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Jose Mourinho compared himself to Harry Potter in a bizarre meltdown at Roma ahead of his sacking.
On Tuesday it emerged that Mourinho had been sacked as Roma manager and would be replaced by the club's former captain Daniele de Rossi.
Mourinho took over the Italian club in May 2021 and led them to the Europa Conference League title in his first season, before guiding them to a Europa League final the following year.
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However, Roma currently sit in ninth in Serie A, five adrift of the Champions League places, while last week they were knocked out of the Coppa Italia by city rivals Lazio.
While Mourinho remained largely revered among Roma supporters, the club’s on-pitch struggles were accompanied by several public outbursts from the 60-year-old.
After Roma were knocked out of the Coppa Italia, Mourinho dubbed himself “Jose ‘Harry Potter’ Mourinho”.
“The Roma fans are the most incredible I have seen. Their coach is Jose 'Harry Potter' Mourinho and he raises expectations,” Mourinho said last week.
“I don't know how many derbies I've played, 200, 150, they are always special matches. I've won, I've drawn, I've lost, always with a different experience.
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“I have always understood that for a Chelsea fan, a game against Manchester City is not the same as a game against Arsenal. That for Inter, a game against Roma is not the same as a game against Juventus.
“I understand what a derby means. The derby we played was an important derby.”
Former midfielder De Rossi will replace Mourinho until the end of the season.
The 40-year-old came through Roma's academy and played 616 times for the first team across 18 years.
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After retiring in 2020 De Rossi has had one spell as manager - a 17-game tenure at Serie B club SPAL which ended in his sacking last February.
"We believe that the leadership and ambition that have always characterised him can be decisive in chasing the objectives that the team has ahead of it until the end of the season," said Roma's owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin.
"We knew the indissoluble bond that unites Daniele to the club, but the enthusiasm with which he immediately accepted this challenge... further convinced us of his ability to be a guide for the players and a proud representative of the values of this club."
Topics: Football, Jose Mourinho, Serie A
Chris Byfield