Claudio Ranieri appointed new Fulham manager after Slavisa Jokanovic is sacked

Fulham have sacked manager Slavisa Jokanovic just 12 games into the Premier League season.

The West London side have confirmed that former Leicester City and Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri will take up the vacancy.

Ranieri’s appointment marks the Italian’s first return to management in England since he was sacked as Leicester City boss in February 2017, where he achieved huge success the season before.

The now 67-year-old guided the Foxes to the first ever top-flight championship title in what is regarded as one of the greatest footballing achievements in history.

That Premier League title would also see him crowned Fifa coach of the year in 2017.

He has since managed French side Nantes, but left after one season in charge.

Ranieri, whose first foray into English came at West London rivals Chelsea, takes over a Fulham side rooted bottom of the Premier League table with just one win so far, having suffered six defeats on the bounce.

In statement on the club’s official website, Fulham owner Shahid Khan thanked Jokanovic for his efforts in guiding the team to promotion to the Premier League from the Championship last season.

“I wasn’t anticipating having to make this announcement related to Slavisa and wish the circumstances were such that I didn’t have to, but our path this season has led me to make what I know is the correct decision, at the right time, for our players, the club and our supporters,” Khan said.

“Slavisa will always have my appreciation and respect for everything he did to return Fulham to top-flight football. I am hoping everyone in the Fulham Family shares my heartfelt sentiments for Slavisa and joins me in wishing him success and good fortune, wherever his next stop may be.”

In the same statement, Ranieri thanked owner Khan was providing him with the opportunity to return to Premier League management.

“It is an honour to accept Mr. Khan’s invitation and opportunity to lead Fulham, a fantastic club with tradition and history,” Ranieri said. “The objective at Fulham should never be to merely survive in the Premier League. We must at all times be a difficult opponent and should expect to succeed. This Fulham squad has exceptional talent that is contrary to its position in the table. I know this team is very capable of better performances, which we will work on straight away as we prepare for Southampton at the Cottage.

Familiar faces up first for Ranieri

And Ranieri will not have to wait long before facing some of his former sides.

After a home clash with Southampton on November 24, he takes his Fulham side to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea before they host Leicester City the following weekend.

Ranieri's first five matches as Fulham manager...

Jokanovic's fall from grace

It is a remarkable fall from grace for Jokanovic, who was considered by Chelsea as one of the replacements for Antonio Conte in the summer if they failed in their bid for Maurizio Sarri.

He was in the last year of his contract at Craven Cottage and significantly talks of an extension in the summer were postponed.

Fulham invested over £100m on new players such as Jean-Michael Seri and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa in the transfer market and expected to be comfortably clear of the drop zone.

But the west London club have the worst defensive record in the division with 31 goals conceded. Their only victory came against Burnley and that was three months ago.

Khan has confirmed that he and his son Tony, who is also the vice chairman, held talks with a number of potential candidates over the past week before choosing Ranieri to take the post.