Roma SACK Jose Mourinho! Portuguese boss dismissed after AC Milan defeat as he pays price for poor start to season & incredible run of touchline bans

Jose Mourinho has been sacked by Roma after their poor start to the 2023-24 season, with a 3-1 loss to AC Milan proving to be the final straw.

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WHAT HAPPENED?
Roma's latest defeat to Milan followed a frustrating Coppa Italia exit at the hands of arch-rivals Lazio, and was their seventh loss from 20 Serie A games so far this season - which saw them drop to ninth in the table. The Giallorossi still have an outside chance of finishing in the Champions League spots, with only five points separating them and fourth-placed Fiorentina, but Mourinho won't be taking them any further, having paid the ultimate price for the team's dismal recent performances.

WHAT ROMA SAID
Roma owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin have released a joint statement confirming Mourinho's dismissal, which reads: "We would like to thank Jose on behalf of all of us at AS Roma for his passion and efforts since his arrival at the club,” said Dan and Ryan Friedkin. We will always have great memories of his tenure at Roma, but we believe that an immediate change is in the best interests of the club. We wish Jose and his assistants all the best in their future endeavours."
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THE BIGGER PICTURE
Mourinho instantly endeared himself to Roma fans in his first season at the helm, delivering their first piece of continental silverware in 60 years in the form of the Europa Conference League. He also took the club to the Europa League final in 2022-23, but the Giallorossi suffered a heart-breaking penalty shootout defeat to Sevilla. Mourinho was publicly criticised for his treatment of referee Anthony Taylor after the game, and his ill-discipline continued in the first half of the current campaign, with multiple touchline bans issued. The 60-year-old was absent at San Siro on Sunday due to a suspension, meaning he missed the chance to say a final goodbye to the fans.

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WHAT NEXT?
According to Fabrizio Romano, former Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi is the frontrunner to replace Jose Mourinho in the Stadio Olimpico hotseat. After two-and-a-half years in the Italian capital, Mourinho will now begin the hunt for his next job, with the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss reportedly attracting interest from a number of clubs in Saudi Arabia.

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