Tuesday, May 4th, 2021
Portuguese takes over AS Roma
Mourinho quickly finds a new job as a coach
A coach like José Mourinho does not go long without a job – the Portuguese is on his way to Italy a few days after his release in England. AS Roma brings the controversial 58-year-old as the successor to Paulo Fonseca. A new world will open up for Mourinho in the new season.
José Mourinho found a new club just two weeks after being fired from Tottenham Hotspur. The Portuguese will take over the traditional Italian club AS Roma for the coming season. Mourinho, who had already worked with Inter Milan in Serie A from 2008 to 2010 and won the triple of the national championship, cup and Champions League there, will succeed his compatriot Paulo Fonseca as coach.
“We are thrilled and happy to welcome José Mourinho to the Roma family,” said club president Dan Friedkin: “He is a great champion who has won trophies at every level.” Mourinho receives a three-year contract until 2024. In Tottenham, the 58-year-old was recently dismissed because the Londoners threatened to miss the European Cup and failed in the Europa League round of 16 despite a 2-0 lead over Dinamo Zagreb.
A few hours earlier, the Roma had announced the separation from Fonseca at the end of the season. The Italians had brought the Portuguese in June 2019 as the successor to Claudio Ranieri, but after the recent 2: 6 against Manchester United in the semi-final first leg of the Europa League, the criticism had grown louder.
Rome is currently only seventh in Serie A, the gap to city rivals Lazio in sixth place is already nine points with only four games left. However, because Atalanta Bergamo and Juventus Turin contest the cup final, this year this is at least enough for a place in the new UEFA Conference League, which is located below the Europa League. In the preseason, Roma finished fifth directly for the Europa League, a place that is only theoretically achievable in view of 12 points and 31 goals behind.
“We have seen many ups and downs in the past two years, but I’ve always given everything for this club and this city,” said Fonseca, who is still allowed to finish the season: “We still have some important games ahead of us.” The semi-final second leg in the Europa League against Man United is scheduled for Thursday.
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