Roma hire former midfielder Daniele De Rossi as new head coach

By Can Erozden

Roma on Tuesday hired their former midfielder Daniele De Rossi as the senior team's new head coach, after sacking Jose Mourinho, who remained in charge for two-and-a-half years.

"AS Roma are pleased to confirm that Daniele De Rossi has been appointed as head coach until 30 June 2024," the Italian football club said in a statement.

De Rossi, 40, was one of the key figures of Roma on the pitch as he played for the Giallorossi for 18 years.

"I would like to thank the Friedkin family (club owners) for entrusting me with the responsibility of Roma's head coach role. From my side, I know no other way but dedication, daily sacrifices, and giving everything I have in order to face the challenges that await us from now until the end of the season," De Rossi said.

"We have no time or choice but to be competitive, fight for our goals, and try to achieve them, which are the only priorities my staff and I have set for ourselves," he added.

Having played in the center of the park, De Rossi, a pure Roma product, amassed 616 appearances and scored 63 goals for Roma to rank second in the club's all-time appearance record.

One of the best defensive midfielders of his generation, De Rossi won the Italian Cup twice, in 2007 and 2008, and an Italian Super Cup in 2007 as a Roma player.

In 2006, De Rossi helped Italy win the FIFA World Cup.

Near the end of his football career, De Rossi played for Argentina's Boca Juniors, and retired from the game in 2020.

In 2021, De Rossi was part of the Italian national team's coaching staff, where he won the EURO 2020 title.

Last season, he coached an Italian lower division club, SPAL.​​​​​​​