EUSEBIO DI FRANCESCO has been sacked as Roma coach after the team crashed out of the Champions League, with former boss Claudio Ranieri tipped to replace him.
Roma had taken a 2-1 advantage to Porto for the second leg of their last-16 tie on Wednesday but fell 4-3 on aggregate after a controversial VAR-awarded penalty deep into extra time.
“AS Roma can confirm head coach Eusebio Di Francesco has left the club with immediate effect,” the team said in a statement.
“The club would like to thank Eusebio for his work during his time at AS Roma and wish him success in the future.”
An urgent meeting had been called on Thursday in Rome between the club’s top officials to discuss Di Francesco’s future.
Club president Jim Pallotta later said: “On behalf of myself and everyone at AS Roma, I’d like to thank Eusebio for his work and his commitment.
Since returning to the club, Eusebio has always acted professionally and put the club’s needs ahead of his own. We all wish him well for the future.”
Roma are fifth in Serie A, three points off the Champions League berths for next season, after falling 3-0 last weekend to bitter city rivals Lazio.
Di Francesco took over as Roma coach in June 2017.
The 49-year-old had received the backing of the players after the defeat to Porto, having led Roma to the Champions League semi-finals last season for the first time since 1984.
Former Roma midfielder Di Francesco helped the team to their last Serie A title as a player in 2001.
Ranieri, who memorably guided Leicester City to the 2016 Premier League title before being sacked the following season, coached Roma from September 2009 and February 2011.
The 67-year-old Italian’s brief spell as manager of Premier League strugglers Fulham ended last month after only four months in charge.
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The managerial merry-go-round spins on
Ranieri getting sacked by Fulham after 3 months was ridiculous. Hope he does well if he gets the Roma job. He’s one of the good guys
@Brendan Byrne: good guy but his record was awful at Fulham.
@irishoverseas: he has been sacked 3 times in a row. Laughing all the way to the bank
@grandslamkbo: don’t most managers get sacked at most clubs unless they retire? Very few just move on after their contract expires.
@irishoverseas: not as bad as his predecessor but still terrible
@Brendan Byrne: Fulham sacking him wasn’t remotely ridiculous. If anything they should have done it sooner. He’s a great manager but it was clearly not working there and was never going to.
Feel sorry for di Francesco think he is a good coach the players have let him down badly.
@Noel Doherty: or maybe people are just underrating Porto