Claudio Ranieri has been sacked as manager by relegation threatened Fulham after less than four months in charge.
Fulham announced Ranieri’s sacking on their website on Thursday, following a statement by the club’s chairman, Shahid Khan.
Ranieri, who guided Leicester to their first ever Premier League title in 2016, replaced Slavisa Jokanovic in November, but has managed just three wins in 17 matches since he took over.
Fulham’s 2-0 defeat to Southampton on Wednesday, left them 10 points from safety, with 10 matches to play.
He has been replaced by Scott Parker, who will take charge of the team in interim capacity.
“Following our discussion this afternoon, Claudio Ranieri agreed to my decision that a change was in the best interest of everyone. No surprise to me, Claudio was a perfect gentleman, as always. Claudio’s tenure at Fulham didn’t produce the outcome we anticipated and needed when I appointed him as Manager in November, but be assured he is not solely to blame for the position we are in today,” the club said in a statement.
“Claudio walked into a difficult situation, inheriting a side that gained only one point in its prior eight matches, and he provided an immediate boost by leading our Club to nine points in his first eight matches as Manager. Though we were unable to maintain that pace thereafter, I am grateful for his effort. Claudio leaves Fulham as our friend and he will undoubtedly experience success again soon.
“I am asking Scott Parker to serve as our Caretaker Manager. Scott’s immediate assignment is merely to help us stabilize, grow and rediscover ourselves as a football club. If Scott can answer that challenge, and our players respond to the opportunity, perhaps victories will follow in the months ahead.”
Ranieri, who was defiant that he would not resign after the defeat on Wednesday, admitted that recent results have not been impressive.
“I am obviously disappointed with the recent results and that we could not build on the good start we made following my appointment. Finally, I would like to thank the Club, the players and the fans for the support they have given me during my time at the Club,” he noted.
