By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
AS Roma have parted ways with manager Jose ” The Special One” Mourinho with the club ninth in the league standings, the Serie A side said on Tuesday.
Mourinho final game in charge was Sunday’s 3-1 defeat to AC Milan – which he was suspended and had to watch from the stands – meaning the Stadio Olympico-based outfit had won just one of their past six league games, while they were also dumped out of the Coppa Italia by arch-rivals Lazio last week.
In total, Roma have won just eight of their 20 matches in Serie A this season and sit behind the likes of Bologna, Atalanta and Fiorentina in the race for European qualification.
It brings an end to Mourinho’s spell at the club, which started in May 2021 and saw him win the Europa Conference League title in 2022 and reached the Europa League final last season.
“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,” 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 José and his assistants all the best in their future endeavours.”
Mourinho’s tenure at Roma peaked with them winning the Europa Conference League title against Feyenoord in Tirana. It was their first trophy in 11 years in their first European final since 1991.
Mourinho joined Roma in 2021 following a career that saw him manage FC Porto, Chelsea (twice), Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspurs.