Rome was on the brink of collapse two centuries before the fall of the empire. The turbulent 50-year period (235-284 AD), known to historians as military anarchy, was characterized by unprecedented political instability, plagued by internal strife and with more than twenty emperors (legitimate and usurping) taking turns in power. the throne. It was not until Diocletian came to power that a certain calm was recovered, although the Roman Empire had already begun the path of its decline.
A sort of Diocletian is now looking for Rome to get out of a comprehensive crisis with the hiring of a coach experienced in a thousand battles such as Claudio Ranieri. The 73-year-old Italian, happily retired for a few months, has decided to accept the difficult challenge of straightening the course of a club mired in chaos. “That’s why they called me,” he responded shrewdly as soon as he stepped into Fiumicino airport when asked about the ballot ahead. He is the third coach in less than three months of the season after the surprising dismissal of a legend like Daniele De Rossi and the expected dismissal of the downtrodden Ivan Juric. The announcement was made official this Thursday.
The entity, lacking leadership, trusts in Ranieri’s proven experience in this third stage
Ranieri traveled to London on Wednesday to negotiate with the Friedkin family – owners of the entity – the possible return to a position of which he is familiar. In Roma he debuted as a professional footballer in the seventies. As a coach, he led the team in two short stages (2009-11 and 2019). In the first he took command in a situation similar to the current one and led the team to runners-up. Only the Inter of the triplet led by Mourinho left the Roman coach without working the miracle. His step was more discreet a decade later, also at a time of urgency.
For this third term, Ranieri signs until the end of the season, although he could remain linked to the Capitols beyond June 2025 in some other position from the box. With the owners in the United States, Roma has been missing in recent times someone with authority to represent the club’s interests. In the past this was a recurring complaint from Mourinho, who assumed more powers than he should. The Portuguese was also dismissed at the beginning of the year.
Without a CEO after the resignation of Lina Souloukou shortly after dismissing De Rossi in an incomprehensible way in September – the passionate fans, very hurt, did not forgive what they considered a mistake – and with a low-profile sports director who had just arrived like the Frenchman Florent Ghisolfi, Roma needed at least one figure on the bench with charisma, experience, a proven track record and who would get along with the stands. “Uno di noi” (“one of ours”), sang the 200 faithful who welcomed him at the airport in the Italian capital.
Ranieri hardly needs an introduction. An old acquaintance of Spanish football for his time at Valencia and Atlético de Madrid and coach of Italian greats such as Inter or Juventus, he reached the zenith of his career in 2016 when with the familiar Leicester team – impossible to forget that he promised pizza to his players when the team did not concede goals – was proclaimed champion in the almighty Premier League. Without a doubt, the most incredible football milestone of the century and one that earned him The Best award for best coach of the year.
Ranieri will go down in history for being the coach who managed to make Leicester champion of the Premier
Ranieri picks up Roma in twelfth position in Serie A, with only 13 points in 12 games and four away from relegation. Its premiere will not be much less placid. After the national team break, they visit the leader Naples – with double the points – and Tottenham in the Europa League and then receive the champion of said continental competition last season at the Olympic Stadium: Atalanta.
The objective is none other than to give shape to an undefined project that has called into question the management capacity of the property. Ranieri will try to recover the spirit and play of a squad disoriented since the dismissal of De Rossi. The club spent almost 93 million euros on signings last summer, including the League top scorer Artem Dovbyk (30.5) and the young Argentine Matías Soulé (25.6). He also acquired established footballers at zero cost such as Mario Hermosos (Atlético de Madrid) or the mistreated Mats Hummels, without opportunities. The team survives thanks to the sparkles of Paulo Dybala, a star always in cotton with an uncertain future, and the solvency in goal of Mile Svilar.
Ranieri’s decision is not without controversy. In June he put an end to his time at Cagliari, a club where he made history for taking him from Serie C (third division) to the elite in two seasons at the end of the eighties. In Sardinia he returned in 2022 to take the reins of a team in the middle of the Serie B table and lead it to promotion. The last miracle on the island was to achieve salvation last year, when he even resigned; This is rejected by the locker room and the club.
He said he would only return to the bench if he received a call from a national team. A third chance at Roma did not cross his mind at all. “When Roma calls you, you have to say yes,” he said in his previous stage.
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