- End of the road in Rome for Mourinho
- Coppa Italia exit a factor
- Club legend De Rossi appointed
AS Roma have announced a managerial change, with Jose Mourinho being relieved of his duties and replaced by the club’s former captain, Daniele de Rossi.
Special One leaves with Roma in ninth
Mourinho, who took charge in May 2021 and secured the Europa Conference League title in 2022, faced challenges this season with Roma currently sitting ninth in Serie A, five points away from the Champions League qualification places. The team’s recent Coppa Italia exit further contributed to the decision to part ways with Mourinho.
Daniele de Rossi, a Roma icon who played for the club from 2001 to 2019, will step in as the interim manager until the end of the season. The 40-year-old former midfielder had a brief managerial stint at Serie B club SPAL in 2020, and his strong ties to Roma have been emphasized as a key factor in his appointment.
Roma’s owners, Dan and Ryan Friedkin, expressed their belief in De Rossi’s leadership and ambition, stating that he embodies the values of the club. De Rossi, who won the World Cup with Italy in 2006, conveyed his indescribable emotion at returning to Roma as a manager, emphasizing the immediate focus on competitiveness and achieving the team’s objectives.
The decision to part ways with Mourinho was made just four hours before announcing De Rossi’s appointment. The Friedkins thanked Mourinho for his passion and commitment, citing the need for an immediate change in the best interests of the club. Mourinho, who received a red card in the recent loss to Lazio, faced challenges in Serie A, with Roma currently five points behind fourth-placed Fiorentina.
Mourinho’s contract was set to expire at the end of the current season. Despite securing the 2022 Conference League title and gaining substantial support from the fanbase, Roma’s poor start to the current Serie A campaign led to the decision to make a managerial change. The impact of these developments on Roma’s performance in the coming matches remains to be seen.
Betting Implications
Serie A bettors might want to see if Roma get the benefit of a new manager bounce when making their picks.
When betting on outrights, punters need to look at how De Rossi starts. There might be value in betting on Roma making the top four or the top six if the new boss makes a good start. At the time of writing, bet365 are offering 11/2 for Roma to climb the table and get into the top four.
Check out the best betting sites in the UK and the best bookmakers for football and Serie A with Betting.com.
