Claudio Ranieri bids final farewell to Leicester staff and players

Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has left the club's training ground for the last time after saying goodbye to players.

Ranieri was sacked earlier in the week as his team sat just one point off the relegation zone.

Despite being named FIFA Coach of the Year just last month and leading the team to a surprise Premier League title last season, the manager was made to pay.

The 65-year-old, however, returned to the team's training ground this morning and was met by security staff, who reached into his car to shake his hand.

As he left minutes later, Ranieri told Sky Sports: "I don't speak with anybody, just to say thank you to the fans (who) are fantastic.

"I feel good now because what we achieve in Leicester I hope will happen again and it will be very good."

When asked if speaking to the players had been emotional, he replied: "No, no, no" before driving away from the ground.

His visit came in the midst of claims in The Times that a group of his own players may have played a major role in ending his employment.

The players, including Kasper Schmeichel, Wes Morgan, Marc Albrighton and Jamie Vardy, were summoned to Wednesday's meeting with the team's owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.

During the meeting, which took place at the team's hotel in Seville following Wednesday's 2-1 Champions League defeat, the players were asked for their observations on the team's decline from last season's Premier League triumph.

Ranieri was dismissed at a hotel at East Midlands Airport shortly after returning to the UK.

But Craig Shakespeare, the team's caretaker manager, said the players had taken responsibility for their poor performances during the meeting and he denied that Ranieri was the victim of a players' revolt.

On Friday, Ranieri responded to his sacking in a statement, saying: "Yesterday, my dream died".

Ranieri said he wanted to thank his wife Rosanna and his family "for their never-ending support during my time at Leicester".

He continued: "My heartfelt thanks to everybody at the club, all the players, the staff, everybody who was there and was part of what we achieved.

"But mostly to the supporters. You took me into your hearts from day one and loved me. I love you too.

"No one can ever take away what we together have achieved, and I hope you think about it and smile every day the way I always will."

Ranieri had reportedly told those close to him that he was genuinely shocked to be sacked.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK  
> facebook Global audience 
> facebook Nigerian audience  

FOLLOW US ON:
> The Forefront on Twitter
>BBM Channel: C002CB006 {WELCOME TO THE FOREFRONT
>{Instagram: the_forefront_nigeria }

Connect with Joshua Osagie (Blog owner) 

 >  facebook personal account 
 > facebook  (fan page) 

 > twitter

 > Instagram: osagiejoshua

Share this post with others on social media with options below.