Return to Serie A: Mourinho takes over Roma

Enlarge image

José Mourinho switches to Italian football again

Photo: 

Dylan Martinez / REUTERS

The Italian first division soccer club AS Roma announced a change of coach within a few hours.

In the morning the Roma announced the separation from Paulo Fonseca, just a few hours later the successor was determined: José Mourinho will return to Serie A and should lead the Roma back to the Champions League.

However, the reality could look different at first: Rome - under pressure on Thursday in the Europa League semi-final against Manchester United after the 2: 6 first leg defeat - is currently only seventh in Serie A. However, since Atalanta and Juventus are contesting the cup final, this seventh place is at least enough for a place in the new Conference League this year. The European Football Association Uefa is introducing the Conference League, a third European Cup competition for the coming season, which is to be ranked behind the Europa League in terms of importance.

It took Mourinho just two weeks after his release from Tottenham Hotspur to find a new club. The Portuguese had already worked for Inter Milan in Serie A from 2008 to 2010 and won the Champions League in this phase. "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."

However, Mourinho has had his most successful times a long time ago.

He won the Champions League with Porto (2004) and Inter (2010) and was national champion eight times with his six clubs.

Mourinho won the last title in 2017 with Manchester United (Europa League), his time at Tottenham came to an end with no countable successes.

For years he has had to live with the criticism that his speech and his management style no longer reach teams. Rband Uefa

krä / sid