins.
Seriously, they miss the miles that Kante ran in the midfield, and his ability to break up opponents' attacks. Only Kante's performance has not slipped. Too bad it is for Chel$ki...
Last year, Wes Morgan, Robert Huth, Danny Drinkwater, Marc Albrighton, Riyadh Mahrez, N'Golo Kante, and Jamie Vardy ALL had career years. This year, all of those regal coaches returned to their prior status as pumpkins.
Seriously, they miss the miles that Kante ran in the midfield, and his ability to break up opponents' attacks. Only Kante's performance has not slipped. Too bad it is for Chel$ki...
1
I've been following the Premier League since 2012 and am amazed by the turnover in managers.
Chelsea won the league 2 seasons ago and their manager (now the manager of Manchester United) was sacked 2 months into the following season.
The smaller teams are always at a disadvantage. One of Leicester's unheralded players was N'Golo Kante, who was sold to Chelsea before the start of this season.
Chelsea is now back on top.
Chelsea won the league 2 seasons ago and their manager (now the manager of Manchester United) was sacked 2 months into the following season.
The smaller teams are always at a disadvantage. One of Leicester's unheralded players was N'Golo Kante, who was sold to Chelsea before the start of this season.
Chelsea is now back on top.
1
Of course, we know that this is the pattern. When a team does not do well, something has to be done because people say that something has to be done.
And since you can't fire the players or do not have the money to rebuild the team, you fire the manager. Ranieri isn't first manager to be fired after winning. Real Madrid fired Ancelotti after he won the Champions League. Anyhow, they will always have Paris.
And since you can't fire the players or do not have the money to rebuild the team, you fire the manager. Ranieri isn't first manager to be fired after winning. Real Madrid fired Ancelotti after he won the Champions League. Anyhow, they will always have Paris.
10
Frank, Real Madrid is a special case, having fired Jupp Heynckes immediately upon his winning the European Cup.
1