Former Chelsea boss Guss Hiddink on Leicester shortlist but Roberto Mancini the early frontrunner

James Olley24 February 2017

Roberto Mancini has emerged as the early frontrunner to replace Claudio Ranieri as Leicester manager, although the club are keen to speak to a number of candidates before making a formal offer.

Ranieri was sacked last night, just nine months after guiding the Foxes to the most remarkable title success in Premier League history.

Leicester are 17th in the table, sitting just one point outside the relegation zone, but kept their Champions League campaign very much alive following a narrow 2-1 defeat in their last-16, first-leg tie against Sevilla in Spain on Wednesday night.

The timing of the club’s Thai owners to dispense with the Italian’s services has surprised many and they are not thought to have an immediate replacement lined up.

Leicester have sounded out former Foxes forward Mancini over the vacancy but are interested in speaking to a number of other potential targets, including Guus Hiddink and their former boss Nigel Pearson.

Ranieri was told of his fate after landing at East Midlands Airport following the team’s return flight from Seville. Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare will take charge for Monday’s home game against Liverpool and there is a possibility he could be given the job on a temporary basis until the end of the season if he oversees an immediate upturn in results.

In Pictures: Leicester title celebrations

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Eddie Howe has also been linked with the job and this morning the Bournemouth manager admitted his surprise at Ranieri’s departure.

“I was shocked and disappointed,” he said. “His public persona is very much his private persona. I have got a lot of time for him. He is a really great guy and a positive person, so to see him lose his job in the manner he has is very sad.”

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