OFFICIAL: Claudio Ranieri has come out of retirement to become the new head coach of AS Roma until the end of the season

Claudio Ranieri has made a notable return from retirement to lead a struggling AS Roma for the third time, which is a significant move in the realm of football management.

Currently, the Serie A team is facing a dismal start to their 2024-25 season, finding themselves at the bottom of the league standings. They have already seen the dismissal of two managers within a few months. After the surprising resignation of club legend Daniele De Rossi in September, they have opted to part ways with Ivan Juric, who was brought in with the hope of revitalizing the team. The decision to bring in Ranieri indicates a desperate effort by the club’s leadership to bring much-needed stability.

In the lead-up to this decision, Roma was rumored to be considering several high-profile candidates, including Chelsea’s Frank Lampard and the 2021 European Championship-winning Italy coach Roberto Mancini, leading to considerable speculation among supporters and analysts. However, it has now been confirmed that Ranieri, who led Leicester City to Premier League glory, has agreed to come out of retirement to guide the team through to the end of the current season. This move emphasizes the trust that the club’s management has in his ability to lift the team’s performance levels.

A club statement read: “AS Roma is pleased to announce that Claudio Ranieri is the new Head Coach of the First Team.At the conclusion of the season, Claudio will transition into a senior executive role, where he will be an adviser to the ownership on all sporting matters at the club. The search for a future coach will proceed over the next months. Claudio will have input in that decision as well. Born in Rome and a lifelong Romanista, Ranieri wore the Giallorossi jersey as a player during the 1973-74 season and later served as the team’s head coach on two separate occasions (from 2009 to 2011 and in 2019). He is a true symbol of the Club’s values and one of the most respected Roman sports figures worldwide.

“Ranieri brings with him an immense wealth of knowledge and experience from Serie A, the Premier League, La Liga, and Ligue 1, having managed top European clubs and winning historic titles, such as his legendary 2016 triumph with Leicester. The Club extends its best wishes to him for this exciting new chapter in his career, confident that he will be an invaluable asset to the team and to all of AS Roma. Forza Roma and welcome home, Mister!”

Ranieri, now 73, will transition into a senior executive role at the club following the season, which highlights the importance of his extensive experience in influencing the club’s future direction. He had previously ended his 37-year managerial career over the summer after successfully keeping Cagliari in Serie A during the 2023-24 season. His exit from management was filled with reflections on his illustrious career and the obstacles he encountered, but now he is back in a role that has the potential to lead to considerable change for the faltering Roman club.

The Italian manager has prior experience with Roma, having led the team on two earlier occasions, making this his third tenure. His first stint began in 2009 and lasted two years at Stadio Olimpico, during which he cultivated a competitive squad. He returned briefly in 2019, managing to instill some stability, but he now faces the daunting challenge of rejuvenating a side that has lost its competitive edge. With the backing of the fans and the high expectations tied to the club, Ranieri’s return brings renewed hope for a turnaround in the team’s fortunes as they strive to overcome the current season’s hurdles.