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Welcome back to the Premier League Ranieri
Fulham will "never give up" says the club's new manager Claudio Ranieri as the Premier League's bottom side look to avoid relegation.
The Cottagers sacked Slavisa Jokanovic and appointed Italian Ranieri, who guided Leicester to the title in 2016.
Fulham have fallen to 20th in the table with just five points from 12 games and have won just once all season.
"I hope this season to be safe and then to follow the way of the chairman, to grow upwards," said Ranieri, 67.
Jokanovic, who joined the club in December 2015, led Fulham to promotion via the play-offs last season.
What I achieved is the past, I always look forward and I want more
But the Londoners have lost their last six league games and a leaky defence has conceded a league-high 31 goals so far.
Ranieri's first game in charge will see Fulham host fellow struggled Southampton at Craven Cottage on Saturday, 24 November, followed by games against his former clubs Chelsea and Leicester.
Ranieri told Fulham's website: "I think Jokanovic was a great player but also as a manager he made a very good start to this career. This season I cannot believe what happened. It is a very good quality team.
"As an Italian manager, for us the defensive way is the best for the team. It is important to have a strong vision of the defence. Not just the full-backs or goalkeeper, all the team.
"For me, the team spirit is important but I know there is a good group. The fighting spirit is very important. We play Southampton and they are a good team with spirit but is important to be prepared.
"I hope our fans push us and we need their strength. we need their support always. We will never give up."
'What I achieved is the past'
Ranieri lost just three games with Leicester on the way to winning the title in 2016
The experienced Ranieri's Leicester started the 2015-16 season as 5,000-1 outsiders to win the Premier League and were among the favourites for relegation.
The Foxes delivered one the greatest sporting shocks of all time as they clinched the club's first top-flight English title, described by many as a "miracle".
But Ranieri was sacked nine months later.
In his first spell in England, he guided the Blues to second in the Premier League as well as reaching the Champions League semi-finals.
Fulham chairman Shahid Khan said he and his son Tony, the club's vice chairman and director of football operations, spoke with a number of potential candidates over the past week before appointing their new boss.
"What I achieved is the past, I always look forward and I want more," said Ranieri. "I hope to make very good job here.
"I felt like coming back to England. Last season I went away abroad to finish my story but my feeling with English football is so high and I wanted to come back. Mr Khan is an ambitious man and I hope to give him what he desires."
Source: bbc.com