Roma anticipate a new head coach after this season ends as Paulo Fonseca resigns after just two years as manager.
The announcement has come two days before Roma host Manchester United in the second leg of the Europa League semi-finals.
Roma lost the first leg 6-2 last week, which may have acted as the final straw for Fonseca at Roma.
The Timeline
The Morning of May 3rd – Fonseca and Roma Directors Meet
Paulo Fonseca met Roma directors on the morning of May 3rd, amidst incessant talks in Italy of a firing.
Italian sources reported that the Portuguese could be sacked before the end of the season.
Due to this mounting tension, the two parties, Fonseca and Roma, conducted a meeting.
The coach’s agent Marco Abreu reportedly attended the meeting. He met with Roma’s owner Dan Friedkin and managing director Tiago Pinto.
The summit barely lasted one hour, according to reports.
Right after the meeting, Roma (via RomaPress) announced Fonseca and Roma would part ways at the end of the season. They added that he was not sacked just yet.
Early Report on May 4th – Fonseca Refuses to Resign
According to several early reports in Italy on May 4th, after their meeting, Roma coach Paulo Fonseca refused to resign.
However, there are four interim coaches ‘ready’ to take charge. And they will do so, if the Giallorossi suffer a heavy defeat against Manchester United on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Maurizio Sarri is the leading candidate to become the new (permanent) Roma coach from next season onward.
According to Il Corriere dello Sport, there could be a decisive meeting in the coming weeks to wrap up a deal with Sarri.
Meanwhile, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Sarri would need just three or four signings for Roma in the summer.
One catch here is that the former Juventus and Chelsea coach is also in talks with Tottenham.
Rome-based Il Messaggero reports Bruno Conti, Morgan De Sanctis, Fabrizio Piccareta and Alberto De Rossi are other likely candidates.
Still, Fonseca insisted he doesn’t want to resign, although the Portuguese knew he must leave at the end of the campaign.
Mid-afternoon on May 4th – Paulo Fonseca Resigns
Roma’s official website, at around 4:00 PM IST, released an official statement saying Paulo Fonseca would resign as head coach. He will leave the club at the end of the season.
Club Chairman Dan Friedkin confirmed the Portuguese coach will not get a new deal at the Olimpico.
After a disappointing season in Serie A with Fonseca, Friedkin wrote in his farewell note: “Paulo guided the team through many challenges, including the Covid pandemic and a change of ownership, and did so with selfless integrity and great character.”
Roma General Manager Tiago Pinto also thanked his compatriot for the two years he dedicated to the club.
Though staying till the end of the season, the Tuscan coach is aware his time in the Capital is up.
