Daniele De Rossi has announced he is leaving Roberto Mancini’s Italy staff, as he ‘feels ready’ for his first job as head coach, but insists he’ll only lead Roma when he’s ‘earned it.’
The former midfielder joined Mancini as one of his assistants during the successful UEFA EURO 2020 tournament, bringing his experience of winning major competitions to the players.
“It was a difficult choice, but I am leaving the Nazionale,” De Rossi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“I got on wonderfully with everyone and the Euros was an unforgettable experience, but I have very clear ideas about what I want to do and that is to be a coach.
“It might seem strange, as I am 38 years old and have never sat on a bench before, but I feel ready. Continuing with the Italy staff and just waiting for the first club to free up would not be fair on the Federation or Mancini.”
Inevitably, De Rossi was asked if his first port of call will be Roma, especially as his father Alberto has been the coach of the Roma Primavera youth team since 2004.
“It will happen when I have earned it, but coaching Roma is not an obsession of mine.”
He is already learning some of the approaches he wants to see in football, and others he doesn’t.
“Sometimes people talk about football as if it was something for scientists, they want to over-complicate everything. Instead, real class acts like Mancini are the ones who simplify it.
“Never be fake, because the players can tell and you’re finished.”