Farewell Claudio, your sacking is football’s loss.
Why this move should sicken fans of our sport
Sampdoria are not a traditionally large club. Large investment and great scouting allowed them to steadily climb what was the strongest and most competitive league in Europe in Serie A. 1991 was the year they won their first and only title. Vujadin Boskov, their manager, led them into the European Cup, whilst their league form diminished. They left their mark in Europe, making the 1992 final, only to lose to Barcelona, and Ronald Koeman’s right boot. Boskov left of his own accord, feeling he took the team as far as he could.
Claudio Ranieri wasn't afforded the opportunity to take Leicester City on their maiden European voyage and see it to its conclusion. After a poor performance but far from poor result against Sevilla, Leicester City have the nerve to wish ciao to unquestionably their greatest ever manager. The scale of their achievement will only become greater with time, a feat so gargantuan, it had no right happening. To give a sense of scale, I'll try break it down:
- Leicester have spent 42.3% of their existence in England's top flight (50 in 118).
- Of those 50 seasons, they have exactly 18 top half finishes, 36%.
- So overall they have only managed to be better than the mean in the top flight for 15.3% of their history.
They aren’t a giant of English football. 0 FA Cups, 0 titles before last season. Once runners up before Neil Armstrong was even born, let alone achieving the once-thought unthinkable. Claudio Ranieri was Leicester’s very own voyager, coming so close to tasting success in Italy with almost all the giants. He was revered in his home land despite the lack of silverware. In many ways it was a match made in heaven.
His departure right in the midst of their season, coupled with his sweet nature, should leave a bitter taste for all football fans who talk about and lust for those moments of romance in their game. You'd be forgiven for thinking football was a sport to be enjoyed by fans all over the world, not a corporate vehicle for rich foreign investors to crow about. It's a sad conclusion to one of football's most charming stories in recent memory. An unfamiliar triumph to so many, with an all too familiar ending.
