Mourinho? I'm sad. Italian football loses an important coach

José Mourinho's departure from AS Roma has sent shockwaves through Italian football. 

The Portuguese coach, who had been at the helm of the Roman club for his third season, made the difficult decision to part ways with the team after a string of disappointing results. Notably, Roma endured three consecutive games in Serie A without a victory and suffered a painful elimination from the Coppa Italia at the hands of their arch-rivals, Lazio.

Massimiliano Allegri, the highly respected coach of Juventus, expressed his sadness at Mourinho's exit. He emphasized the significant impact Mourinho had on Italian football, acknowledging not only his illustrious career but also the remarkable work he did at Roma. Allegri's words reflect the widespread recognition of Mourinho's coaching prowess and the sense of loss within the football community.

Allegri further remarked that while success might appear effortless from the outside, the results achieved under Mourinho's leadership demonstrated the depth of his contributions. He extended his best wishes to Mourinho for his future endeavors, recognizing the lasting mark he has made on the sport.

In addition to conveying his support to Mourinho, Allegri offered words of encouragement to Mourinho's successor, De Rossi, who is at the early stages of his coaching career. The transition at AS Roma represents a pivotal moment for the club, and Allegri's remarks underscore the significance of Mourinho's legacy in Italian football.

José Mourinho, a seasoned coach at the age of 60, took on the role of AS Roma's head coach in May 2021, succeeding Paulo Fonseca. His departure from the club came just six days after a disappointing quarter-final exit in the Coppa Italia against Lazio, with the decisive goal coming from Mattia Zaccagni's penalty. This news coincided with the announcement of Portuguese executive Tiago Pinto's departure from his role as the club's sporting director.

Mourinho's tenure at Roma included a remarkable achievement: winning the Conference League during the 2021/22 season. This victory cemented his status as the first coach to have captured all three major continental club trophies: the Champions League in 2003/04 and 2009/10 and the Europa League in 2002/03 and 2016/17. Mourinho's impact on the club and Italian football as a whole will be remembered for years to come.