Claudio Ranieri Announces Retirement From Management At Age 72
Claudio Ranieri has announced his retirement from football management at the age of 72.
Ranieri was in charge of Serie A side Cagliari, who have been successful in their relegation battle this season.
Ranieri made a return to the Islanders 31 years after he first left in January last year when they were in Serie B and led their promotion to the top flight.
The much-travelled manager also led Cagliari to consecutive promotions from the third tier to the Serie A during his first stint between 1988 and 1991.
Ranieri took charge of a host of clubs in a storied managerial career that includes spells at Juventus, Chelsea, Valencia, Monaco, Fulham, Inter Milan, amongst others.
Ranieri was named FIFA Coach of the year in 2016 after leading an unfancied Leicester City side to a fairytale Premier League title despite being odds on favorites for relegation at the start of the season.
"There is a beginning and an end to everything. It is only fair: to close the circle in this way, where I had started, is something I dreamed of and the dream was wonderful," Ranieri told reporters on Thursday.
"Luck does not fall on you, it has to be sought. I was a lucky man: I wanted to be a footballer, I managed to do it. Then when I was 30 I tried to understand if I understood soccer, I tried and I succeeded."
"As a player I was not a great champion, but as a coach I had a lot of fun. For me it was an honour to be in the world of soccer."
