Search icon

Football

10th Aug 2016

You can probably guess how Gary Lineker reacted to Claudio Ranieri’s new contract

Sound familiar?

Simon Lloyd

Show us a man that doesn’t think Claudio Ranieri deserves his new contract and we’ll show you a liar.

Having guided Leicester City to their miraculous league victory last season, the Italian has been rewarded with a new deal with the club, extending his stay at the King Power until 2020.

In a statement released by the club, vice-chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha explained that Ranieri had surpassed expectations in his first year in the job.

“Twelve months ago, we brought to Leicester City a man whose knowledge and experience, we felt, could lead us into the next phase of our long-term plan. What he would go on to help us achieve, in the time we have achieved it, has been beyond anything we could have anticipated.”

‘Beyond anything we could have anticipated…’ No shit, Aiyawatt.

Another man that underestimated Ranieri was Match of the Day host, Gary Lineker.

On the day of his appointment, Lineker –  who began his playing career with the Foxes – questioned why the club had appointed the former Chelsea boss in the wake of Nigel Pearson’s departure from the club.

Along with the tweet, he was also quoted as saying:

“Claudio Ranieri is clearly experienced, but this is an uninspired choice by Leicester. It’s amazing how the same old names keep getting a go on the managerial merry-go-round.”

Clearly, Ranieri proved Lineker wrong – and nobody was more delighted than the former England international that he did (even if he does have to present Match of the Day in his underwear as a result).

As news of the Italian’s new four year deal reached him, this is how he responded.

Sound familiar? Fair play, Gary.

Listen to the GAA Hour football show – Wooly is joined by Paul Galvin, Aidan O’Shea, Senan Connell and Conán Doherty. Subscribe here on iTunes

The FootballJOE quiz: Were you paying attention? – episode 10