Gary Lineker reveals he cried when he found out Claudio Ranieri had been sacked by Leicester
Leicester City fan and former club striker has revealed the club's decision to sack Claudio Ranieri reduced him to tears just nine months after winning the title
GARY LINEKER has revealed Leicester City's decision to sack Claudio Ranieri reduced him to tears.
Ranieri was sacked by the Foxes hierarchy, a point above the relegation zone, just nine months after leading the club to the most unlikely Premier League win in history.
Leicester born Lineker, 56 insists the club have panicked and the sacking of the Italian will damage the the clubs image worldwide.
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Lineker came through the ranks at his hometown club to make 194 appearances and score 95 goals before moving to Everton in 1985.
He told Radio 4:"For me I shed a tear last night. I shed a tear for Claudio, I shed for football and I shed a tear for my club.
"I just think it's inexplicable to me and it's inexplicable I think a lot of football fans who love the game, but I suppose in some ways you can explain it in terms of a panic decision. And for me a wrong decision and it's very sad."
He added: "It's a sign of modern football. What happened last season was pretty extraordinary under Claudio Ranieri and I think the lack of gratitude from the owners of the club - and who knows who else is involved in such a decision - beggars belief.
"Yes, in recent times we've seen a few managers lose their clubs after winning the Premier League, but they were mangers of clubs that expect to win titles and spend enough money on their clubs, so I suppose they can justify that and we see it at the big clubs in the world, the Real Madrids etc.
"But for a club like Leicester to win the league last season and the magnificence of that story and the likeability of the club, especially under Claudio Ranieri, the ultimate gentleman, it kind of demeans the club, it takes away from the glory of last season.
"Whereas Leicester were hugely popular with everyone right around the world, to do something like this now I think loses a lot of that popularity."
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Lineker feels Ranieri's dismissal will somewhat tarnish the club's memorable title win, the season after flirting with relegation to the Championship.
He went on to say:"I think it does to a degree. That season will remain with us forever and it was truly special and a lot of that was of course down to the management.
The same guy cannot now be considered incapable of doing his job just a few months later, having achieved what was for me the biggest miracle in team sport."