Mancini favourite to take over Foxes after shock Ranieri sacking

FORMER Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is the +125 favourite at Sportsbet.com.au to take over the Leicester City managerial role after the Foxes elected to axe Claudio Ranieri.

Less than a year removed from their fairytale Premier League title win, Leicester chose to terminate the contract of the man who led them to its maiden EPL win.

The Foxes currently sit just one point shy of the relegation zone with just over three months of league games remaining.

Leicester ($2.63) currently sits on the fifth line of betting at Sportsbet.com.au to be the first team since 1938 to be relegated a year after winning the Premier League title.

The Foxes’ board released a statement saying they have acted in the best interests of the club.

“The board reluctantly feels that a change of leadership, while admittedly painful, is necessary in the club’s greatest interest,” it read.

The decision comes less than a month after the board declared their “unwavering support” for the Italian.

The board said Ranieri’s status as a club great will remain solidified despite the inauspicious departure.

“His status as the most successful Leicester City manager of all time is without question,” added the Foxes statement.

“However, domestic results in the current campaign have placed the club’s Premier League status under threat.”

Who will be the next manager of Leicester?

Market provided by Sportsbet.com.au

Roberto Mancini +125

Frank de Boer $5.50

Nigel Pearson $8

Alan Pardew $9

Gary Rowett $11

Neil Lennon $12

Mark Warburton $14

Guus Hiddink $14

David Wagner $18

Gerry Taggart $18

Roy Hodgson $21

Avram Grant $21

Jaap Stam $26

Gary Monk $26

Rafa Benitez $26

Gary Megson $34

Brendan Rodgers $34

Juande Ramos $34

Chris Powell $34

Muzzy Izzet $34

Roy Keane $34

Jurgen Klinsmann $34

Marco Silva $34

Ryan Giggs $34

L Van Gaal $34

Martin O’Neill $34

Peter Schmeichel $41

Bob Bradley $51

Sven-Goran Eriksson $51

Alan Curbishley $51

Frank Lampard $51

Roberto Di Matteo $51

Steven Gerrard $67