AS Roma sack Jose Mourinho
AS Roma have sacked Jose Mourinho as their manager after two-and-a-half years in charge of the club. The club announced on Tuesday, January 16, 2024.
The decision comes with the team currently positioned ninth in the Italian Serie A, falling short of expectations set at the beginning of the season.
Mourinho, who took charge of AS Roma in May 2021, experienced both highs and lows during his tenure.
The Portuguese manager led the team to Europa Conference League triumph in 2022 but faced disappointment in the Europa League final in 2023.
The recent exit from the Coppa Italia at the hands of city rivals Lazio and a five-point deficit from Serie A’s last UEFA Champions League qualifying spot prompted the club’s decision to make a managerial change.
The Friedkin ownership, represented by Dan and Ryan Friedkin, expressed gratitude for Mourinho’s dedication and contributions, acknowledging the memorable moments under his leadership. However, the club believes that an immediate change is necessary for its best interests.
The statement on Tuesday reads, “AS Roma can confirm that José Mourinho and his coaching staff will leave the club with immediate effect.
“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.
“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 José and his assistants all the best in their future endeavours.”
The statement added that further updates on the new first team coaching staff will follow imminently.
The decision follows Mourinho’s candid self-comparison to Harry Potter after the Lazio defeat, indicating that his high-profile status was raising expectations for Roma. The subsequent league loss to AC Milan added to the team’s challenges, leading to the ultimate decision to part ways with the experienced Portuguese manager.
