On Tuesday, Serie A side Roma announced the immediate departure of Jose Mourinho, even though his contract was set to expire at the end of the season. The decision followed Roma’s 3-1 loss to AC Milan, which left the team in the ninth position in Serie A. Mourinho, who started his stint with the club in May 2021, had secured the Europa League title in 2022 and reached the Europa League final last season.
Owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin expressed gratitude to Mourinho for his passion and efforts during his time at Roma. Despite the successes, the club believed that an immediate change was in its best interests. Mourinho’s pinnacle with Roma was clinching the Europa League against Feyenoord in 2022, marking their first trophy in 11 years.
“We would like to thank José on behalf of all of us at Roma for his passion and efforts since his arrival at the club,” said owners 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 endeavors,” they further added.
What led to the departure of Jose Mourinho?
However, a challenging 2023–24 season, coupled with a recent defeat to Milan and elimination from the Coppa Italia by local rivals Lazio, led to the decision. Roma had also struggled with just one win in six league matches. Despite Mourinho reaffirming his commitment last week, the recent results proved pivotal.
Mourinho, known for managing top clubs like FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Tottenham, took on the Roma role just 15 days after leaving Spurs in 2021. His departure brings an end to a tenure that began with optimism but faced challenges in the latter period.
In his farewell, Mourinho, often known for his colorful analogies, compared himself to Harry Potter, acknowledging the incredible support of the Roma fans. The club now looks ahead to a new chapter, while Mourinho’s legacy includes both triumphs and the complexities of navigating the dynamic world of football management.
