Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Roma after two-and-a-half years at the Serie A club.
The veteran coach guided the Yellows and Reds to Europa Conference League glory in 2022, leaving them ninth in the table after a disappointing 2023/24 campaign.
Mourinho leaves after a week in which Roma were knocked out of the Coppa Italia by archrivals Lazio and then beaten 3-1 by AC Milan in the league.
The 60-year-old arrived at the Italian club in May 2021, six months after being sacked by Tottenham.
He guided Roma to two sixth-place finishes in Serie A but enjoyed better luck in Europe.
After winning the Europa Conference League, Mourinho led the Italian giants to the Europa League final in 2023 but lost in the aftermath to Sevilla.
The former Chelsea and Manchester United manager’s sudden departure to Italy prevents him from spending more than 3 seasons at one club in his coaching career.
Andy Brassell, European football expert at talkSPORT, reacted to the news, saying: “The fans will be very disappointed. There is almost a cult of Mourinho there.
“If you look at how he replaced the club, they sold out 44 consecutive home games. Do you know how complicated it is to fill the Olympic Stadium?
“Some of the groups in Roma history failed to do that, but he created something, he created a feeling.
“In some cases there was a blind acceptance in him. But from the owners’ point of view, they paid a lot of money to take over the club, it was a long-term acquisition.
“At first they were satisfied with their work, but for a while the football was terrible and the effects started to wear off.
“They’re getting angrier and angrier about the performance. Mourinho spoke publicly about a contract extension, developed an emotional bond with the club.
Brassell added: “The straw that broke the camel’s back was the defeat in the Coppa Italia. They faced Lazio and had a small chance. This is not acceptable.
“For the first time you heard the fans say, ‘We can’t play like this. ‘It’s embarrassing for them. “
Heads will be focused on Mourinho’s next task, with Brassell believing the former Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager could head to Saudi Arabia due to a lack of interest from elite clubs.
Mourinho was in high spirits at the Stadio Olimpico but crossed the finish line on several occasions.
He drew widespread criticism for confronting referee Anthony Taylor in a car park after the Europa League final defeat.
Brassell insists there was such antics and Mourinho leaves Roma with a “toxic” reputation.
He continued, “If you’re in favor of the next step, I think Saudi Arabia is the most obvious.
“None of the Premier League clubs will accept it.
“Paris Saint-Germain would have done anything to catch him 4 or five years ago, but at the last chance they had to catch him they said, ‘No, he’s too poisonous now. ‘
“The way Mourinho behaved after losing the Europa League final, a lot of clubs said, ‘He’s not for us, he’s not worth the baggage’.
“He behaves like that every week. “
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