Leicester City has announced that the club has parted ways with Claudio Ranieri.
The East Midlands club has opted to remove the Italian from his position as first team manager after just over a year-and-a-half in charge.
Ranieri famously guided the Foxes to last season's remarkable Premier League title but the team's form has dropped dramatically this season, and with their current precarious position of 17th, action has now been taken.
Vice Chairman Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha said: "This has been the most difficult decision we have had to make in nearly seven years since King Power took ownership of Leicester City.
"But we are duty-bound to put the Club's long-term interests above all sense of personal sentiment, no matter how strong that might be.
"Claudio has brought outstanding qualities to his office. His skilful management, powers of motivation and measured approach have been reflective of the rich experience we always knew he would bring to Leicester City. His warmth, charm and charisma have helped transform perceptions of the Club and develop its profile on a global scale.
"We will forever be grateful to him for what he has helped us to achieve.
"It was never our expectation that the extraordinary feats of last season should be replicated this season. Indeed, survival in the Premier League was our first and only target at the start of the campaign.
"But we are now faced with a fight to reach that objective and feel a change is necessary to maximise the opportunity presented by the final 13 games."
Assistant manager Craig Shakespeare and first team coach Mike Stowell will take over ahead of Monday night's clash with Liverpool.
Assistant manager and first team Coach Paolo Benetti and first team sport science and conditioning coach Andrea Azzalin have also parted company with the club.
Source: tribalfootball.com