Leicester City legend Ranieri named Fulham manager

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Premier League strugglers Fulham have sacked Serbian manager Slavisa Jokanovic and replaced him with former Chelsea and Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri, the club announced on Wednesday.

Jokanovic, who led Fulham to promotion via the play-offs last season, took just five points from 12 games this term, with his team sitting at the bottom of the table.

The 67-year-old Ranieri delivered one of the greatest footballing shocks of all time by guiding the unfancied Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2016. But his tenure ended on a sour note as he was dismissed by Leicester the following campaign, less than a year after winning the title.

Slavisa Jokanovic's Fulham have conceded a league-high 31 goals so far this season. /VCG Photo

"I wasn't anticipating having to make this announcement related to Slavisa and wish the circumstances were such that I didn't have to," Khan said in a statement.

"But our path this season has led me to make what I know is the correct decision, at the right time, for our players, the Club and our supporters."

"Making a change without having the right answer or succession plan was not an option, so having someone of Claudio's calibre ready to accept our challenge was comforting but, most of all, essential," he added.

"Claudio is risk-free and ready-made for the Premier League, and particularly so for what we need at this moment at Fulham. His recent body of work with Leicester City is literally legendary."

"And then you look at Claudio's experience with Chelsea and big clubs throughout Europe, and it's pretty evident we are welcoming an extraordinary football man to Fulham Football Club."

The much-traveled Ranieri makes history by guiding Leicester City to the title, 2016. /VCG Photo

Ranieri joined in Nantes last year but left the French top-flight club by mutual consent after just one season in charge.

"It is an honor to accept Mr. Khan's invitation and opportunity to lead Fulham, a fantastic club with tradition and history," Ranieri told Fulham's website.

"The objective at Fulham should never be to merely survive in the Premier League. We must at all times be a difficult opponent and should expect to succeed."

"This Fulham squad has exceptional talent that is contrary to its position in the table. I know this team is very capable of better performances, which we will work on straight away as we prepare for Southampton at the Cottage."

Ranieri's first game in charge will see Fulham take on Southampton at home on November 24.