Claudio Ranieri is set to become the new manager of AS Roma, with a contract until June 2025. While the official announcement is pending, an agreement has been reached between the parties. This marks Ranieri’s third stint as Roma’s head coach, a feat only surpassed by Nils Liedholm with four tenures.
The veteran manager flew to London on Tuesday to meet with club owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin. Ranieri’s decision to return to Roma in such a challenging situation is seen as a choice driven by love for the club.
Roma currently sits in twelfth place in Serie A, just four points above the relegation zone. The atmosphere around the club is tense, and Ranieri is viewed as the only figure capable of lifting spirits and bringing joy back to the fans.
Ranieri will conduct his first training session on Wednesday afternoon, albeit without 14 Roma players who are away on international duty. However, he will have the opportunity to work with Cristante, Pellegrini, and El Shaarawy, all of whom were part of his previous stint at Roma in 2019. He’s also familiar with Shomurodov, having coached him at Cagliari last season.
The new manager arrived in Rome late Tuesday evening, greeted at Fiumicino airport by hundreds of enthusiastic Roma supporters, including tennis player Flavio Cobolli. Fans chanted, “Ranieri, one of us,” welcoming him back to the club.
When asked about the challenging task ahead, Ranieri responded with characteristic wit and optimism: “A tough nut to crack? That’s why they called me. We’re ready! The cavalry is coming!”
There are also indications that Ranieri might transition into a technical director role in the future, further cementing his long-term commitment to the club.
