Recently sacked Tottenham Hotspur manager – Jose Mourinho – has been appointed Roma manager from the start of the 2021-22 season.
The 58-year-old will replace fellow Portuguese man Paulo Fonseca, who was all set to leave the capital at the end of the current season, which was officially announced by the club.
Mourinho, sacked by Tottenham on 19th April, has signed a three-year deal with the 3-time Serie A champions.
“The incredible passion of the Roma fans convinced me to accept the job and I cannot wait to start next season,” said Mourinho.
“Thank you to the Friedkin family for choosing me to lead this great club. After meetings with the ownership and Tiago Pinto, I immediately understood the full extent of their ambitions.
“It is the same ambition and drive that has always motivated me and together we want to build a winning project,” added Mourinho, who is returning to Italy after he won the treble with Inter Milan back in 2010.
Mourinho was fired after 17 months in charge of Spurs following a poor second half of the season in which the north London club slipped from the top of the table to a lowly 7th when he was given his marching orders.
Jose Mourinho has won trophies at every club he has managed barring Spurs and it seems like his story could be the same in his return to Italy as well.
This season Mourinho’s Spurs suffered 10 league defeats under him. This was the first time in his managerial career where he lost 10 league games in one season.
Mourinho’s previous stint in Italian football was a successful one with Inter Milan that produced four major honours in two years.
He won the Serie A title twice, the second season leading to a historic treble in 2009-10 as they also won the UEFA Champions League and Coppa Italia.
Roma have not won Serie A since 2000-01, when Fabio Capello was in charge. The club – who lost the 1984 European Cup final against Liverpool – also won the title in 1941-42 and 1982-83.
“When Jose became available, we immediately jumped at the chance to speak with one of the greatest managers of all time,” said Pinto, general manager of Roma, who are currently seventh in Serie A.
“We were blown away by Jose’s desire to win and his passion for the game: no matter how many trophies he has won, his primary focus is always on the next one. He possesses the knowledge, experience and leadership to compete at all levels.
“We are supremely confident Jose will be the perfect coach for our project, for both our immediate and long-term future.”
