Thursday 17 May 2018 12:22, UK
Claudio Ranieri will leave his position as coach of Nantes at the end of the season, the League 1 club announced on Thursday.
The 66-year-old was appointed last June on a two-year deal following the surprise departure of fans' favourite, Sergio Conceicao.
Nantes had been challenging for European qualification this season, but a recent run of one win their past eight league matches have seen them slip to 10th in the table.
Ranieri, who famously won the Premier League with Leicester in 2016, is one of the names being linked with the vacant manager's job at West Ham following the departure of David Moyes.
"The club and the coach have decided to part company by mutual agreement," said Nantes President Waldemar Kita in a statement.
"We thank Claudio Ranieri and his staff for all the work done this season. We wish them a lot of success in their future projects."
"I want to thank the President because he offered me the chance to come to Nantes and to return to the French league," Ranieri said.
"I want to thank my players because the first half of the championship was wonderful, although the second part was more difficult.
"They gave everything, it really matters to me."
