As Leicester City searches for ways to not only return to the Premier League in 2026-27, but remain among the top flight clubs, a reunion with Claudio Ranieri has never felt more appropriate. The legendary manager is nearing the end of yet another miraculous season, only this time with AS Roma of Serie A.
Ranieri will end his legendary managerial career upon the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, but will remain in the football world as a senior advisor—a position Leicester City should attempt to grant to him.
Ranieri is a Leicester City icon, leading the club to perhaps the most improbable Premier League title in history in 2015-16. Nine years later, he’s led AS Roma to another unlikely turnaround, with the club previously struggling to avoid the relegation zone and now fighting for a Champions League berth.
Despite his success, Ranieri will end his managerial tenure at AS Roma after just one season and transition into a senior advisor role with the club. Per Susy Campanale of Football Italia:
“It is only right that the youth step forward, because my time is over. Football has given me so much and I have been called to another challenge. I’ve given my all. Football is my life, but the moment comes to say enough is enough.”
Ranieri continued:
“I had said that at Cagliari with my heart and everyone believed me, including my wife, until Roma called… I really did hope that neither Cagliari nor Roma would call. I only said yes for one more year as a coach, then as senior advisor to Roma, even though I am not entirely sure what that is.”
The logistics would be challenging, but Leicester City would do well to attempt to hire Ranieri to that same position before his future in Italy can take hold.
Ranieri’s tenure with Leicester City spanned just two seasons, but the work he did bordered on unrivaled. In addition to leading the club to the Premier League crown, he oversaw the ascension of some of the greatest players in club and EPL history.
That includes the superstar trio of N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, and Jamie Vardy—all of whom took significant steps forward as players under Ranieri.
Mahrez and Vardy combined for nine goals during the 2014-15 Premier League campaign, but accounted for 41 under Ranieri in 2015-16. Kante, meanwhile, evolved from a standout at Ligue 2 side Caen into a world-class player seemingly overnight.
Ranieri certainly can’t take solitary credit for those players’ success, as the individuals themselves stepped up and Steve Walsh scouted them, but his influence is unavoidable.
Fast forward to 2025 and Leicester City again finds itself in need of unorthodox methods to fuel a new period of sustained success. It will be returning to the Championship, and manager Ruud van Nistelrooy appears to be on his way out.
If that proves to be the case, then stealing Roma’s thunder and bringing Ranieri in as a senior advisor could give Leicester City the tools to rebuild and recover from a turbulent time.
Ranieri has an uncanny ability to bring the best out of players, including unsung heroes, and could thus help create a culture that promotes internal growth. He also knows what it takes to win at the very club he guided to the Premier League title less than a decade ago.
If Leicester City can make amends and convince Ranieri that his future is in England rather than Italy, then perhaps it could find a method to return to the Premier League and contend once more.
