Former Italy and Valencia manager Cesare Prandelli has revealed he was approached for the vacant Leicester post only to turn it down due to the dismissal of his fellow countryman, Claudio Ranieri.
Leicester made the shock decision to sack Ranieri at the end of last month less than a year after the Italian led the Foxes to a stunning Premier League title.
The reigning Premier League champions were linked with a move for a number of big name managers before eventually handing the job to assistant manager Craig Shakespeare on a contract until the end of the current campaign.
Leicester’s decision has been vindicated by the fact Shakespeare has led the Foxes into the Champions League quarter-finals and six points clear of the bottom three.
However, things could have been different for the club had Leicester been successful in their approach for Prandelli, who resigned as Valencia manager in December.
“I said no,” Prandelli told SFR Sport, via Get French Football when asked whether Leicester approached him. “There was something, I immediately said no. You do not accept a position like that, because you cannot go somewhere like that after seeing how Ranieri was treated. I will not go there. Full stop. That is how I make decisions.”
It was perhaps fortunate Leicester did not appoint the 59-year-old as manager, as Prandelli only managed three wins in 10 matches as Valencia head coach.
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