Claudio Ranieri breaks his silence after fairytale return to former club aged 73 - just six months after Leicester's title-winning boss called time on managerial career
- Claudio Ranieri has returned to Roma for his third stint with the Serie A giants
- This will mark his 24th managerial appointment since his career began in 1986
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Claudio Ranieri has broken his silence after beginning his third managerial stint with Serie A side Roma.
The 73-year-old's shocking return to management was confirmed on November 14, just six months after announcing his retirement with Cagliari at the end of last season.
He will already be Roma's third manager in charge this season - succeeding Ivan Juric - who left them in a disappointing 12th-place in Serie A.
Ranieri was given a warm welcome upon his arrival in the Italian capital, having previously managed Roma between 2009 to 2011 and March to May 2019.
Fans swarmed the Italian boss at the Leonardo da Vinci airport in Fiumicino, hoping that the former Leicester manager can work his magic again, eight years after winning the unlikeliest of Premier League titles in 2015-16.
Now, Ranieri has detailed his fairytale return to Roma - the club where he began his professional playing career.
Claudio Ranieri returns to Roma for his third managerial stint with them and 24th in his career
The 73-year-old was swarmed at the Leonardo da Vinci airport in Fiumicino upon his arrival
Eight years ago, Ranieri led Leicester to the unlikeliest of Premier League titles in 2015-16
'I had stopped coaching. I have to say I have had more requests in these months than when I won the championship with Leicester.
'Incredible, but that's the truth. And I always said no,' he said in his first press conference back.
'I said only in two cases I can return to coaching: either for Roma or for Cagliari in case something went wrong. But I was convinced I would go on my own, but fate wanted me to return home.
'When I returned to Cagliari, I said that my story started at Cagliari and would finish at Cagliari.
'Evidently it’s fate — I started at Roma as a player and I will finish as a director and coach.'
Ranieri was unable to win silverware in his first two spells at Roma but came closest in 2010, only to be denied by Jose Mourinho's treble-winning Inter Milan side.
Roma finished second in the 2009-10 Serie A season, two points behind Inter. Mourinho doubled Ranieri's woes in the 2010 Coppa Italia, winning 1-0 on the road to Inter's treble.
Ranieri's third spell at Roma will his 24th managerial appointment since his first role at Vigor Lamezia in 1986.
