AS Roma has officially named Daniele De Rossi as the new head coach, following the termination of the contract with Jose Mourinho, the Serie A club announced on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old former Italy midfielder, who has limited coaching experience, is returning to his hometown club where he spent the majority of his illustrious playing career.
In a statement released by AS Roma, the club expressed pleasure in confirming Daniele De Rossi’s appointment as head coach until June 30, 2024.
The decision to bring De Rossi on board comes shortly after the ending of the relationship with Jose Mourinho, which was disclosed earlier on Tuesday, marking the end of a disappointing third season for the Portuguese manager in the Italian capital.
De Rossi, who played a pivotal role in Italy’s World Cup-winning campaign in 2006, is a familiar figure at Roma, having spent nearly his entire playing career with the club. While his trophy collection during his time with Roma includes two Italian Cups and the 2007 Italian Super Cup, his coaching pedigree is still in its early stages.
The former Italy international concluded his playing career with Boca Juniors in early 2020, after a brief stint in Argentina.
Despite having limited coaching experience, De Rossi previously had a four-month spell with SPAL last season, a tenure that ended with the team’s relegation to the third-tier Serie C.
AS Roma currently finds itself in the ninth position in Serie A, trailing five points behind the Champions League qualification spots. The recent 3-1 defeat to AC Milan further fueled the decision to make a coaching change.
