Roma’s decision to part ways with José Mourinho has sent shockwaves through the football world. The announcement comes after two and a half years of Mourinho’s tenure at the club, during which the Portuguese manager faced various challenges. However, a closer look at the circumstances reveals three key reasons that led to the termination of Mourinho’s contract in the Italian capital.
José Mourinho could not return them to Champions League football
One of the primary expectations when Mourinho was appointed as Roma’s manager was his ability to guide the team back to the UEFA Champions League. Despite significant investments in high-profile players such as Romelu Lukaku, Leandro Paredes, Tammy Abraham, Paulo Dybala, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Nemanja Matić, Mourinho struggled to secure a spot in the prestigious competition.
In both of his seasons in charge, Roma finished sixth in the Serie A standings, failing to qualify for the Champions League both times. While they did manage to secure the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy in Mourinho’s first season and reached the Europa League final in the second, the inability to secure a top-four finish in the domestic league proved to be a crucial shortcoming.
The lack of Champions League football not only affected the club’s prestige but also had financial implications, exacerbating their already precarious financial situation.
Roma’s pre-tax loss increased by €35m
One significant factor that contributed to Mourinho’s sacking was the club’s financial woes. According to a financial analysis by Swiss Ramble, Roma faced a pre-tax loss increase of €35 million during Mourinho’s first season in charge.
The club reported losses of €184 million in the 2020–2021 season, followed by a staggering €219 million in the subsequent season. These financial troubles resulted in a breach of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules, prompting UEFA to open proceedings against Roma and impose restrictions on their spending.
The financial constraints hampered Roma’s ability to strengthen their squad further and comply with UEFA regulations. As a consequence, Mourinho faced the challenging task of managing a team under financial restrictions, limiting his options in the transfer market.
This financial instability created a difficult environment for the Portuguese manager to achieve success on the pitch, as he was forced to work with a squad that may not have been up to the standards required for a club with Champions League aspirations.
Their current form is nothing to write home about
The recent form of AS Roma under Mourinho has been far from impressive. As of his departure, the team finds themself languishing in the ninth position in the Serie A standings, a significant five points away from the Champions League qualification spots. The struggles in the league were compounded by their elimination from the Coppa Italia, losing 1-0 to Lazio.
The team’s performance in recent matches has been a cause for concern, winning only three out of their last ten games. Such inconsistent results and the failure to progress in domestic competitions placed Mourinho under increasing scrutiny. The expectations at a club like Roma demand competitiveness on multiple fronts, and Mourinho’s inability to deliver consistent results contributed to his downfall.
Roma’s decision to part ways with Mourinho was a culmination of various factors, ranging from financial difficulties and a failure to secure Champions League qualification to the team’s lackluster recent form.
The Giallorossi board, in their pursuit of sustained success, deemed it necessary to make a managerial change. The appointment of Daniele De Rossi as the new manager signals a new era for the club, as they seek to address the challenges that led to Mourinho’s departure and chart a course towards a more stable and successful future.