AS Roma have parted ways with club legend Daniele De Rossi and appointed Ivan Juric as their new head coach. The decision comes after a disappointing start to the Serie A season, with Roma struggling near the relegation zone without a win in their first four matches.
Roma announced that Juric will take charge until the end of the season, following De Rossi’s dismissal after just eight months in the role. Juric, who previously managed Torino, becomes Roma’s third head coach of 2024. De Rossi had replaced José Mourinho in January and signed a three-year contract in June after leading the team to the Europa League semi-finals.
The club stated that De Rossi’s removal was “in the best interests of the team,” but his departure has sparked significant unrest among supporters. Fans expressed their frustration outside Roma’s Trigoria training ground after Wednesday morning’s training session.
De Rossi, a 2006 World Cup winner with Italy, was let go while Roma are 16th in Serie A with just three points from their opening four games. The sacking follows a 1-1 draw against Genoa on Sunday, where Roma missed a chance to secure their first win of the season in the dying moments of the match.
A revered figure at Roma, De Rossi was celebrated for his passionate play and connection to the club, despite his lack of major trophies during his career. He won two Italian Cups and the 2007 Italian Super Cup before retiring from playing at Boca Juniors in early 2020.
De Rossi’s managerial tenure began unexpectedly, with limited experience from a four-month stint at SPAL, which ended in relegation. Despite an initial promising start with Roma, including impressive wins over Brighton and AC Milan and a deep Europa League run, the team’s performance declined towards the end of last season. This decline, combined with the poor start to the current campaign, led to his dismissal less than three months after he committed to Roma.
Juric, 49, will oversee his first match as Roma’s head coach on Sunday against Udinese. He will then lead the team in their Europa League opener against Athletic Bilbao next week.
