ROME — Claudio Ranieri, the newly appointed coach of AS Roma, expressed on Friday that only two clubs could influence him to return to a managerial role. The 73-year-old, who began his football journey with Roma, stepped in after the dismissal of Ivan Juric amid a turbulent season for the team, marking his third time in charge of the club, having previously managed from 2009 to 2011 and again in 2019.
“I had decided to step away from coaching,” Ranieri remarked during his introductory press conference. “To be honest, I’ve received more offers in recent months than I did when I led Leicester to the Premier League title. It’s unbelievable, but that’s the reality. I consistently turned them down.”
Last season, Ranieri played a crucial role in securing Cagliari’s position in the league, claiming that it would be his last managerial position. Nonetheless, he found it impossible to disregard the allure of returning to Roma. “I mentioned to someone that only two scenarios might entice me back into coaching: for Roma or Cagliari, if they faced difficulties. But I was entirely convinced I would be watching football from a different vantage point. Yet destiny has brought me back home,” he explained.
Ranieri noted that he was contacted regarding the coaching position on Monday and promptly traveled to London for discussions with Roma’s American owners, Dan and Ryan Friedkin. During this meeting, it was agreed that he would become the team’s third coach this season, with plans for him to transition into an executive role after the current season concludes.
Juric, who took over from fan-favorite Daniele De Rossi in September, was let go on Sunday following a disappointing 3-2 defeat at Bologna. Ranieri becomes the fourth coach for Roma this year, with De Rossi having stepped in as interim manager following the exit of Jose Mourinho in January.
Following De Rossi’s firing, there were protests from the supporters, leading to discontent during several matches this season. Ranieri has reached out to fans, urging them to support the players rather than booing them. “They give their all, and we shouldn’t express discontent while the match is ongoing,” he stated. “At the end of the game, if you want to express frustration, that’s fine, but during the match, please support us.”
This season has certainly provided ample reasons for the fans’ frustrations. Roma has struggled significantly, losing four of their last five Serie A matches, currently landing them in 12th place—13 points behind league leaders Napoli and merely four points above the relegation zone. Furthermore, they have also managed to secure only a single victory out of four Europa League fixtures.
“I can’t explain why Roma finds itself in this predicament,” Ranieri commented. “There are countless questions, but I’m not concerned about yesterday’s events. If I delve into the past, I won’t find answers. A new manager is here now, and I must focus on doing my best with the current players. My responsibility begins today.”
Commencing his first training session on Friday, Ranieri recognized the challenge ahead—to restore morale and confidence in his squad as they approach a series of challenging matches. His debut presents a tough challenge at Napoli in nine days, followed by a fixture against second-placed Atalanta at home the next weekend, alongside a Europa League away game against Tottenham Hotspur in between.
“My initial discussions were with all my assistants, including medical and coaching staff. I require their support to minimize mistakes,” Ranieri stated. “There’s no time for errors; we start now and face three matches, each one more critical than the last. My goal is to ensure that when fans leave the stadium, they can say, ‘at least we gave it our all.’ Even if our performance falters, we must fight until the last second, and they should feel proud of the team. That is my commitment to the supporters and to myself.”