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With the announcement yesterday that Antonio Conte will leave his post as manager of the Italian national team after Euro 2016, Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri was one of the names linked with replacing the former Juventus coach.
But Ranieri has poured cold water on the rumours, insisting that he wants to remain at Leicester City for years to come, and eventually retire when his time at the King Power Stadium is up.
Speaking to Marca, Ranieri said: "I’m fine at Leicester and I’m not thinking about moving."
"I think this will be my last club. My hope is that they’ll give me a long contract, five or six years and I can retire here."
This news will be music to Leicester fans' ears as the 64-year-old Italian has miraculously transformed the Foxes into title contenders this season.
Currently sitting five points clear at the top of the premier league with just eight games remaining, Ranieri remains cautious about his side's title credentials: "We know we haven't done anything yet. Everyone is rooting for us to win the Premier League. It's incredible that a small club are punching above their weight like this in the big-money era.
“If we were Chelsea, Arsenal, City or United we'd be thinking about the title. We're not, though.
“Leicester are a small club and we have to take things slow. We've achieved our most important target: we've already won because next season we'll be in the Premier League.
“Now we're going to fight to qualify for Europe. And if we stay up there, we'll try to get into the Champions League and then go for the title. But we have to take it one step at a time.”
Ranieri is far too experienced to let himself get carried away, and he is preaching caution among Leicester fans. But, with so few games remaining, and the teams around them fluffing their lines, fans inside the King Power Stadium can be forgiven for allowing themselves to dream of an unlikely league title and Champions League place for next season
Written by Ryan Baldi
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