Ranieri, Mancini, Maresca & Casadei - LCFC’s Italian Links
Linking up with his compatriot Enzo Maresca, young Italian Casadei has made the move to Leicestershire on a season-long loan from Chelsea, becoming just the second Italian-born player to wear City blue and appear in the first team at the Club.
The first, Roberto Mancini, only made five appearances for Peter Taylor’s side between January and February 2001, including a debut against Arsenal, but still became a cult figure among fans.
Arriving on loan from Lazio at the age of 36, Mancini had spent 15 years at Sampdoria after starting his career at Bologna. He soon left Leicester to carve a successful career in management.
Becoming Fiorentina’s manager later in 2001, he returned to England and guided Manchester City to their first Premier League title back in 2012. A former Italy international, Mancini went on to win the European Championships as Italy manager.
Claudio Ranieri carved a similar path at Leicester. Forging a successful playing and management career largely in his home country, the opportunity to return to England was one he could not turn down.
As a player he had appeared in Serie A for Roma, Catanzaro, Catania and Palermo. He also managed Serie A sides Cagliari, Napoli, Fiorentina, Parma, Juventus, Roma and Inter Milan.
Now forever remembered as the manager who famously guided City to a historic Premier League triumph in 2016, Ranieri will always have a special place in the hearts of Foxes fans. The Club’s transformation from escaping relegation to the pinnacle of English football in less than 12 months was scarcely believable.
Quite rightly, the Italian’s individual accolades at the end of that season included winning the Premier League Manager of the Season award and collecting the LMA Manager of the Year, but holding the trophy aloft at King Power Stadium is the prize cherished most dearly.
Since then, Ranieri has managed Fulham and Watford in the Premier League, either side of spells back in Italy with Roma and Sampdoria. The 71-year-old tasted success with Cagliari last term, as the Sardinian club earned a dramatic promotion to Serie A via the play-offs after taking charge for a second stint in January 2023.