Ranieri comes out of retirement to coach Roma for a third time

Veteran Claudio Ranieri returned from retirement to coach his hometown team, Roma, on Thursday, becoming the third coach for the capital team during its faltering season.

Roma said Ranieri had signed a contract until the end of the season.

The 73-year-old will then move to play a “senior executive role, where he will be an advisor to the owners on all sporting matters at the club.

”“The search for a coach will continue during the coming months,” Gallorossi continued.

“Claudio will have a role in this decision as well.

”Ranieri agreed to coach Roma for the third time after negotiations in London on Wednesday, then fans surrounded him after his arrival at Fumicino Airport in Rome.

He will replace Croatian Ivan Juric, who was appointed in September after the club’s former midfield star, Daniele De Rossi, was dismissed due to poor results.

Juric was sacked after Sunday’s loss at home against Bologna 2-3.

Juric’s tenure was disastrous, as he achieved only four victories out of 12 matches in various competitions, leaving Roma in twelfth place in the league, four points away from the relegation zone.

Ranieri, who began his coaching career in 1986, announced his retirement from coaching after leading Cagliari to safety last season.

He told Sky Italy at the time that he might be interested in coaching a national team, but he returned to save Roma from its predicament.

Ranieri, who shockingly led Leicester City to the English Premier League title in 2016, replaced Eusebio Di Francesco in March 2019 and contributed to their qualification for the Europa League.

He is loved by the fans of the capital team, especially during his first period in 2009, when he replaced Luciano Spalletti and led him to compete for the title with Inter, led by the Portuguese Jose Mourinho.

He will undergo a baptism of fire when his team travels to leaders Napoli after the international window, then faces English club Tottenham in London in the Europa League and Atalanta at home.

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