Serie A club AS Roma announced that coach Jose Mourinho has left the team with immediate effect on January 16. This decision comes just two days after a 3-1 loss to AC Milan, leaving Giallorossi in the ninth position in Serie A and at risk of missing the Champions League for a sixth consecutive season. Roma was also eliminated by Lazio in an Italian Cup derby the previous week.
The 60-year-old has been dismissed after leading Roma for two-and-a-half years, and Daniele De Rossi is set to be appointed as his replacement.
Mourinho, in his third season at Roma with a contract set to expire in June, achieved success by leading the Giallorossi to the UEFA Conference League title in his first season, while also reaching the Europa League final last season.
However, Mourinho faced repercussions for his frequent protests and tirades against referees, actions that were not well-received by Roma's American owners. UEFA suspended Mourinho from four European games for verbally abusing the referee of the Europa League final in a stadium garage after Roma's loss to Sevilla. He was also suspended for the recent game against Milan on January 14 due to his protests.
“AS Roma can confirm that José Mourinho and his coaching staff will leave the club with immediate effect,” the club said in a statement.
“We would like to thank José 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.
“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.” Roma added that updates on the coaching staff “will follow imminently.”
The 60-year-old Mourinho, expressed his desire to extend his contract with Roma just last month, is now considering potential opportunities with a club in Saudi Arabia or a national team role.
Roma's victory in the Conference League in 2022 marked the club's first European trophy in over six decades and marked Mourinho's fifth European title. His previous triumphs include winning the 2003 UEFA Cup and 2004 Champions League with Porto, the 2010 Champions League with Inter Milan, and the 2017 Europa League with Manchester United. This accomplishment made him the first manager to guide four different clubs to European titles. Mourinho has also managed Chelsea and Real Madrid, achieving success in various domestic competitions.
Despite his defensive playing style, which some find challenging to watch, and the financial burden of his expensive contract with Roma, Mourinho played a crucial role in attracting top players like Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku to join the Giallorossi. The consistently sold-out Stadio Olimpico for matches was attributed to his larger-than-life personality.
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