Serie A

ROMA have this morning sacked Jose Mourinho, bringing his chaotic two-and-a-half year tenure in the Eternal City to an end.Mourinho, 60, rocked up in Rome in May 2021, returning to Serie A following a decade away for the former Inter Milan boss.
Jose Mourinho has been sacked by RomaCredit: Getty
The Portuguese had just been sacked by Tottenham following a miserable 18 months in North London.
He may have changed leagues by heading back to Italy, but the pattern of his tenure stayed very much the same at Roma right up to his sacking this morning.
After appointing Mourinho, club president Dan Friedkin proudly proclaimed: “The appointment of Jose is a huge step in building a long-term and consistent winning culture throughout the club.”
It appeared to be a bold claim at the time, given Mourinho’s tenures tending to combust by his third season, and at Spurs even sooner.
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His first Serie A campaign was an underwhelming one as his side slumped to sixth – seven points off the top four.
The season was rescued somewhat by their European exploits, with Roma beating Leicester in the semis and Feyenoord in the final to win the Europa Conference League.
After the final, a visibly emotional Mourinho gushed: “Of course I feel like a Romanista, but that might be my way of working.
“I am a Porto fan, an Inter fan, a Chelsea fan, I am crazy about Real Madrid, I am now a Roma fan, I belong to all those clubs because we had these moments together.”
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Mourinho brought Tammy Abraham to Rome from ChelseaCredit: Getty
The Portuguese beamed after winning the Europa Conference LeagueCredit: Getty
If the win was supposed to act as a launchpad for bigger and better things, it didn’t.
In the following campaign Roma finished sixth again… on exactly the same tally of 63 points that they managed the year before.
Jose’s behaviour began to get more erratic and he received three red cards for his touchline meltdowns.
Once again the success of the season hinged on a single match, as Roma took on Sevilla in the Europa League final.
Not securing Champions League football in either of Mourinho’s first two years in charge would have seemed unthinkable to Roma’s owners, so beating Sevilla was imperative.
So when he saw his side’s season go up in flames after losing on penalties to the LaLiga side, Mourinho threw another huge tantrum.
Following the match he could be seen hurling abuse at English referee Anthony Taylor in the car park, shouting: “You’re a f***ing disgrace, you’re a f***ing disgrace!”
Mourinho fumed at referee Anthony Taylor after the Europa League finalCredit: PA
The 60-year-old had to settle for a runners-up medalCredit: Getty
Mourinho’s mood didn’t improve as he returned for his third season at the helm, with Roma largely limited to loans and free transfers amid potential Financial Fair Play issues.
He did manage to sign old pal Romelu Lukaku, with the Belgian having been prolific this term.
But the former Chelsea and Manchester United star’s goals haven’t been enough to sufficiently improve Roma.
Mourinho won just one of his final six Serie A games at the helm, leaving them languishing in ninth place.
And in this period he also saw his side dumped out of the Coppa Italia by Lazio.
Back in October he received a red card after telling Monza boss Raffaele Palladino: “You talk a lot and then you cry.”
It wasn’t even his first flashpoint against Monza, as last season he had “worn a wire” to try to escape sanctions.
He tore into Serie A whistler Daniele Chiffi at the time, blasting: “He is the worst referee I have met in my life. He is the worst. Technically he’s horrible. Zero empathy. Zero communication. Zero awareness.”
Mourinho’s red cards became more and more frequentCredit: Rex
His frustrations often boiled over on the touchlineCredit: Getty
Mourinho received two red cards in just four days earlier this month as his Roma tenure unravelled, including in the Rome derby Coppa defeat to Lazio.
It took his tally of red cards in the last two seasons to six – more than any player in Serie A.
Referees weren’t the only victims of Mourinho’s angst this term.
Following a 2-1 win over Sassuolo earlier in the campaign, the Portuguese focused his ire on the Italian press.
He bizarrely refused to speak Italian after the match, despite being fluent, instead using an interpreter and responding in Portuguese.
A few weeks later he snubbed them altogether following his red card against Atalanta.
Mourinho has publicly dug his players out in the past, and Renato Sanches became the latest to receive that treatment.
The confused midfielder was taken off just 18 minutes after coming on during a 2-0 defeat to Bologna last month.
The former Chelsea, Man Utd and Tottenham boss’s relationship with the press became increasingly strainedCredit: Getty
A confused Renato Sanches was subbed just 18 minutes after coming on against BolognaCredit: Rex
Mourinho’s final battle was with the Roma fans.
He had enjoyed an incredible reception from the Romanistas in 2021, and they long continued to back him despite stagnation in Serie A.
This season saw portions of the fanbase turn on him, particularly after going out of the cup to Lazio.
Following that defeat, Mourinho bizarrely compared to himself to the world’s most famous wizard.
He said: “The Roma fans are the most incredible I have seen. Their coach is Jose ‘Harry Potter’ Mourinho and he raises expectations.”
Mourinho’s Roma sacking is the sixth of his long career.
He was first axed by Chelsea in 2007, before heading to Inter Milan.
From Italy he headed to Real Madrid, who sacked him in 2013 just a year after penning a contract extension to 2016.
Mourinho was relieved of his duties for a second time by Chelsea in December 2015 following a disastrous start to the season.
Man Utd sacked the Portuguese in December 2018 following an awful start to the season amid a rumoured rift with many of his squad.
He barely lasted 18 months at Spurs, being sacked in April 2021 amid an awful run of form that saw them crash out of the Europa League and FA Cup in embarrassing circumstances while falling out of the top four.
Now that Mourinho has left Roma, fans will be interested to see where he ends up next.
A return to the Premier League could be on the cards but after his recent string of jobs, who would take him?
Naturally there have been some rumblings of Newcastle, with Eddie Howe having faced pressure this season.
While he will always have a connection with Chelsea, given his history at Stamford Bridge.
Perhaps more likely, however, is a lucrative trip to Saudi Arabia.
Back in November he even admitted to Rai1: “I think one day I will join Saudi Pro League. I think I will go and coach there, yes.”
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If so, then Mourinho’s days at the top level would officially be over.
But you can never rule out another big club calling upon the once self-proclaimed “Special One”.
Mourinho’s days at the top level may be overCredit: Reuters More

JOSE MOURINHO has been spotted leaving Roma’s training ground after being sacked as manager.The veteran boss spent two-and-a-half years in charge of the Serie A club and won the Europa Conference League in his first season in charge.
Roma have sacked Jose MourinhoCredit: Getty
Mourinho won the Europa Conference League in 2022Credit: Getty
The Special One looked glum as he departed the training groundCredit: EPA
Mourinho has now been sacked six times as managerCredit: EPA
But he struggled in Serie A, finishing sixth twice in his two full seasons in charge.
Roma are ninth in the table this campaign and have decided to part ways with Mourinho, who has been sacked for the sixth time in his career.
The Italian giants have agreed a deal to bring in club legend Daniele De Rossi as their new manager.
Roma released a statement confirming his departure which reads: “We would like to thank José on behalf of all of us at AS Roma for his passion and efforts since his arrival at the club.
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“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 José and his assistants all the best in their future endeavours.”
Mourinho, 60, has had a turbulent spell in Rome marred by his ill discipline on the touchline.
Last season he received three red cards for his touchline antics, in addition to a further trio of bookings.
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The Portuguese didn’t clean up his act this term, being sent off against Monza in October for telling opposite number Raffaele Palladino: “You talk a lot and then you cry.”
The former Chelsea boss has been sent off three times this seasonCredit: Alamy
The end of Mourinho’s tenure was marred by poor disciplineCredit: Reuters
Mourinho has bagged £80million in compensation from his sackings
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Last season, Mourinho tore into Serie A referee Daniele Chiffi after claiming to have “worn a wire” in order to protect himself from sanctions.
The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham boss said of Chiffi: “He is the worst referee I have met in my life.
“He is the worst. Technically he’s horrible. Zero empathy. Zero communication. Zero awareness.”
Earlier this month Mourinho was red carded during his side’s drab 1-1 draw with Atalanta.
Just last week, Mourinho was dismissed for the second match in a row after a violent and chaotic Rome derby in which his side lost 1-0 to Lazio.
It was his sixth red card across the last two seasons – more than any player in Serie A.
As his tenure began to unravel, the Italian media also found themselves in Mourinho’s firing line.
Following a 2-1 win over Sassuolo last month he refused to speak Italian after the match, despite being fluent.
Instead, he bizarrely only spoke Portuguese, with an interpreter translating for confused local reporters.
A few weeks later things spiralled even further, with Mourinho snubbing the media altogether after his red card against Atalanta.
Defeat to rivals Lazio knocked Roma out of the Coppa Italia, with a defiant Mourinho labelling himself Harry Potter because he raises fan expectations.
He said: “The Roma fans are the most incredible I have seen. Their coach is Jose ‘Harry Potter’ Mourinho and he raises expectations.
“I don’t know how many derbies I’ve played, 200, 150, they are always special matches. I’ve won, I’ve drawn, I’ve lost, always with a different experience.”
Mourinho may not be out of work for long having been targeted by Newcastle with Eddie Howe under pressure.
He was also rumoured to be a candidate for the Brazil job before they appointed Dorival Júnior.
He is believed to have earned £6.4million a year at Roma and has collected around £80m in severance from his sackings.
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Chelsea and United paid him a combined £37m while Spurs are believed to forked out around £15-20m to get rid of him in 2021.
Roma are expected to payout £3m to the ‘Special One’, according to the Daily Mail.
Inside Jose Mourinho’s last days in RomeBy Kealan Hughes and Etienne Fermie
Jose Mourinho hit out at officials and managers towards the end of his tenure, which was marred by ill discipline.
He received three red cards in 2022-23 and three more this term, including in a feisty Rome derby defeat to Lazio.
The Portuguese was sent off in the match prior to that against Atalanta and also against Monza, after which he told opposite number Raffaele Palladino: “You talk a lot and then you cry.”
Last term, Mourinho tore into Serie A whistler Daniele Chiffi after claiming to have “worn a wire” in order to protect himself from sanctions.
The former Chelsea, Man Utd and Tottenham boss said of Chiffi: “He is the worst referee I have met in my life.
“He is the worst. Technically he’s horrible. Zero empathy. Zero communication. Zero awareness.”
As his tenure began to unravel, the Italian media also found themselves in Mourinho’s firing line.
Following a 2-1 win over Sassuolo last month he refused to speak Italian after the match, despite being fluent.
Instead, he bizarrely only spoke Portuguese, with an interpreter translating for confused local reporters.
A few weeks later things spiralled even further, with Mourinho snubbing the media altogether after his red card against Atalanta.
Mourinho initially received incredible backing from the Roma fanbase, but many began to tire of his antics this season.
With unrest growing further after Lazio dumped his side out of the Coppa Italia, Mourinho bizarrely compared himself to a fictional wizard.
He said: “The Roma fans are the most incredible I have seen. Their coach is Jose ‘Harry Potter’ Mourinho and he raises expectations.” More

EDOARDO BOVE was hit by a beer bottle as Lazio and Roma fans launched flares at each other.The two Rome-based teams were set to face each other in the quarter-final of the Coppa Italia.
Roma and Lazio fans clashed during the Rome derbyCredit: Getty
Fans fired flares and fireworks at eachotherCredit: Getty
The scenes happened ahead of the Coppa Italia quarter-finalCredit: Getty
Edoardo Bove was hit by beer bottle while he was substituedCredit: Getty
Footage shared online showed the rival supporters firing projectiles at each other inside the Stadio Olimpico.
Fans could also be heard directing chants at each other.
Supporters in the Lazio crowd were also visible, waving club flags while flares were fired at them.
There were multiple loud bangs inside the ground as fireworks exploded.
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Despite the turbulent atmosphere in the stands, the players continued with their warm-ups on the pitch.
Fans reacted to the footage on social media.
One fan wrote: “Derby is here.”
A second commented: “Even war.”
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Felipe Anderson claims the match is ‘full of intensity’Credit: Getty
Bove, 22, was hit in the head by a beer bottle while he was being substituted.
He appeared to be unharmed by the bottle as he threw it away afterwards.
Before the match, Lazio and former West Ham star Felipe Anderson spoke about the player’s feelings towards the fierce derby.
He told Lazio Style Radio: “The derby is always a match we have always been very passionate about, we knew there was this possibility of facing Roma in Coppa Italia.
“Every footballer likes to take part in it, it’s a match full of intensity and tension.
“We are used to playing it. It will be difficult. We should play with our hearts and try to win.”
The match itself was full of drama as Lazio won 1-0 thanks to a penalty awarded after a VAR check converted by Mattia Zaccagni.
In the closing stages, Lazio’s Pedro and Roma’s Sardar Azmoun were both sent off.
Azmoun was dismissed for appearing to hit Nicolò Rovella in the head.
Roma manager Jose Mourinho also saw red for the second time in two games.
The club’s rivalry spawned into the Derby della Capitale due to political division and fans’ wishes to represent the Italian capital.
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It is not the first time the sets of fans have come to blows.
In last year’s derby match, riot police clashed with Roma fans in the streets of Rome.

Azmoun sees red just minutes after Pedro was sent off 🟥Both sides finish with 10 men, but most importantly Lazio hang on to advance with a 1-0 win over Roma 🦅 pic.twitter.com/ANIwBoUQWM— Viaplay Sports UK (@ViaplaySportsUK) January 10, 2024 More