AS Roma have reached an agreement to appoint Claudio Ranieri as the new head coach. The legendary PL-winning manager of Leicester City announced his retirement earlier this year in May after leaving his position at his last club Cagliari. However, Ranieri will take up the charge to be Roma's next manager as AS Roma fired Ivan Juric on 10 November 2024.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio and Florian Plettenberg of SkySports, the 73-year-old veteran manager completed the verbal agreement for a contract until the end of the season yesterday.
#SerieA | #Roma, #Ranieri: "Una bella gatta da pelare? Mi hanno chiamato per questo"https://t.co/IobobjOqMG
— Gianluca Di Marzio (@DiMarzio) November 13, 2024
According to Fabrizio Romano, Ranieri arrived at the club this morning and signed all the formal documents for his appointment as Roma coach for the third time in his career.
🟡🔴✍🏻 Claudio Ranieri and his lawyers already signed all formal documents for his return to AS Roma as head coach.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 13, 2024
Back home. 🔙🏡 pic.twitter.com/j9SjhImhH7
Ranieri himself confirmed his appointment after he met the AS Roma president Dan Freidkin and vice president Ryan Friedkin in London on Wednesday. He jokingly told the press on his way back:
"[Roma’s] a tough nut to crack? That’s why they called me!"
"We’re all set—the good guys are coming!"
via Ansa
An official announcement is expected from AS Roma today as Ranieri is all set for this return at his beloved club for the third time as the manager.
One of my favorite moments when Ranieri was at olimpico for Roma Leicester and both sets of fans gave him the round of applause he deserved pic.twitter.com/hrUSlnEcXc
— Siavoush Fallahi (@SiavoushF) November 12, 2024
The Scenario
The legendary Jose Mourinho was sacked by AS Roma in January this year. However, Roma legend Daniele De Rossi was appointed as the next head coach for the Giallorossi. Roma finished 6th in Serie A last season under De Rossi but he was eventually fired from his position in September 2024 after going winless in the first 4 matches of Serie A 2024-25.
AS Roma have sacked Daniele de Rossi.
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) September 18, 2024
Football heritage 🤷 pic.twitter.com/ukee7Z4yFn
Following De Rossi's departure, the fans expressed their anger about the decision and Roma CEO Lina Souloukou stepped down. Former Torino coach Ivan Juric was appointed as De Rossi's successor but Roma's worst start in the Serie A in over two decades led to his sacking on 10 November 2024.
AS Roma is currently facing a very difficult situation as they are 12th in this season's Serie A League table as of now, having earned 13 points from 12 matches.
Ranieri's sensational return to Roma
Although Claudio Ranieri is mostly known for Leicester City's folkloric 2015-16 Premier League-winning journey under his managership, the 73-year-old Italian shares a close bond with Italian football, especially with AS Roma.
Ranieri announced his retirement from his managerial career after leaving Cagliari in May 2024 this year but now he has returned to his hometown to take up the mantle. Ranieri's third stint with AS Roma begins tomorrow with a first training session. Rome, where Ranieri was born and played for Roma later, has also managed Roma in two different spells before.
“Quando la Roma chiama, io devo rispondere sì”
— Radio Romanista (@radio_romanista) November 13, 2024
Bentornato, Sir Claudio #ASRoma | #Ranieri 🟨🟥 pic.twitter.com/gNW2xEB11l
Ranieri was appointed as Roma's manager in September 2009 and concluded his first stint in February 2011. His second stint was from March to June 2019.
However, according to Gazzetta, Ranieri will leave the position at the end of this season and he will join AS Roma's technical board. But as of now, AS Roma will look to get back on track with their old guard back in the business.