MILAN: Jose Mourinho took just two weeks to bounce back after his sacking from Tottenham Hotspur with a surprise appointment on Tuesday as Roma coach on a three-year deal from next season.
His departure from Spurs marked the first time since the early years of his managerial career in Portugal that the self-declared ‘Special One’ left a club without winning any silverware.
The outspoken 58-year-old returns to Italy, where he left as a hero back in 2010 after leading Inter Milan to the treble — Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia.
Mourinho will replace fellow Portuguese Paulo Fonseca who leaves the capital side at the end of the current campaign with the team seventh in Serie A with four games to play.
“The incredible passion of the Roma fans convinced me to accept the job and I cannot wait to start next season,” Mourinho said in a statement.
“It is the same ambition and drive that has always motivated me and together we want to build a winning project over the upcoming years.
“After meetings with the ownership I immediately understood the full extent of their ambitions for AS Roma.
“It is the same ambition and drive that has always motivated me and together we want to build a winning project over the upcoming years.”
Mourinho will lock horns again with great rival Antonio Conte, who at the weekend ended Juventus’ nine-year reign as Italian champions by winning Inter’s first Serie A title since Mourinho’s time in Milan.
“We are thrilled and delighted to welcome Jose Mourinho into the AS Roma family,” the club’s American owner Dan Friedkin said.
“A great champion who has won trophies at every level, Jose will provide tremendous leadership and experience to our ambitious project.
“The appointment of Jose is a huge step in building a long-term and consistent winning culture throughout the club.”
Mourinho has claimed 25 major trophies in his career to date and joins a club that hasn’t won Serie A since 2001.
As well as his triumphs with Inter he won the Champions League with Porto in 2004, three Premier League titles with Chelsea and La Liga with Real Madrid in 2012.
He also led Manchester United to the Europa League in 2017.
Mourinho is one of only three managers to have won the Champions League with two different clubs, a feat he has also repeated in the Europa League.
“When Jose became available, we immediately jumped at the chance to speak with one of the greatest managers of all time,” said Roma general manager Tiago Pinto.
“We were blown away by Jose’s desire to win and his passion for the game: no matter how many trophies he has won, his primary focus is always on the next one. He possesses the knowledge, experience and leadership to compete at all levels.”
Mourinho arrived at Spurs 17 months ago with a point to prove after his reputation was tarnished during a two-year spell in charge of Manchester United.
While he claimed three trophies at Old Trafford, including the 2017 Europa League, the end came with a dismal run of results and high-profile disagreements with players.
Much the same dynamic had played out in previous spells at Chelsea and Real Madrid, marked also by running feuds with opposition managers and the press, and a surly unwillingness to admit any shortcomings.
Despite periods of optimism this season at Tottenham, including beating United 6-1 at Old Trafford and briefly topping the Premier League table, a barren 2021 has seen the team repeatedly squander winning positions.
Earlier Roma confirmed that Fonseca would leave after two years with the three-time Italian champions who are trophyless since 2008.
Fonseca, 48, joined the club in 2019 with the option for a third year if the club reached the Champions League next season.
The club finished fifth in Serie A last campaign and are currently seventh, nine points behind city rivals Lazio who sit sixth and have a game in hand.
Roma trail Mourinho’s former club Manchester United 6-2 going into Thursday’s second leg of their Europa League semifinal in the Italian capital.
Fonseca replaced Claudio Ranieri, who had a brief spell as coach after Eusebio Di Francesco was sacked in January 2019.
Di Francesco had guided the club to the Champions League semifinals in 2018.
Mourinho looks for redemption at Roma after Tottenham failure
https://arab.news/jme36
Mourinho looks for redemption at Roma after Tottenham failure
- The outspoken 58-year-old returns to Italy, where he left as a hero back in 2010 after leading Inter Milan to the treble — Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia
- Mourinho will replace fellow Portuguese Paulo Fonseca who leaves the capital side at the end of the current campaign with the team seventh in Serie A with four games to play
Al-Hilal complete second-half comeback against ten-man Al-Nassr to extend SPL lead
- Simone Inzaghi’s side move onto 38 points after a 3-1 victory, seven clear of Al-Nassr
- Al-Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi was sent off in the 60th minute for violent conduct
RIYADH: It was an evening of football drama in Riyadh as the much-anticipated Capital Derby between Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr took place at the Kingdom Arena in the headline fixture of Matchday 15. With Al-Nassr four points behind the league leaders prior to the game, victory was essential for Jorge Jesus’ side as they remain in search for their first Saudi Pro League title in seven years.
The game kicked off at a slow place. Inzaghi, setting up his Al-Hilal side in a 5-4-1 defensive shape, tried to draw Al-Nassr deep into their half to exploit them on the counter. With Rúben Neves playing in the middle of a back three, his long passes proved key for the Blues as they targeted the space behind Al-Nassr’s defence.
Al-Nassr did not respond as expected. Jesus’ side have played at a blistering pace this season, characterised by a relentless high press, but this encounter saw Al-Nassr adopt a more cautious approach. Instead, they relied on moments of individual brilliance to break past the compact Al-Hilal structure.
Kingsley Coman was central to that strategy, as his movement between the channels saw the visitors’ most dangerous momment in the 19th minute. Mohammed Al-Rubaie, who had a shaky start in goal, managed to tip the ball wide for a corner.
Neither side appeared willing to overcommit, with the play concentrated in midfield. It was there that João Félix, spotting Coman on the shoulder of his defender, lofted a pass from deep to release the Frenchman, who laid it off to Cristiano Ronaldo for the opener.
Jesus’ first-half paid off, with the goal on the cusp of half-time giving Al-Nassr a vital boost heading into the break. They managed to keep the pressure on early in the second half, but the tide changed within minutes.
Malcom, attempting to cut inside for a shot, was brought down by Mohamed Simakan for a penalty in the 56th minute. Salem Al-Dawsari slotted it with confidence to bring the hosts back into the game, but the defining moment followed shortly after.
As Al-Hilal attempted to retrieve the ball from the net, Al-Nassr goalkeeper Nawaf Al-Aqidi intervened. In the ensuing scramble, he struck Neves in an incident deemed violent conduct by the referee as he was given his marching orders in the 60th minute.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Al-Nassr did not retreat. However, with Angelo sacrificed for replacement goalkeeper Mubarak Al-Buainain, their attacking threat diminished, making clear chances increasingly difficult to come by.
This opened the door for Al-Hilal’s return into the game, and in the 81st minute, a pinpoint cross by Neves from the left flank found Mohammed Kanno who finished to give the hosts the lead.
Ronaldo was substituted soon after, as Jesus sought fresh impetus through youngster Wesley, but the change failed to alter the course of the match. Al-Hilal were once again awarded a penalty after Al-Dawsari was brought down in stoppage time, before Neves stepped up to convert his penalty for Al-Hilal’s third of the night.
Al-Nassr, who began the season with ten consecutive wins, have now gone four games without a victory — three of them defeats. Their tally freezes at 31 points, as Al-Hilal move clear at the summit onto 38.
Elsewhere in the Saudi Pro League, Al-Hazem moved further clear of the relegation zone after a stunning comeback against Al-Najma. The latter, who were minutes away from their first win of the season, conceded two goals in the sixth and eighth minute of stoppage time to succumb to a 3-2 defeat. Meanwhile, Al-Ettifaq welcomed Al-Khaleej in the Eastern Province, losing 2-1 after a Jack Hendry own goal in the 86th minute gifted the visitors the win.
Action returns on Tuesday, with Al-Okhdood facing Al-Kholood at 6:25pm, followed by Al-Fateh against Al-Riyadh and Damac against Al-Ittihad, both kicking off at 8:30pm.
