Claudio Ranieri ready to make management return after Leicester axe

Posted Friday, April 21, 2017 by ESPN

Former Toronto FC head coach Paul Mariner shares his thoughts on where Claudio Ranieri will manage next.

Former Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri has told BT Sport he is ready to return to management.

Ranieri was sacked by Leicester earlier this season, nine months after leading them to a stunning Premier League title success, with the team struggling near the relegation zone.

But speaking as he analysed his former club's Champions League quarterfinal defeat to Atletico Madrid, he said: "I am ready."

Asked whether he would consider interest from other Premier League clubs, he said: "Why not? I am a European manager. Where there is a good project, I am ready."

"I build Leicester to be like Atletico Madrid. They are an Italian team, not a Spanish team."

The Italian, meanwhile, said he felt Leicester had been "unlucky" to lose 2-1 on aggregate to Atletico after a 1-1 draw at the King Power Stadium in the second leg on Tuesday.

"When [Jamie] Vardy scored the goal they created another two great chances to score," he said. "The first 30 minutes of second half was amazing, but the experience of Atletico's players is higher."

He said he had modelled last season's title-winning side on Atletico, whom he managed from 1999-2000, adding: "I built Leicester to be like Atletico Madrid. They are an Italian team, not a Spanish team.

"I was so pleased to watch the players do what I taught them. It was important to see them continue to play in the same way."