Claudio Ranieri announced as Watford manager: Five things you didn’t know about the Tinkerman

Claudio Ranieri has been appointed the new Watford manager. Picture: Ben Stansall/AFP/Getty Images

Watford have appointed Italian Claudio Ranieri as replacement to sacked manager Xisco Munoz.

It will mark a return to English football for Ranieri, where he made history by leading Leicester to the Premier League title in the 2015/2016 season.

Some people have described Ranieri steering the Foxes to the Premier League title as football it’s greatest miracle.

He has also had stints with Chelsea and Fulham, and was recently the manager of Italian Serie A side Sampdoria.

Ranieri will be Watford 18th manager in the last 10 years, and knows there is no job security at Vicarage Road.

And just to keep Watford in the Premier League, the Italian will have to pull off a similar miracle to winning the Premier League with Leicester.

Here are five things you might not know about the new Watford manager.

Claudio Ranieri will replace Xisco Munoz, who was sacked by Watford, and return to the Premier League for the fourth time as a coach. (Sky Italia)

(Photo by Getty Images) — Claudio Ranieri will replace Xisco Munoz, who was sacked by Watford, and return to the Premier League for the fourth time as a coach. (Sky Italia) (Photo by Getty Images)

Claudio Ranieri is a nomadic coach

With Watford added to the list, he has now managed a staggering 22 clubs in his career.

He is used to being hired and fired and has had success managing top European sides including Juventus, Chelsea and Roma.

Ranieri has won 11 major trophies in his career

Ranieri has enjoyed success as a manager, including helping Leicester City to the Premier League title.

He also won major honours in Italy including leading underdogs Sampdoria to win the Coppa Italia during the 1995/1996 season.

The Italian led Valencia to winning a Copa del Rey triumph during the 1998/1999 Spanish League Season, and took the Spanish giants to the final of the European Cup.

'BIG TEST': Against Leeds United's attack admits Chelsea boss Frank Lampard. Photo by Matthew Child via Getty Images.

He signed Frank Lampard for Chelsea

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard is probably most associated with the Blues’ title-winning manager Jose Mourinho.

However it was actually his predecessor Claudio Ranieri who persuaded the midfielder to leave his boyhood club West Ham, and move to the other side of London.

Ranieri had to work to convince Lampard to leave Upton Park, but few can argue it wasn’t the right decision.

Lampard became a Chelsea legend and is arguably one of the greatest players in the history of the Premier League.

Ranieri a full back during his playing career

Claudio Ranieri was a full-back during his playing career in Italy, and won four promotions as a player.

The “never die attitude” has been embedded in him since he was a teenager trying to make his name as a footballer.

He is known as the Tinkerman

Those who work closely with him named Ranieri the Tinkerman because of the way he used to rotate the Chelsea players in his last days, before he was replaced by Jose Mourinho.

He has since accepted that name and carried it everywhere he’s been.