Alan Smith admits he cannot believe Leicester City have parted ways with Claudio Ranieri.

The East Midlands clubs sacked the Italian on Thursday, less than a year after he guided them to their first-ever Premier League title, raising eyebrows all around the football world.

"I'm flabbergasted," the Foxes great told Sky Sports.

"We've seen some surprising decisions over the last 10 years but this one tops the lot given his - and the players' - amazing achievements last season.

"You just thought that unless they went down they would stay with the manager that engineered the finest moment in the club's history and the biggest and most romantic story we've ever seen in football.

"I'm just amazed they didn't hold their nerve and stay with their man."