After spending time in the relegation zone last season, Ligue 1 side Nantes found themselves in the hunt for a manager this summer. The French club turned to Italian legend Claudio Ranieri to be its leader.

 

Almost immediately, reports spread that club president Waldemar Kita gave Ranieri the extremely lofty goal of reaching Europe next season (which he’s denied). For a team competing with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Monaco, Nice, Lyon, Marseille, and numerous other solid clubs, the task seemed Herculean.

 

Fortunately for Nantes, the Italian cemented his spot as one of the great managers in soccer history when he led Leicester City to their remarkable 2015-16 Premier League title, what many consider the most shocking surprise in soccer history. Now, in France, he seems to be working his magic yet again.

 

Shockingly, Nantes sit third in Ligue 1, behind only PSG and Monaco after a quarter of the season. As it stands, they would qualify for next year’s Champions League playoff. While a Ligue 1 title may be a bridge too far to conquer, there is no reason to doubt Ranieri’s ability to guide his team above others that spend much more on players.

 

His legacy is secure as a result of his success at Leicester. He didn’t have to take the Nantes position and jeopardize it. However, he’s on his way to further his unparalleled legacy.