Claudio Ranieri: factfile

1951: October 20, born in Rome.
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Unspectacular playing career with Roma, Catanzaro and Catania. Takes up first coaching position with Vigor Lamezia. Moves to Campania. Takes over at Sardinian club Cagliari. Joins Napoli in Serie A where he coaches Gianfranco Zola. Moves to Serie B side Fiorentina. Wins Serie B title. Wins Coppa Italia and Italian Supercup with the Florence club. Leaves Italy for the first time in his career to take charge of Valencia. Wins Copa del Rey in Spain. Joins Atletico Madrid and signs Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink from Leeds for £12million. The move turns sour and the club is taken into judicial administration following embezzlement allegations against president Jesus Gil. Ranieri quits in March and Atletico are eventually relegated from the Primera Liga. September - Chelsea confirm Ranieri's appointment as replacement for ousted coach Gianluca Vialli. Chelsea finish sixth in the Premiership and qualify for the UEFA Cup. Ranieri begins overhaul of ageing Chelsea squad, signing rank Lampard for £11million and Emmanuel Petit. April 12 - With the Blues fourth in the league and in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, Ranieri ends speculation linking him to Barcelona when he signs a new five-year deal to stay at Stamford Bridge. May - Chelsea lose FA Cup final 2-0 to Arsenal and finish sixth in the Premiership for the second season running. Arsenal again end Chelsea's FA Cup hopes, knocking them out of the quarter-finals. However, Ranieri guide them to fourth in the table. Chelsea are changed forever when chairman Ken Bates decides to sell the club to Russian oil billionaire Roman Abramovich. Financed by Roman's roubles, Ranieri begins a £130million spending spree unprecedented in the history of the game. Almost immediately speculation begins linking Sven-Goran Eriksson with Ranieri's job. h - Pictures of Eriksson meeting chief executive Peter Kenyon appear in the Sun. Ranieri's days appear to be numbered as he declares himself a "dead man walking". April 6 - An against the odds win over Arsenal earns Chelsea a place in the Champions League semi-finals and Ranieri a reprieve. April 20 - Receives widespread criticism for his tactics as Chelsea concede two late goals to lose 3-1 in first leg of Champions League semi-final against Monaco. May 5 - Despite taking a 2-0 lead, Chelsea are held 2-2 by Monaco at Stamford Bridge to go out of Champions League 5-3 on aggregate. May 8 - Chelsea earn 1-1 draw at Manchester United to clinch second place in Premiership. In contrast to previous statements, Ranieri later says he believes he could still be in charge at the start of the 2004-05 season. May 27 - A day after leading Porto to victory in the Champions League final, Jose Mourinho, who had been linked with Stamford Bridge for some weeks, admits that Chelsea are the club he wants to take over. May 28 - Ranieri held talks with Abramovich but no decision over his future was made. May 31 - Chelsea announce they have parted company with Ranieri.