Claudio Ranieri, notably with Nantes and Monaco, will leave his post as Cagliari coach by mutual agreement, the Serie A club announced on Tuesday, while local media reported that the 72-year-old was on the about to retire.
The announcement came after Cagliari secured another season in Italy’s top division with their away win over Sassuolo on Sunday. Sky Sports Italia reported that Cagliari would be the last team for Ranieri, who has decided to retire.
The Italian coach, who previously managed Cagliari in 1988, had one year left on his contract after joining the club last season and leading them to promotion from Serie B. “Mr Ranieri bids farewell to Cagliari. During his two spells at the club, he always managed to lead the team to achieve its initial objective,” Cagliari said in a statement. “These are tears of joy and gratitude for the man who knew how to write some of the most beautiful scenarios in the history of Cagliari. What he did will remain indelible in the hearts of all supporters.” Ranieri will coach Cagliari for the last time.
The Italian coach, who has managed Juventus, AS Roma and Inter Milan, among others, in Serie A, is best known for leading Leicester City to a fairytale Premier League title in 2016. He has also managed teams such as Chelsea, Fulham and Watford, as well as Valencia and Atletico Madrid in the Spanish LaLiga. “I decided to leave now and it’s the right thing to do,” Ranieri said in a video on Cagliari’s social media. “I do it reluctantly because the decision was difficult and painful, but I think it is the right one.”