Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri has won the 2016 National Enzo Bearzot award, an accolade given to the Italian coach of the year.
The former Chelsea, Juventus and Monaco coach took over at the King Power Stadium in the summer of 2015 from the sacked Nigel Pearson and despite initial qualms about his appointment, has had a season to remember thus far.
Leicester are currently top of the Premier League table and have defied all the odds throughout the campaign, with the Foxes currently seven points clear at the summit.
Ranieri, of course, has got a big slice of the praise for his work and to highlight even further his fantastic exertions this term, it has today been confirmed by the Italian national team on Twitter that he has won the prestigious gong – the sixth time it has been given out.
The National Enzo Bearzot Award, which was named after Italy’s 1982 World Cup winning coach, is given to the top ranked Italian coach for their work throughout the year.
Bearzot became coach of the national team despite never having been a manager
in Serie A, although he did play over 400 career games in his his home
country.
Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri won the 2015 award and that really does highlight just what an achievement it is by Leicester’s manager to get his hands on the gong.
FIGC president Carlo Tavecchio hailed Ranieri, telling Italy’s official website: “Our talents abroad will now also include managers.
“Ranieri’s name is an expression of tremendous talent and commitment.”
Tavecchio also went on to say that Italy plan to come up with an award to honour the late Cesare Maldini, who passed away last week.
The award, which was established back in 2011 months after Italian icon Bearzot passed away in 2010, has also been won in the past by former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti and ex-Italy national team boss Cesare Prandelli.
Leicester’s next league game is a trip to Sunderland this coming Sunday, before they take on West Ham United, Swansea City, Manchester United, Everton and finish the season with Chelsea.
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