This time, no sabbatical. AS Roma announced on Tuesday that José Mourinho will be their coach once the current season is over. A little earlier in the day, she had formalized the upcoming departure of the one who has occupied the Roman bench since June 2019, Paulo Fonseca. “Paulo has guided the club through various challenges, including the Covid pandemic and the change of ownership, and he has always done so with generosity, in a correct manner and with character,” thanked President Dan Friedkin. Nobody expected then that the Portuguese coach (48) would be replaced by his compatriot José Mourinho (58), dismissed by Tottenham less than a month ago.
"After meetings with the ownership, I immediately understood their ambitions for Roma. Together we want to build a winning project.
" The incredible passion of the fans convinced me to accept the job. I can't wait to start next season. Daje Roma ! "
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- AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) May 4, 2021
Return to Italy 11 years later
With disappointing results in the Premier League and especially in the Europa League, Mourinho only held a year and a half at Tottenham, which he joined in November 2019. He then spent 11 months away from the pitch, after an end of difficult journey to Manchester United in December 2018. No rest for the "Special One" in 2021, who will play the advisory role during Euro this summer on behalf of the British newspaper
the Sun
. In the meantime, he will be able to watch La Louve finish her season, she who is only 7th in Serie A and left behind by the top 6. A wink of fate: Roma's next match will be against ... Manchester United, in the semi-final second leg of the Europa League (6-2 defeat in the first leg).
This will be Mourinho's second stint in Italy, after two successful years at Inter Milan, between 2008 and 2010. There he had achieved an unprecedented triplet-championship-Champions League with the Nerazzurri, leaving the club. through the front door for Real Madrid.
“When I met the owners, I immediately understood Roma's ambition.
Together, we want to build a winning project, ”Mourinho said in a statement from his new club.
“The incredible passion of the supporters convinced me to take the job.
I can't wait to start next season, ”added the Portuguese, who will sit on the ninth bench in his coaching career.
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