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dpa
London
Fulham fired manager Slavisa Jokanovic on Wednesday and replaced him with Claudio Ranieri, who won an improbable Premier League title with Leicester City in 2016.
The 67-year-old Ranieri receives a"multi-year" contract in taking over for Jokanovic, who led Fulham back into the top flight last season by winning the Championship play-offs.
The Cottagers have found the going tougher this campaign~and sit bottom of the table with just one win and five points from 12 matches.
"I wasn't anticipating having to make this announcement related to Slavisa and wish the circumstances were such that I didn't have to, but our path this season has led me to make what I know is the correct decision, at the right time," Fulham chairman Shahid Khan said.
"Making a change without having the right answer or succession plan was not an option, so having someone of Claudio's calibre ready to accept our challenge was comforting but, most of all, essential."
Ranieri orchestrated one of the biggest shocks in football history when 5,000 to 1 outsiders Leicester won the league title in 2016. But he couldn't re-capture the magic and was sacked in February at the following season with the Foxes just above the relegation places.
Among numerous other stops in his managerial career are Napoli, Chelsea, Juventus, Roma, Inter Milan and, last season, French club Nantes.
"The objective at Fulham should never be to merely survive in the Premier League," he said."We must at all times be a difficult opponent and should expect to succeed.
"This Fulham squad has exceptional talent that is contrary to its position in the table. I know this team is very capable of better performances."
Jokanovic took over Fulham in December 2015, bringing an attacking style of football with him to Craven Cottage.
Things clicked last season when the Cottagers used a 23-game unbeaten run to help them finish third before winning the play-offs.
It's been a different story this campaign as they've conceded a league-worst 31 goals to fall to the foot of the table.
"Slavisa will always have my appreciation and respect for everything he did to return Fulham to top-flight football," Khan said.
Ranieri's first game in charge will be November 24 when Fulham host Southampton.
