sport news New Watford boss Claudio Ranieri is in his 22nd job at 70 and says his brain is ...

sport news New Watford boss Claudio Ranieri is in his 22nd job at 70 and says his brain is ...
sport news New Watford boss Claudio Ranieri is in his 22nd job at 70 and says his brain is ...

One week short of his 70th birthday and Claudio Ranieri could be basking in the gentle glow of the Mediterranean rather than settling into the hottest of the Premier League's hot seats but that really isn't his style.

'I'm very bored if I don't stay in football,' explained Ranieri as he was formally unveiled as Watford's latest head coach, his 22nd different job across 18 different clubs and one national team in a managerial career stretching over 35 years.

'I love football. I love the life. Fifty… 70… 80 maybe… why not? The oldest manager in England maybe with a walking stick.'

One week short of his 70th birthday and Claudio Ranieri could be basking in the gentle glow of the Mediterranean rather than settling into a Premier League's hot seat but that isn't his style

One week short of his 70th birthday and Claudio Ranieri could be basking in the gentle glow of the Mediterranean rather than settling into a Premier League's hot seat but that isn't his style

He did a little mime of a crooked old man before snapping upright to add: 'But the brain is important and the brain is very young.

'I came back to achieve something with Watford. I am an ambitious man. The chairman is an ambitious man. And I want to do this. I will put all my energy, all my spirit into my job and I am so happy.'

His immediate targets at Watford are modest enough.

'We have to be safe. I think only about the 40 points. Remember me at Leicester? 'Forty points, 40 points'. Then '41'. We have seven and there are 33 more points to achieve. Then slowly, slowly, improve next season.'

This is Ranieri's fourth job in English football. There were four years at Chelsea from 2000 when he was dubbed the Tinkerman because of his habit of constantly making changes to the team and the formation jarred with a consensus that the best approach was to have a settled side.

The 69-year-old manager has previously managed both Fulham (above) and Chelsea

The 69-year-old manager has previously managed both Fulham (above) and Chelsea

However, he is famed as the architect of Leicester's Premier League title win in 2016 (above)

However, he is famed as the architect of Leicester's Premier League title win in 2016 (above)

'I carried the flag,' he laughed. 'Twenty years later and a lot of managers are Tinkermen. I have the flag and they followed behind.'

But he lasted only three months at Fulham, his most recent Premier League posting, where he failed to remedy a dreadful start to the season.

'I made mistakes at Fulham, sure,' said Ranieri. 'When I managed the Greek national team, sure. It can happen in long career, 35 years. You have to put it behind you. Another match, another day.'

This brief spell at Craven Cottage is best reduced a marvellous piece of trivia because he took over from Slavisa Jokanovic and was replaced by Scott Parker, respectively his first and last signings when he was Chelsea boss.

At Leicester City, however, his achievements will live forever as one of football's great fairy tales, even if he was sacked nine months after winning the Premier League title at odds of 5,000-1 with a team tipped for relegation.

'I tried to do my best,' said Ranieri. 'And I'm happy if some people, not only in sport

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