Roma shocked Italian football on Wednesday morning with the announcement that Daniele De Rossi has been sacked just four games into the new season.
Tensions had been brewing and he even had close friend and fellow club icon Francesco Totti warn him last week that he could be heading for trouble.
Those words proved to be prophetic as Roma are now left looking for their eighth coach in the last eight years. But who could it be?
👔 The Serie A Stalwart
Massimiliano Allegri
📸 FILIPPO MONTEFORTE – AFP or licensors
His reputation may have taken a little hit in recent years but Allegri has done some excellent work in Italy‘s top flight over the past 15 years.
He is a six-time Scudetto winner (in addition to winning seven other domestic trophies and reaching two Champions League finals) and is not the kind of option who the Lupi should overlook if he is interested in a swift return to the dugout.
Allegri left Juventus in May so is available and has no obvious baggage attached. His football may not always be the most aesthetically pleasing but it is effective and often produces results – exactly what Roma, who are yet to win a game this season, need right now.
✈️ The Last Gasp Hijack
Stefano Pioli
📸 MARCO BERTORELLO – AFP or licensors
Roma’s decision to sack De Rossi is very premature in the eyes of many but it may have come just a little too late to land Stefano Pioli.
Like Allegri, he is also out of work after leaving Milan earlier this year but just a day before the former Boca Juniors midfielder’s Giallorossi dismissal, he reportedly agreed terms on a deal to replace Luis Castro as coach of Al-Nassr.
He is due to fly to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to put pen to paper and make things official but if Roma really want him, could they pull off an outrageous last minute swoop to scupper Al Nassr’s hopes and land the ex-Lazio boss? Much stranger things have happened in the Eternal City.
👓 The Astute Appointment
Ivan Jurić
📸 Valerio Pennicino – 2024 Getty Images
One name who is already being linked to the most pressurised job in Rome outside of the Vatican is Jurić, another man who is currently a free agent after he chose to part ways with Torino at the end of last season.
That wasn’t due to results, which were impressive throughout his time with the Granata, in addition to his work with Genoa and Hellas Verona which have probably justified the chance to make the step up to a top six job in Serie A.
He may not be the most glamorous name but he would represent a shrewd hiring from the under-fire Friedkins and the playing squad does look well-suited to his 3-4-2-1 system which brought him recent success.
💫 The Champions League Finalist
Edin Terzić
📸 ADRIAN DENNIS – null
In addition to Jurić, former Borussia Dortmund boss Terzić has already had his name thrown around among the local media in the Italian capital as a strong candidate for the vacant position.
Again, a deal could be done quickly given he has no current club ties and that is of apparent importance to the Giallorossi and although he does not have a great deal of experience, the 41-year-old’s work at the Westfalenstadion cannot be underestimated.
He led them to an unexpected title charge in 2023 and came within one agonising goal on the final day of ending Bayern Munich‘s stranglehold on the Bundesliga, as well as taking BVB to the Champions League final this year – again something that few had predicted they were capable of.
🇩🇪 The Serial Winner
Thomas Tuchel
📸 GIUSEPPE CACACE – null
Say what you will about Tuchel but the man gets results. Since stepping up to the Borussia Dortmund job nine years ago, he has collected nine trophies, including a memorable Champions League success with Chelsea.
Sky Sport Italia claim that he is ‘under consideration’ at the Stadio Olimpico after leaving Bayern Munich in May, although those reports are tentative and offer no indication of any interest from the German’s side in making the move to Serie A.
It is likely to remain a pipe dream at this time and there are perhaps lower-risk appointments but it would represent a statement of intent if a deal could be agreed.