Claudio Ranieri has been sacked by Leicester City nine months after leading them to the Premier League title.

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

Ranieri, 65, guided the Foxes to the title despite them being rated 5,000-1 shots at the start of the campaign.

The Foxes won the league by 10 points but have won just five league games so far this season, and could become the first defending champions to be relegated since 1938.

They have lost their past five league matches and are the only side in the top four English divisions without a league goal in 2017.

“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”, the club lamented.