Ranieri wins Italian Coach of the year.

[cityfanlee23]

Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri wins the Enzo Bearzot Award as the Italian's dream season goes from strength to strength

 

It's been a season to remember for Claudio Ranieri after helping Leicester lift the Premier League and now the charismatic 64-year-old has collected the Enzo Bearzot Award.

The highly-coveted accolade is awarded to the Italian manager of the year, as voted for by a jury composed of representatives of major Italian sports newspapers. 

Ranieri returned home to Rome to accept the award Monday following Leicester's title-winning celebrations.

 

 

Speaking at the ceremony, Ranieri said: 'Honestly, I still haven't realised what we've done. We started off just trying to avoid relegation and you saw what happened.'

The award was founded in 2011 to honor Bearzot, the 1982 World Cup-winning coach who died in 2010. 

 

The Premier League winning manager spoke of his his pride at being named the 2016 winner. 

'I never met Bearzot but I've been told by people that they see his spirit in me and that fills me with pride,' he added. 

 

 

 

Rumours are still strife of Italy being interested in talking to Ranieri, once Antonio Conte leaves to take over at Chelsea. 

ENZO BEARZOT AWARD WINNERS 

2011 - Cesare Prandelli - Italy

2012 - Walter Mazzarri - Napoli

2013 - Vincenzo Montella - Fiorentina

2014 - Carlo Ancelotti - Real Madrid

2015 - Massimiliano Allegri - Juventus

2016 - Claudio Ranieri - Leicester City

And Italian Football Federation president Carlo Tavecchio believes the Foxes boss has what it takes to win the World Cup. 

 

Tavecchio feels his countryman could eventually follow in the footsteps of Vittorio Pozzo, Bearzot and Marcello Lippi by steering Italy to the greatest prize in world football.

Speaking to ANSA.it in Rome, the FIGC chief said: 'I hope Ranieri can win a World Cup with Italy, that would be the best.

'I'm speaking in an abstract way, of course, and not necessarily about the next World Cup. Claudio is still young and will have time on his side.

'In his second sports homeland he still has a lot to achieve. And I don't think it would be easy to deprive him of that opportunity.

'Have we thought about him as a replacement for (outgoing Italy coach Antonio) Conte? It's him who should be thinking about us!

'We're thinking about a lot of different things right now, but those in his second sporting homeland are wishing him every success.' 

 

 

 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3581040/Leicester-City-boss-Claudio-Ranieri-wins-Enzo-Bearzot-Award-Italian-s-dream-season-goes-strength-strength.html

 

RANIERIIII WHOOAAHHH           

[Trav Le Bleu]

Deserved.

 

 

[Phube]

Where's Fuchs with the Prosecco when you need him?

[cityfanlee23]

Where's Fuchs with the Prosecco when you need him?

 

Still in that training session I think   

[MC Prussian]

http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Premier-League/09-05-2016/leicester-ranieri-ancora-non-ho-capito-impresa-che-abbiamo-fatto-150555530496.shtml

"We're allowed to dream, but we also have to work hard to get there."

"This is the magic of football. Everybody involved contributed and created a unity based around a small team with fighting spirit. Even though they may not be the best players in the world, they've proven themselves against the best of the best."

"I still haven't realized what has happened. I receive complimentary letters from all around the world. This is the biggest satisfaction I've ever got out of my career as a football manager. But I'll never forget my first title (with Cagliari)."

 

Also visited the Gazzetta HQ for a little talk about this season:

http://video.gazzetta.it/leicester-ranieri-visita-redazione-ecco-chi-va-mio-grazie/4434575a-1619-11e6-b97d-77c5a7f3b991

 

He considers Nottingham Forest's achievement under Clough bigger than what we've done. Bless him and his Italian understatement!