Former Leicester City manager, Claudio Ranieri has admitted news of his sack as the club’s boss came as a huge shock.

Ranieri, 65, was shown the exit door in February, nine months after he led the Foxes to an unexpected Premier League title.

Ever since he was dismissed, the Italian tactician had kept a low profile, but appeared on stage this week at Rebibbia prison in his homeland in a ceremony to honour regional football coaches.

He spoke in front of inmates on Wednesday, revealing his astonishment at being told he had to go a day after Leicester’s first-leg defeat to Sevilla in the Champions League last 16.

Ranieri was quoted by Gazzetta dello Sports as saying, “Thinking of Leicester, the first thing that comes to mind is the sense of surprise, even more than bitterness.

“I have been through a lot in my long career, but never anything like this.

“It was a shock, but in the end, these things are part of football.”