Fulham have sacked manager Slavisa Jokanovic and replaced him with former Chelsea and Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri.

Jokanovic leaves with the Cottagers bottom of the Premier League table with five points from 12 matches, having lost their last seven games in all competitions.

Italian Ranieri, who memorably led Leicester to the title in 2016, has been given a “multi-year” contract by the London club, Fulham have announced.

Fulham v Exeter City – Carabao Cup – Second Round – Craven Cottage
Slavisa Jokanovic only managed to win one Premier League match (Nigel French/PA)

Fulham chairman Shahid Khan said in a statement on the club’s official website: “I wasn’t anticipating having to make this announcement related to Slavisa and wish the circumstances were such that I didn’t have to, but our path this season has led me to make what I know is the correct decision, at the right time, for our players, the club and our supporters.

“Making a change without having the right answer or succession plan was not an option. So having someone of Claudio’s calibre ready to accept our challenge was comforting but, most of all, essential.

“Claudio is risk-free and ready-made for the Premier League, and particularly so for what we need at this moment at Fulham.

“His recent body of work with Leicester City is literally legendary, and then you look at Claudio’s experience with Chelsea and big clubs throughout Europe, and it’s pretty evident we are welcoming an extraordinary football man to Fulham Football Club.”

Ranieri said: “It is an honour to accept Mr Khan’s invitation and opportunity to lead Fulham, a fantastic club with tradition and history.

“The objective at Fulham should never be to merely survive in the Premier League. We must at all times be a difficult opponent and should expect to succeed.

“This Fulham squad has exceptional talent that is contrary to its position in the table. I know this team is very capable of better performances, which we will work on straight away as we prepare for Southampton at the Cottage.”