ROMA SET TO APPOINT CLUB LEGEND, DE ROSSI AS MOURINHO'S REPLACEMENT

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Daniele De Rossi is favourite to make a return to Roma and replace Jose Mourinho as head coach.

Mourinho was sacked by Roma on Tuesday morning following the club’s 3-1 defeat to AC Milan, with the Portuguese boss not in the dugout as he served his latest suspension.

The 60-year-old was sent off in the closing stages of Roma’s draw with Atalanta on January 7, which was followed by a 1-0 loss to rivals Lazio in the Rome derby last week.

Talks are underway with 40-year-old De Rossi who, though he made over 600 appearances in Roma’s midfield, has limited coaching experience having worked with the Italian federation and Serie B side SPAL, who sacked him a year ago.

He played for the club between 2001 and 2019 having joined the club’s academy in 2000, going onto captain the club and win two Coppa Italias before leaving for Boca Juniors.

With Italy, De Rossi was part of the squad that won the 2006 World Cup, coming off the bench just after an hour into the game.

He made his intentions to become a coach clear following his retirement in 2020, starting the UEFA A licence course in December of that year.

After being part of Roberto Mancini’s coaching team for the Euro 2020 success which saw Italy beat England on penalties in the final, De Rossi finished his licence course before becoming a technical collaborator for the under 15 to under 20 youth representatives at the Italian Football Federation.

In September 2022, after helping with the Italian side’s qualification campaign for the 2022 World Cup, he was admitted to the UEFA Pro licence course, before being appointed as SPAL manager.

He lasted just over four months, however, being sacked in February 2022 with the club 18th in Serie B.

Former Chelsea and Spurs boss Antonio Conte and Graham Potter, also formerly of Chelsea and Brighton, are also being considered by Roma for the vacant position.

Potter, 48, has been biding his time awaiting the best project ahead of making his return to management after a highly promising start. He is also understood to be in Manchester United’s thoughts should they make a change on manager.

Conte was sacked by Tottenham towards the end of last season, while Potter was let go by Chelsea in April 2023.