(Football news) Claudio Ranieri has been re-appointed Italian club Cagliari manager, 31 years after his first stint at the club. The 71 year old Italian first took over Cagliari between 1988 and 1991, taking them from Serie C and Serie A. Ranieri has signed a deal with the club till 2025 and it’s his first role since being sacked by Watford in January. He replaces Fabio Liverani, who was sacked earlier this week after a string of poor performances resulted in the club currently being 14th in the Serie B.

“I’m going back to Cagliari. I’ve always known it, I declared it even then, at the time of my departure. Cagliari made me understand that maybe I could make it in my job. I had found all the elements that helped me in those three years – fans, players, managers, we were all one. These days you have helped me make this decision, which was not easy for various reasons.

“We are bound by mutual respect and love, and many beautiful memories. I come with unchanged enthusiasm, love and passion, but I alone is not enough. The help of the club will be needed, which strongly wanted me, my new boys, our fans will be needed, especially them, to push our Cagliari to the results that we all strongly hope for. I’m sure we’ll all find ourselves together pushing the team, all in the same direction, because that’s all we want.”

Claudio Ranieri

Ranieri famously won the Premier League with Leicester City in 2015-16 and has previously managed Chelsea and Fulham. The 71 year old has worked across Europe at various clubs and was dismissed after just four months from Watford after poor results. His next match for Cagliari will be against Cosenza and Ranieri will undoubtedly hope that he can guide his beloved club to the Serie A once again.

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