When Jose Mourinho left the Roma training ground for the final time last week, there were fans waiting with tears in their eyes to say a fond farewell.
After two and a half years in charge at the Giallorossi the Special One has been dispensed with and the supporters, who genuinely adored him, must now move on. Roma legend Daniele de Rossi has been named as Jose’s successor after the Portuguese coach picked up just one win from his last six Serie A games.
While the fans loved him Mourinho has come under fire for the style of football his team has played. He guided Roma to the Europa League final last term where they were beaten by Sevilla on penalties; but in the aftermath of the Giallorossi’s 1-0 semi-final win over Bayer Leverkusen, Werkself midfielder Karim Derimbay was scathing, saying: “Roma achieved their goal in a disgusting fashion. It’s also bad for football in general. It’s a pity that a style of play like this can be rewarded in a semi-final of such high level.”
With a pragmatic approach and acute attention to detail Mourinho’s success has always been about results and that’s where the wheels have fallen off; not since 2003 has the Giallorossi collected so few points from their first 20 games and Mourinho left them in ninth place. The latest Serie A 2024 betting odds say Roma will struggle to finish in the top six and that simply isn’t good enough. Jose has been unlucky with injuries, with key players Chris Smalling and Tammy Abraham long term absentees, but he did have plenty of quality in his side, with the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Paulo Dybala and Lorenzo Pellegrini in his ranks.
Mourinho’s frustration has been clear for all to see at times, never far away from the Serie A 2024 news headlines and he has frequently watched his team from the stands due to suspensions, including his final game in charge, a 3-1 defeat to AC Milan last week. Tellingly, owner Dan Friedkin said: “If we win on the pitch and act the right way off it, we can showcase AS Roma to millions of people in Rome and all over the world.”
And there you have it…arrivederci Jose.
Winning start for De Rossi
What happens when you part company with a manager and draft a new man in? Conventional wisdom tells us you’ll see a new manager bounce. I don’t know if it’s really a ‘thing’ but the new Roma head coach had a perfect start as his team beat Hellas Verona 2-1 on Saturday. The Giallorossi still laboured to a degree, dominating possession but only registering two shots on target, but that was enough to see off struggling Verona.
Stephen El Shaarawy beat three defenders before teeing up Lukaku for the opener and then the Belgian striker crossed for Pellegrini who smashed his shot into the roof of the net to make it 2-0. Any thoughts the fans had of a relaxing second half soon disappeared as 18th placed Verona went on the attack. The visitors had a goal harshly ruled out for the slightest of pushes, then Milan Djuric blasted a penalty way over the crossbar.
Folorunsho halved the deficit with a swerving strike from distance, but Roma held on to rise to eighth in the league table and just two points off the top four. What a difference one game can make and who’s to say Mourinho wouldn’t have won it?
Next up for De Rossi’s Roma, a trip away to Salernitana and they are at SBOTOP odds of 1.69 to win that one, and another three points could well see the Giallorossi climb back into the European places.
What next for the Special One?
So, at 60 years of age, one of the finest managers of all time is back in the jobs market…or will he take a well earned break after collection a record haul of silverware in his glittering 24 year coaching career? Mourinho will always be a star attraction and romanticists have suggested he may make an emotional return to Real Madrid.
But there are Premier League fans watching the story with interest. Crystal Palace are struggling at the moment and manager Roy Hodgson may finally be ready to take his hard earned retirement. If he does fancy a return to England I suspect Mourinho may have his sights slightly higher, with all respect to the Eagles. He turned down the Portugal job in the summer and offers from Saudi Arabia. And while there is no suggestion that Newcastle United’s Saudi owners are considering a change at the helm, should Eddie Howe leave St James Park (the Magpies are currently tenth having lost four league games on the bounce) the Newcastle hierarchy are sure to look for a big name.
And they don’t come much bigger than Jose Mourinho.
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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