Ranieri sacking could spur Inter onto bigger and better things

Claudio Ranieri’s sacking as Inter Milan manager after just six months in charge could be seen as a knee-jerk reaction, but with the Italian giants now scrambling to qualify for the Europa League, it seemed almost inevitable that his tenure wouldn’t last long.

Further patience will be required if Inter are to persist with their latest appointment though, as youth team coach Andrea Stramaccioni has been promoted to the top job on an interim basis.

The last significant European club to take a chance by promoting their youth team coach to the first-team managerial role on a permanent basis was Barcelona, who appointed Pep Guardiola in 2008.

Twelve trophies, including two Champions League and three La Liga titles later, and Barca have never looked back, with Guardiola already proving the club’s most successful manager ever in only four years.

Inter meanwhile, have been in a state of sheer disarray after the heights they reached under Jose Mourinho in 2010, completing a treble that included the Champions League in addition to the domestic double.

Mourinho’s departure for Real Madrid after his immense success in Italy sparked a period of instability for the San Siro outfit, seeing all their trophies surrendered with a whimper under the stewardship of Rafael Benitez.

Leonardo and Gian Piero Gasperini followed ahead of Ranieri, meaning that Stramaccioni’s appointment at the helm of the Nerrazurri makes him the club’s fifth manager in less than two years.

Whilst Andre Villas-Boas has been strongly linked with the job, along with impressive France boss Laurent Blanc, Guardiola’s example at Barcelona could be seen as the most glowing endorsement Stramaccioni could receive to be given a long-term chance in charge.

Indeed, there is much to be said for someone who knows the club from the ground level up, as the former youth coach does, and the 36-year-old could be the perfect candidate to usher a new era of success at Inter Milan.