Roma fired Jose Mourinho during their dismal 2023–24 campaign, with their 3–1 loss to AC Milan serving as the tipping point.
With five points separating them from fourth-place Fiorentina, Roma’s latest loss to Milan came after a frustrating Coppa Italia exit at the hands of arch-rivals Lazio. It was the Giallorossi’s seventh loss from 20 Serie A games this season, dropping them to ninth in the table. However, Mourinho will not be leading them any further, having paid the ultimate price for the team’s dismal recent performances.
Roma owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin have released a joint statement confirming Mourinho’s dismissal, which reads: “We would like to thank Jose on behalf of all of us at AS Roma for his passion and efforts since his arrival at the club,” said Dan and Ryan Friedkin. We will always have great memories of his tenure at Roma, but we believe that an immediate change is in the best interests of the club. We wish Jose and his assistants all the best in their future endeavours.”
Mourinho instantly endeared himself to Roma fans in his first season at the helm, delivering their first piece of continental silverware in 60 years in the form of the Europa Conference League. He also took the club to the Europa League final in 2022-23, but the Giallorossi suffered a heart-breaking penalty shootout defeat to Sevilla. Mourinho was publicly criticised for his treatment of referee Anthony Taylor after the game, and his ill-discipline continued in the first half of the current campaign, with multiple touchline bans issued. The 60-year-old was absent at San Siro on Sunday due to a suspension, meaning he missed the chance to say a final goodbye to the fans.
According to Fabrizio Romano, former Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi is the frontrunner to replace Jose Mourinho in the Stadio Olimpico hotseat. After two-and-a-half years in the Italian capital, Mourinho will now begin the hunt for his next job, with the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss reportedly attracting interest from a number of clubs in Saudi Arabia.
