FORMER ROMA boss Claudio Ranieri has been appointed coach of Serie A strugglers Sampdoria, the club confirmed on Saturday.
Ranieri, who memorably guided outsiders Leicester City to the 2016 English Premier League title, takes over from Eusebio di Francesco, who was sacked after a poor start to the season.
The 67-year-old Ranieri, who took over as coach at Roma last March after di Francesco was sacked, has signed a contract until June 2021.
Ranieri guided the Roman outfit, who he played for during his football career and had previously coached, to a sixth-place finish, missing out on Champions League football.
Sampdoria finished ninth last season, with Di Francesco taking over after Marco Giampaolo left for AC Milan.
The Genoese club have just one win in seven games and are bottom of the table, with 16 goals conceded.
Ranieri’s vast coaching experience includes spells at Chelsea, Valencia, Monaco, Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, Juventus and Napoli.
His first game in charge will be at home against former club Roma on 20 October.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Delighted for him, Leicester did the dirty on him, granted they’re doing well… He still should have been given a chance to revitalise them
Yes. Leicester winning it probably the greatest ever win in the history of that league including all the big clubs and with those last day twists and turns and drama. Maybe Sampdoria are another Leicester type!?
@McSalmon: Leicester couldn’t back it up though. An average group of players who over-achieved that season when other clubs were in turmoil. The fact that Spurs were their main title rivals says a lot.