Juventus today pipped Manchester City to the signature of Claudio Ranieri, appointing him as the club's coach on a three-year deal.
Ranieri, who resigned from his position as Parma coach last Thursday, had been linked with the City job following Stuart Pearce's departure from Eastlands. However, with uncertainty growing as to a potential takeover at City, Ranieri has instead opted to stay in Serie A with newly-promoted Juve.
"For Juventus, this an authoritative choice fully in line with the company's objectives and tradition," read a club statement. "A man of international experience and vision, he is able to embody the aims of the mid-term development plan approved by the board of directors. With Claudio Ranieri, a season with a wealth of ambitions and new opportunities opens up."
Gérard Houllier is now the bookmakers' favourite to succeed Pearce, ahead of Sven-Goran Eriksson, the Derby manager Billy Davies and the Sevilla coach Juande Ramos.
