Claudio Ranieri Given a Standing Ovation by Leicester City and AS Roma Fans in the Conference League Semifinal

• Ranieri given a standing ovation by Leicester and AS Roma fans. He enjoyed a period of relative success with both clubs
• He was attending the Conference League semifinals between the two sides where AS Roma prevailed to qualify for the inaugural final
• Ranieri was the mastermind of Leicester City’s historic march to the English Premier League title in 2016

Claudio Ranieri almost shed a tear when AS Roma and Leicester City fans applauded him at the Stadio Olimpico on Thursday night.

Ranieri’s face came up on the screens during the UEFA Conference League semi-finals and he was appreciated by thousands, pure emotion written all over his face.

The Italian manager has been at the helm of both clubs but enjoyed great success with the English side. He engineered a shocking and an against-all-odds Premier League title victory in 2016 with Leicester City.

That remains one of football’s greatest achievements by a perceived underdog.

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He has also been in charge of Roma on two different occasions. He first managed them in 2009 before leaving in 2011. AS Roma finished in second place in the Serie A table in Ranieri’s first season in charge. He then returned in 2019 for another short stint.

Sportsbible reports that Ranieri was attending the second leg of the Conference League semifinals, where Roma beat Leicester to qualify for the inaugural final of the competition. Tammy Abraham scored the goal of the game in the 11th minute to take Roma through on a 2-1 aggregate scoreline.

Jose Mourinho’s side will now face Feyenoord in the final slated for April 25th in Tirana, Albania.

Ranieri had admitted before the second leg that he was supporting Roma.

My relationship with Leicester was purely professional. I am a Roma fan, and that reconnects me to my childhood. I can’t betray my childhood colours.

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The 70-year-old is currently out of management after getting sacked by Watford. It was expected that he will help The Hornets climb out of the relegation zone, but results didn’t go their way.

Mourinho sheds tears after semifinal triumph

Ranieri wasn’t the only one moved to tears in the game. Sports Brief reported that AS Roma head coach Jose Mourinho wept after his side qualified for the final.

The ‘Special One’ couldn’t contain his emotions as he qualified for his first European final in five years. He also guided the Giallorossi to their first major European final since 1991.

Mourinho also became the first manager to reach all European finals having reached and won the Europa League and Champions League.