Claudio Ranieri: Former Chelsea boss wants to end his managerial career at Leicester City

New Foxes boss reveals that he wants to settle down in Leicester as he prepares to return to Premier League management

(Getty)

Claudio Ranieri has revealed that he hopes to end his managerial career with new club Leicester City.

The 63-year-old signed a three-year contract with the East Midlands club in July after replacing Nigel Pearson, his ninth job in 11 years since being sacked by Roman Abramovich at Chelsea.

However, the Italian, who returns to a Premier League dugout for the first time since 2004 when his Foxes side take on Sunderland tomorrow, says he is ready to settle down in Leicester.

"I would like to finish my career here," Ranieri said. "I always lay foundations wherever I have been. I want to say the same here, I am very happy. If my career is long, I want to finish here.

"We are little but, slowly-slowly, step by step, we will increase and fight with the big teams. The Premier League is very hard, we are a little team but we want to be bigger.

"The chairman tells me, in the first two or three years, it is important to maintain at this level [the top flight] and to be stable. My first aim is to get one point more than last season."

Despite being a popular figure in the game, the 'Tinkerman', a nickname he mentions frequently, is expected by many to fail following his surprise appointment last month.

But Ranieri insists he has the experience to deal with the pressures of the job, citing his time at some of the biggest clubs in Europe, as Leicester look to avoid the dreaded second-season syndrome.

He added: "Managers are under pressure every hour. I am an older man, I am used to the pressure. I also have pressure when I am at home.

"When I am at home I am under pressure from my wife. I prefer to stay with you! When I don’t have a job, I am very nervous.

Claudio Ranieri speaks to the press (Getty)

"When I have a job I am very calm, the pressure helps me to clarify everything. It is important to work with passion and heart.

"If the opponent is better than you, then you shake their hand and go onto the next match."

Ranieri, who was speaking at just his second press conference as the new Leicester boss, is adamant it is important for him to settle in the county as quickly as possible.

"I am very happy here and I love living in England," he continued.

"The Premier League is the best in the world, I love it. We [Ranieri and his wife] have moved to Leicester because I have to work here every day of the week.

The former Roma and Inter Milan boss was announced as Leicester manager last month (LCFC)

"I am not like a player, they can go home after training. I have to stay here and so I want to be near."

Ranieri admitted that he hasn't seen the sights of Leicester yet, saying he spends his time commuting from his hotel to the training ground or the stadium, but is enjoying the culinary delights on offer in the city.

"I've been to one or two restaurants. An Indian and one English, I think. Yes, I tinker with where to eat too."