Thursday, March 2, 2017

Ranieri: Hero to zero.

It took a mere twelve months, actually less if you measure from the date in May 2016 when Claudio Ranieri was feted as the football manger of the year in Leicester, England. Nine months from his coronation to his sacking last week by the same soccer club for the team's lack-lustre performance in the 2017 season.
Too bad Claudio. You went from the miracle worker, who took the lowly team of the Leicester City Foxes to the pinnacle of the Premier League championship, to the scape-goat, blamed for their drop to the dreaded relegation zone this year.
Poor Claudio. Someone should have told you that pinnacles, by their very dimensions, are precarious places to stand. They might have also advised you to quit while you were still a hero and head back to the sunny climes of Italy with your million dollars in bonus money.
But, if we read our history, we will know that it has all happened before.
2,000 years ago the great Miracle Worker of Galilee was cheered wildly as he road into Jerusalem on a donkey. Delirious crowds scattered his way with palm branches and garments. Cheers of adulation rang in His ears. But within a short week the same crowd shouted "Crucify Him" and off to Calvary He went.
Not that I would ever compare Claudio Ranieri, saviour of Leicester City Football club with Jesus Christ, Saviour of mankind, but there are elements of this modern day "hero to zero" story that are more than vaguely similar.
As Easter draws near they are both worthy of our reflection.

Jubilate.

Ian