Ranieri - "Remember they called me The Tinkerman"

Claudio Ranieri talking to the Official Chelsea Website, remembers being called "The Tinkerman" and talks of how now more than ever, it has become more and more apparent in football.

He said:

'In Italy we are used to moving tactically and change system in every match, Do you remember? People called me "The Tinkerman" because I changed every time but in Italy we are used to change.

These days it is important tactically to change because the opponent knows you very well and if you have some players who change tactically that is important because you can surprise them, maybe only for five minutes but in that five minutes you can score a goal. Now a lot of managers are doing this.

I remember at times under his management you would be crying out for him to stick with a settled side. We have to remember that he was the manager of the club when Roman first came into the Bridge. Ranieri made key decisions in signing people like, Damien Duff, Glen Johnson, Wayne Bridge, Adrian Mutu, Hernan Crespo, Claude Makelele, Joe Cole and Frank Lampard into an established squad of notable names. Granted he also signed Sebastien Veron, but he did make the decision to release Slaviša Jokanović so we can look past the Veron one!.

I guess we will always remember Monaco away and what happened there with his tinkering, but if it wasn't for Morientes at the Bridge we would have been in that Champions League final against a certain Jose Mourinho.

Claudio Ranieri took us to the next level at a crucial time for Chelsea. In his first season we finished 6th and qualified for the UEFA Cup. He then signed Frank Lampard, Gallas, Zenden, Petit and Gronkjaer and we finished 6th again in his second season but lost to Arsenal in the FA Cup final 2-0.

In his third season he qualified for the Champions League with a 2-1 win over Liverpool at the Bridge as the players and staff found out the club was just days away from going bust.

His fourth season was his best as Chelsea finished runners up to the unbeaten Arsenal side and reached the Champions League semi final.

I know since Ranieri we have had managers who have delivered silverware to the club, something that Ranieri never did in Mourinho and Ancelotti, but we have to remember the important part Claudio Ranieri played in building the squad that Jose took over.

I will always have time for Ranieri and really do wish him well for the future. A good man, a honest man and someone who lives for and loves the game. He holds his time at Chelsea in his heart and he will always be remembered by the Chelsea fans.

He still owns a house in Fulham close to the ground and See's the Chelsea fans now and again. He also remembered his last visit to the Bridge when he was manager of Juventus. He said:

'It is very close to Stamford Bridge and sometimes I come there when I have the time, but I hope I don't have much time! At the moment I have no plans. I am waiting and I am looking.

I see Chelsea fans in the street and they remember me and that is important for me. When I came back to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League with Juventus it was fantastic and I didn't expect that reception. It was very good and I appreciate this a lot.'

There is one game that stands out for me. One game where we saw the true emotion and passion of Claudio Ranieri and it's a moment that I will never ever forget. It this one below.



Carefree & KTBFFH "The Tinkerman"