A hectic week for Roma saw the club part ways with legendary former midfielder and now ex-head coach Daniele De Rossi and replace him with former Torino and Hellas Verona boss Ivan Juric.
Here is how the events unfolded.
Roma sack De Rossi
Early on Wednesday morning, AS Roma released a statement informing supporters that they had dismissed De Rossi from his duties as head coach.
De Rossi had reportedly been preparing for the day’s training session when he heard the news. He then gathered his things at Trigoria, stopped outside the gates for autographs and photos on his way home, and then headed out for a debrief with his staff over lunch.
The former Italy international had overseen a winless start to the season, recording 0-0 draws with Cagliari and Juventus, a 1-1 with Genoa and a 2-1 loss to Empoli in the second round of the season.
He had won just one out of his last 11 competitive matches in charge of the Giallorossi, with his last win coming against Genoa in mid-May.
There are unconfirmed reports that a fall-out behind the scenes between De Rossi and Roma CEO Lina Souloukiu may have contributed to the reason why the coach was let go so early on in the season.
Juric replaces De Rossi
Roma wasted no time in appointing De Rossi’s successor. Juric was spotted arriving at Trigoria less than six hours after his predecessor had been given his marching orders.
The Croatian conducted his first training conducted his first training session in charge of the club on the same afternoon, and the club proceeded to announce his appointment at around 17.30 BST, less than 10 hours after De Rossi had been dismissed.
Juric, who spent the last three seasons with Torino, has put pen to paper on a short-term contract until the end of the 2024-25 season, with a possible option to extend if Roma qualify for next season’s Champions League.
The new coach will have his first test in front of a home crowd against the current Serie A leaders Udinese on Sunday afternoon, kicking off at 17.00 BST.
Tension increases at Roma
Fans have been left furious by the team’s poor start to the season. That anger only intensified after De Rossi was let go, as several supporters confronted some of the team’s senior players on their way into training on Wednesday.
Reports suggest that Lorenzo Pellegrini and Gianluca Mancini took it upon themselves to confront the Giallorossi senior management took it upon themselves to confront the Giallorossi senior management and ask for clarification over De Rossi’s sacking.
To add to the tension, Roma ultras have also announced that they will stage a boycott during Juric’s first game as a result of the decision to fire a club legend in such a harsh manner.