By Fawaz Adebisi
Jose Mourinho has been sacked by AS Roma after two-and-a-half years in charge, becoming the seventh club to dismiss the Portuguese manager in his career.
The decision came after a poor run of form that saw Roma win only one of their last six Serie A games and lose to city rivals Lazio in the Coppa Italia, where Mourinho was sent off.
Roma are currently ninth in the league, 22 points behind leaders Inter Milan, and have no realistic chance of qualifying for European competitions next season.
Mourinho’s contract was due to expire in June, but the club owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin decided to act swiftly and end his tenure with immediate effect.
Former Roma captain Daniele De Rossi has been named as Mourinho’s successor until the end of the season, with the option to extend his deal based on results and achievements.
De Rossi, who retired from playing in 2019, has no previous managerial experience, but is a club legend and a fan favourite.
Mourinho, 60, joined Roma in 2021 and spent two-and-a-half years at the helm, leading them to the Europa Conference League title in 2022, the club’s first European trophy since 1991.
He also guided them to the Europa League final last season, where they lost to Sevilla on penalties.
However, his third season in charge proved to be his downfall, as he failed to improve the team’s performances and results, despite spending over 100 million euros on new signings.
He also clashed with some of his players, notably captain Lorenzo Pellegrini, who was dropped from the squad for the Lazio game.
Mourinho is one of the most successful and decorated managers in the history of football, having won 25 major trophies, including three Premier League titles, two Champions League titles and two Europa League titles.
He has also managed Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, where he was sacked in 2021.
However, he has also developed a reputation for being controversial and confrontational, often falling out with his players, rivals, referees and the media.
He has been sacked four times in the last seven years, and has not won a league title since 2015.
Mourinho’s future is now uncertain, as he faces the challenge of finding a new club that will match his ambitions and expectations.
He has previously expressed his desire to manage a national team, and has been linked with Portugal, England and Brazil in the past.
