Claudio Ranieri, Leicester City Part Ways: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Leicester City have sacked Premier League title-winning manager Claudio Ranieri with the club languishing in 17th place.

The Foxes confirmed the Italian had parted ways with the club on Thursday evening via a statement on their official website, after senior players had reportedly complained about the manager to the owners.

Club chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha took to Instagram to comment on the decision, per Sky Sports News HQ:

Meanwhile, Leicester vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said:

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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.

"

Sky Sports News HQ reported the players spoke with the owners after Wednesday's 2-1 UEFA Champions League defeat at Sevilla:

Caretaker manager Craig Shakespeare denied the report, however, per BBC Sport: "I've not had one problem with the players. There was a lot of frustration because of the results but he had not lost the dressing room."

Former Manchester City and Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini has been touted as an early favourite to succeed Ranieri, and Sky Sports' Paul Vinnell reported on Friday that the Foxes had already "made contact" with the Italian.

A show of compassion came first from Mancini, however, as he looked past any employment prospects and instead offered his countryman a gesture of goodwill:

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho joined Mancini in posting his support for Ranieri on Instagram:

Ranieri arrived at the King Power Stadium in 2015 following the departure of Nigel Pearson, who kept Leicester in the Premier League after a remarkable escape from the relegation zone in the final weeks of the season.

The former Chelsea, Juventus and Inter Milan boss' appointment was met with widespread scepticism, including from Leicester legend and supporter Gary Lineker.

However, in perhaps the greatest Cinderella story in football history, Ranieri defied 5,000-1 odds to lead his team to the Premier League title, which they ultimately won by 10 points ahead of Arsenal.

As a result, the 65-year-old won the Premier League Manager of the Season, LMA Manager of the Year and the Best FIFA Men's Coach awards for 2016 and earned a new four-year deal in August.

Leicester subsequently qualified for the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League, and they topped a group containing FC Porto, FC Copenhagen and Club Brugge with 13 points.

Ranieri was given a vote of confidence from Leicester's board in February:

Nevertheless, with results having failed to improve, the manager has now been relieved of his duties.

It marks a sad end to Ranieri's legacy in the east Midlands given the scale of what he achieved there, a feat that may never be repeated.

As for Leicester, they must now turn their attention to recruiting a new boss they believe can save them from relegation.

Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare and first-team coach Mike Stowell will take temporary charge of the Foxes.