1) ASPIRING TEACHER
Born in Rome, 1951, Claudio wanted to grow up and become a teacher just like his father, who was a Roman teacher by profession. Luckily for the game, the Italian chose football to showcase his inherent teaching skills.
2) 15 CLUBS
With Leicester being added to the list, the tally of the number of clubs managed by Ranieri went up to a staggering 15 last year. This includes taking over the thrones at big clubs such as Juventus, Internazionale, Valencia, Roma and Chelsea.
3) 10 TROPHIES AS A MANAGER
With the Premier League Trophy added to his collection last season, Claudio Ranieri took his tally of managerial triumphs into double figures. This also includes a domestic cup double for Florentina in 1996 and the UEFA Super Cup for Valencia in 2004.
4) HISTORIC SIGNING
Was the man in charge of Chelsea when the club signed Frank Lampard from West Ham United in 2001. The midfielder went on to score 211 goals and create endless memories at the Bridge.
5) FOR A CHARITABLE CAUSE
After leaving Chelsea, the Italian wrote a book on his journey with the Blues entitled ‘Proud man walking’. All profits made by the sales of the book, went to the Great Ormond Street Children’s hospital. Ranieri stating how he always desired to do something substantial for children and their well-being.
6)THRASHED LEICESTER ON FIRST ENCOUNTER WITH THE FOXES
Saw his Chelsea side go on a rampage as they put 4 past on his first visit to Filbert Way in Jan 2004. Who could have imagined that 11 years down the line, he would be guide the opposition to the title of the Champions.
7) DEJA VU
Has twice missed out on on the League title to unbeaten sides. AC Milan won Serie A without losing a match when he was in charge of Napoli in 1991/92 and Arsenal beat his Chelsea side to the Premier League title in 2003/04.
8) RECORD BREAKER
The 2003/04 saw Ranieri break records at Stamford Bridge for both the ‘most points in a season’ and ‘fewest goals conceded in a season’.
9) PLAYING DAYS
Was a full-back during his playing career in Italy and won four promotions as a player. The “never die attitude” being embedded in him since a teenager trying to make his name as a footballer.
10) NICKNAMED THE ‘TINKERMAN’
Claudio Ranieri used to be famous for having new phrases made up about him, none of them flattering. He was nicknamed ‘The Tinkerman’ because of how haphazardly he rotated his players at Chelsea before being sacked and replaced by a certain Jose Mourinho. Luckily, the so-called ‘Tinkerman’ silenced all of his doubters last season with his ‘Underdogs’ Leicester City winning the Premier League.