Just a few hours after parting ways with coach José Mourinho (60), AS Roma have announced the Portuguese’s successor: Daniele de Rossi (40), a club legend, will take over at the Giallorossi
After just three defeats and one win from their last five games, the AS Roma management made a decision on Tuesday morning: José Mourinho (60) is no longer coach of the capital city side. The name of his successor was announced a few hours later
De Rossi was a Roma player for almost 20 years
Daniele de Rossi is the new man on the touchline. Although only the Italian’s role at Roma is new. As a player, the passionate fighter in midfield was part of the club for almost 20 years. Born in Rome, the 2006 World Cup winner played a whopping 523 games (53 goals) for his home club.
In an official statement from AS Roma, de Rossi is greeted with the words “Welcome home”. For Mourinho, who was sacked on Tuesday morning despite winning the 2022 Conference League – Roma’s first European title in 61 years – and reaching the Europa League final (1:4 in the final against serial winners Sevilla FC) last season, the Rome chapter is history.
Too many slip-ups for Mourinho
The elimination in the “Derby della Capitale” against Lazio in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia last week, as well as only ninth place in Serie A and Mourinho’s countless sending-offs, apparently broke the camel’s back. Curiously, Mourinho was not even on the bench for the 3-1 defeat in Milan at the weekend due to his suspension
“We would like to thank José on behalf of all of us at AS Roma for his passion and commitment since his arrival at the club,” owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin were quoted as saying. “We will always have fond memories of his time at Roma, but we believe an immediate move is in the best interests of the club.”
Mourinho, whose contract runs until the end of June 2024, won 56 of his 116 competitive matches with the Giallorossi. So de Rossi has big shoes to fill with immediate effect. The 40-year-old, who has only ever held one head coach position at SPAL Ferrara in Serie B, has been given a contract until the end of the season. From Saturday (6pm), de Rossi will be able to show what he is made of on the touchline for the first time against basement side Hellas Verona.
