In a surprising turn of events, Roma severed ties with Jose Mourinho on Tuesday, marking the departure of the “Special One” midway through a third season that failed to meet expectations in the competitive landscape of Italian soccer.
Mourinho, in a brief social media message, bid “Arrivederci, Roma” to fans, sharing a poignant image of himself clutching the 2022 Europa Conference League trophy.
Roma announced the immediate departure of Mourinho and his staff, stating it was in the club’s best interests following a string of disappointing results that left the team significantly adrift in the Italian top flight.
While Mourinho had voiced his intention to stay, discussions regarding an extension to his contract, due to end in June, failed to materialize, casting uncertainty on his continued tenure.
The chatter about his departure gained momentum post the lackluster 3-1 defeat against AC Milan on Sunday, pushing Roma down to ninth place in Serie A, a significant five points adrift from the coveted Champions League spots.
‘We would like to thank Jose on behalf of all of us at AS Roma for his passion and efforts since his arrival at the club,’ said owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin in a statement.
‘We will always have great memories of his tenure at Roma, but we believe that an immediate change is in the best interests of the club.’
‘We wish Jose and his assistants all the best in their future endeavours.’
The unexpected choice of the 60-year-old Portuguese in 2021 raised eyebrows, as Roma’s announcement of his arrival, taking over from Paulo Fonseca, seemed to come out of nowhere.
* Beloved to fans *
He immediately became a huge fan favourite, with his image popping up on walls around Rome as supporters dreamed of an end to a trophy drought which stretched back to 2008.
And in his first season he guided Roma to the inaugural Conference League, a triumph which brought Mourinho to tears on the pitch and made him an almost God-like figure to one Europe’s most passionate and success-starved fan bases.
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He then came to within a penalty shootout of winning back-to-back European finals, Roma falling at the last hurdle against Sevilla in last season’s Europa League.
That was a defeat which both enraged Mourinho and supporters, who attacked referee Anthony Taylor with chairs at Budapest’s Ferenc Liszt airport in anger at what they considered bad decisions which cost their team the trophy.
The spellbinding connection between Mourinho and the fans began to fade this term, as disappointing results and performances were, in part, a consequence of a series of injuries and unsuccessful summer transfers.
Under Mourinho’s leadership, Roma has fallen short of securing a coveted spot in the lucrative Champions League—a significant challenge for a club navigating Financial Fair Play constraints and grappling with fiscal balance.
Italian media outlets suggest that Daniele De Rossi, the ex-Roma captain and Italy’s 2006 World Cup champion, is the leading candidate to take over as coach following Mourinho’s departure.
A local prodigy turned hero, De Rossi is cherished by Roma fans for his significant role in some of the club’s most exceptional teams over the past two decades, alongside the revered icon Francesco Totti.
With just one coaching role under his belt, a brief four-month tenure at SPAL last season, the 40-year-old De Rossi has limited experience, especially considering the team’s relegation to Serie C.