The two ex-Premier League bosses Fulham interviewed before appointing Claudio Ranieri

CLAUDIO RANIERI landed the Fulham job after pipping Quique Sanchez Flores and Carlos Carvalhal.

Cottagers chairman Shahid Khan spoke with candidates in the week before axing Slavisa Jokanovic, the club revealed in their statement confirming Ranieri’s appointment.

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Flores, who replaced Jokanovic at Watford three years ago, was considered after finishing 13th in the Premier League during his only campaign in England.

The 53-year-old Spaniard then went to Espanyol in his homeland before getting sacked last season.

Carvalhal was also on Fulham’s shortlist after almost keeping Swansea in the Premier League last season.

The Portuguese was seen as a coach who had the potential to tighten up Jokanovic’s leaky defence as he initially did at the Liberty Stadium, helped by current Fulham centre-back Alfie Mawson.

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Khan, along with son and vice-chairman Tony, received interest from managers looking to get back in the Premier League when it appeared likely Jokanovic would lose his job.

Ranieri got the nod and is back in English football after his glorious spell at Leicester when he won the title.

The Italian was sacked the following season when the team he guided to one of the greatest stories in sport were threatened with relegation.

Tony Khan said: “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.

Ranieri replaces Jokanovic in ruthless Fulham switch

By Martin Lipton

FULHAM have sacked Slavisa Jokanovic after a disastrous run of six league defeats on the spin.

And the Serb has been replaced by former Chelsea and Leicester boss Claudio Ranieri.

The decision, taken by Cottagers owner Shahid Khan, comes with Fulham bottom of the Prem table after 12 matches.

Despite a £100million summer investment after their promotion through the play-offs last term, Fulham have struggled in the top flight.

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“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.”