Inter Milan have sacked their manager Claudio Ranieri, with the club's Primavera coach Andrea Stramaccioni named as his replacement.
Inter Milan have sacked their manager Claudio Ranieri, with the club's Primavera coach Andrea Stramaccioni named as his replacement. Reuters

After months of speculation, Inter have finally announced the sacking of Cludio Ranieri. In the same statement, the Italian giants also revealed that the club's youth team coach Andrea Stramaccioni has been named as Ranieri's replacement.

The news comes after speculation had mounted that Stramaccioni would be handed the reigns after he led Inter's Primavera side to victory in the innaugural NextGen Series, a competition for European clubs' under-19 sides.

Yet only earlier in the day Inter director Marco Branca had daid that he believed Ranieri would be in charge until at least the end of the season, telling Sky Sport Italia, Let's leave Stramaccioni alone. I think he's happy to be here with us and we're happy with him, but let's leave him in peace, according to Goal.com.

Inter currently reside in unfamiliar territory in Serie A down in a lowly eighth place after what hqas been a tumultuos season. The final straw for Nerazzurri president Massimo Moratti apparently being Inter's 2-0 defeat to Juventus in Turin on Sunday.

Ranieri only too charge of Inter in September following the extremely short reign of Gian Piero Gasperini. Though Ranieri was given a contract until the summer of 2013, the appointment was viewed by many as a short-term solution.

After a poor beginning to his spell in charge, around the turn of the year Ranieri oversaw a run of eight straight vitories that renwed hopes of qualifying for the Champions League and even an outside push for a title challenge.

But immediately following that run, Inter went through a spell of seven defeats in eight games.

Inter also crashed out of the Champions League in dramatic fashion to Marseille in the round-of-16 after conceding injury-time goals in both legs to lose on away goals.

Inter's appointment of Stramaccioni would seem to indicate the recognition of a need to overhaul an aging squad by bringing in young players both from within the club and outside.

Stramaccioni becomes the fifth manager since Jose Mourinho departed for Real Marid after leading Inter to the Champions League less than two years ago.

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