Leicester City legend in stunning U-turn as club make statement

Claudio Ranieri has ended his retirement to return to Roma for a third spell.

The veteran coach had been expected to walk away from the sport after he guided Cagliari to safety in May, almost 40 years after his first managerial role.

Ranieri, 73, has been tempted back by Roma – where he enjoyed a two-year spell in 2009 and a short tenure five years ago – and will take charge of the Serie A club until the end of the season.

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The one-time Roma player will then move into a senior executive role where he will act as an advisor to the ownership group.

“AS Roma is pleased to announce that Claudio Ranieri is the new Head Coach of the First Team,” a club statement read.

“At the conclusion of the season, Claudio will transition into a senior executive role, where he will be an adviser to the ownership on all sporting matters at the club.

“The search for a future coach will proceed over the next months. Claudio will have input in that decision as well.”

Ranieri memorably guided Leicester City to a shock Premier League title 2016 and had other spells in England with Chelsea, Fulham and Watford.

The Italian is Roma’s fourth manager of 2024 after Jose Mourinho, Daniele de Rossi and Ivan Juric, who was sacked on Sunday.

The first match in charge for Ranieri will be a trip to former club Napoli on November 24 followed by a Europa League clash away to Tottenham.