Roma fires De Rossi after winless start — Can new coach Juric turn the season around?

Long-time Roma icon Daniele De Rossi could not survive the torrid start of the 2024/25 season and was let go from the head coach position of the Italian club. This decision brought an end to a saga that promised much but had spectacularly failed in terms of its ultimate translation onto the pitch during his short reign as manager of the team. De Rossi managed 30 matches, of which 13 were won. However, a winless start to this campaign, failing to win in the first four matches, proved to be the final straw for the Giallorossi board.

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The weight of an idol and sky-high expectations

The return of De Rossi as a coach in Roma this time has been filled with great meaning. Having played most of his career with this club, surely a true symbol of loyalty and passion for the capital team, he was entrusted with the task of leading them to new heights. Still, soccer, as we all well know, is not all about fairy tales or moving stories.

The first problem arose when Roma's very heavy spending this past summer set the bar high. Close to nearly €100 million were invested in reinforcements, with names like Dovbyk, Soulé, Le Fée, Hermoso, Hummels, and Saelemaekers joining the ranks. That was a signal that the team must start strong in Serie A. However, after some disappointing performances in the first games, the alarms went off.

The results crisis

The situation became unsustainable, with only three draws against Cagliari, Juventus, and Genoa and that painful loss to Empoli at Stadio Olimpico. The club also managed only to pick up three points in four matches, highly contrasting from the optimism created from the summer signings. In soccer, where often immediate results outweigh long-term projects, De Rossi's time was up.

In the official statement, the club expressed its respect for Daniele De Rossi by underlining that "he threw himself into the job with his usual enthusiasm and dedication," but it was clear that a change was needed. "The club's decision is made with the best interest of the team in mind," Roma declared, in a clear effort to get back on track while the season is still in its early stages.

Ivan Juric: the new hope

It didn't take Roma long to find a new leader. The Giallorossi team is expected to be entrusted to Croatian coach Ivan Juric, 49. He has never managed an elite club until today, but in Italian soccer, he has earned great trust with leading Hellas Verona and Torino for several seasons. His job will not be easy. In addition to bringing back confidence in the squad and with the fans, he will have some big objectives for this season, mainly champions league qualification.

He is signed through June 2025, though there's an automatic extension if he successfully qualifies Roma for next season's Champions League. That tells a lot about how much trust the club has in the Croatian coach, but it also outlines with equal clarity that he doesn't have much time to prove himself.

The Europa League challenge

There's little time to get comfortable. His first outing as the coach of Roma is already set for next Sunday, against Udinese in Serie A. In fact, this will be his first important test, and the timing could not be more crucial. He will take very good note of the performance his team will turn in during the Europa League, a competition essential to the club both in economic and sports terms. The backbone of a successful season will be a strong start to help keep players and fans alike in good spirits.