Leicester City news: Claudio Ranieri signs new four-year contract with Premier League champions

Leicester have announced that manager Claudio Ranieri has agreed a new four-year contract with the club after leading them to last season’s Premier League title.

The 64-year-old Italian clinched the first league title of his career by inspiring Leicester to the biggest shock in Premier League history, with the Foxes somehow managing to sustain a prolonged challenge to beat the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City having been bottom of the league table just a year before.

With the former Chelsea manager replacing Nigel Pearson at the start of the season, many tipped Leicester to be among the three clubs relegated in 2015/16, but they stunned everyone in leading the way throughout 2016 and wrapping up the championship with three games to spare.

A club statement read: “Leicester City Football Club is delighted to announce that its First Team Manager, Claudio Ranieri, has signed a new contract with the Premier League champions.

“The Italian agrees terms just days before the start of City’s first ever top-flight title defence, having guided the Foxes to the most stunning triumph in Premier League history last season. He has signed a deal until June, 2020.”

Ranieri told the club’s official website: “From the moment I talked to the owners about their vision for Leicester City, I knew it was something I wanted to be part of for a long time. The energy that exists at this Club – from the owners and the staff, to the players and supporters – is something very special. I am very happy and proud that I will be part of it for years to come.

“Last season, that spirit and our hard work helped us to achieve something magical. If we can continue to work hard, maintain our passion and continue to fight with all our hearts, I am sure we can continue to be successful together.”

Ranieri's success has already gone down in the club's history after they enjoyed their title triumph with prolonged celebrations and a bus parade through the town centre that attracted Leicester fans in their thousands. With Leicester now taking to the European stage in the form of the Champions League, they face a completely new challenge, in competing regularly during midweek. However, Leicester Vice Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha admitted the entire board was “delighted “ with Ranieri’s decision to commit his future to the club, who were only promoted to the Premier League last summer.

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.

“Claudio’s qualities, both as a man and as a coach, have been very clear since the moment he arrived – qualities that have helped Leicester City to progress on every level. We have strong foundations from which to keep moving our Club forward and I’m delighted that Claudio will continue to be part of that journey.”