Leicester City’s 2015/16 will go down as the most remarkable in the history of the Premier League.
You all know the story by now. Having ended last season at a canter to just about avoid relegation, the Foxes sacked manager Nigel Pearson over the summer, replacing him with Claudio Ranieri.
The Italian had been out of work since the previous November after he was dismissed as manager of the Greece national team following a disastrous Euro 2016 qualifying campaign which saw the 2004 champions defeated by the Faroe Islands.
But for whatever reason, Leicester and Ranieri have proved to be a match made in Heaven, with the Foxes now on the cusp of the most unlikely league title of all-time.
Still, when Ranieri arrived at the King Power Stadium on July 13, 2015, things didn’t look so positive.
Former Foxes striker Gary Lineker was not overly-enthused with the appointment.
Claudio Ranieri? Really?
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 13, 2015
While former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann reckoned the only way was down for the former Chelsea boss.
Can't believe Leicester appointed Ranieri … Great club, great fanbase but I'm afraid MK rather than Old Trafford season after next.
— Didi Hamann (@DietmarHamann) July 13, 2015
Ranieri’s time at Greece made many question his credentials.
Ranieri is a nice guy, but he's done well to get the Leicester job. After what happened with Greece, am surprised he can walk back into PL
— Harry Redknapp (@Redknapp) July 13, 2015
His appointment brought common refrains of “where are the English managers?”
https://twitter.com/WrightVince/status/621749016850771968
And it didn’t take long for the fans to turn on him.
Ranieri want #LCFC to play 'the tactical Italian way' and says 'it's close to how they're playing already' far from it! #RanieriOut
— Simon Jones (@SimonJones23) July 16, 2015
For some, he was destined to fail.
I thought Ranieri was pretty uninspiring at Chelsea. So dread to think what he'll be like at Leicester. Nice fella, but… #wrongchoice
— John Cross (@johncrossmirror) July 13, 2015
https://twitter.com/JoshHartleyyy/status/620732861256212480
Fucking hell Leicester 😂 Ranieri? REALLY?
— Robin Basqueth (@UncleRBenson) July 13, 2015
Nobody thought Leicester would be fighting for a title, while Chelsea battled in mid-table obscurity.
Right then here we go again #Top6Bottom3:
Chelsea
Man Utd
Arsenal
Man City
Liverpool
SpursBournemouth
Leicester
WatfordLet's see yours!
— Michael Owen (@themichaelowen) August 7, 2015
But he still had some supporters in the early days.
Extremely happy about the appointment of Claudio Ranieri #upthefoxes
— Mitch M (@Pobstongue) July 13, 2015
Would love for someone to tell me exactly what it is that makes Ranieri a bad choice for #lcfc – seems a good fit on paper
— Rileigh (@RiLeigh84) July 13, 2015
As for us? Well, we’d love to say we saw it coming but…
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