Fulham have sacked Slavisa Jokanovic and appointed Claudio Ranieri as their manager. Ranieri led Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016 and has also managed Chelsea.

Jokanovic, who led Fulham to promotion last season, was dismissed after taking five points from 12 matches this season.

Fulham said Ranieri had signed a “multi-year contract” and their owner, Shahid Khan, said:

READ ALSO! ASUU STRIKE UNNECESSARY! University professors earn more than my monthly N500,000 salary, says Governor Fayemi

“Claudio is risk-free and ready-made for the Premier League, and particularly so for what we need at this moment at Fulham.

“His recent body of work with Leicester City is literally legendary and then you look at Claudio’s experience with Chelsea and big clubs throughout Europe, and it’s pretty evident we are welcoming an extraordinary football man to Fulham football club.”

Ranieri, 67, was most recently in charge of Nantes, where he left by mutual consent last May after one season, in which the club finished ninth.

He was dismissed by Leicester in February 2017, less than a year after winning the title.

“It is an honour to accept Mr Khan’s invitation and opportunity to lead Fulham, a fantastic club with tradition and history,” Ranieri said. 

“The objective at Fulham should never be to merely survive in the Premier League. We must at all times be a difficult opponent and should expect to succeed.

“This Fulham squad has exceptional talent that is contrary to its position in the table. I know this team is very capable of better performances, which we will work on straight away as we prepare for Southampton at the Cottage.”

READ ALSO! HE LOOKED LIKE AN ANGEL! Witness describes 16-year-old Nigerian teen knifed to death in London

Fulham picked up five points from their opening 12 league fixtures with the defence a major concern. Jokanovic’s side conceded 31 goals in those 12 games and had the worst defensive record in the division.

They are, however, only three points behind Southampton in 17th place. After the game against the Saints on 24 November, they face Chelsea away, Leicester City at home and Manchester United away.