Ranieri resigns as Roma coach
Reuters - Sunday 20 February 2011, 21:12
ROME - Claudio Ranieri resigned as coach
of troubled AS Roma following their shock 4-3 loss at Genoa on
Sunday in a match they had led 3-0.
"I have always thought about the good of Roma," he was
quoted as saying by ANSA news service.
"After a game like that today, I think it is right to give a
signal. At the final whistle I went into the dressing room to
thank the team and I have decided to resign."
Cash-strapped Roma, who are in the process of being sold,
lost 3-2 at home to Ukrainians Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions
league last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
Around 200 fans protested at Roma's training ground on
Saturday, throwing flares and firecrackers at the gates before
being dispersed by police.
Roma produced a stunning run to finish second in Serie A
last term in Ranieri's first season in charge after taking over
from Luciano Spalletti. They now lie eighth and have not won in
five games in all competitions.
Rome-born Ranieri has also had a difficult relationship with
club captain Francesco Totti, who has played for Roma his whole
career and is regarded by fans as the heartbeat of the club.
MONTELLA CARETAKER?
American consortium Di Benedetto is in talks to buy the club
and reports had said they might look to replace the former
Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Valencia and Juventus coach in any
case, with current Chelsea manager and Roma fan Carlo Ancelotti
touted.
Retired former Roma striker Vincenzo Montella could take
over in a caretaker role but it is unclear who would make the
decision given the club's circumstances.
Rosella Sensi remains the president until the club is bought
but creditor bank UniCredit has been in de facto control for
months as it looks to recoup debts from a sale which has dragged
on and stopped Ranieri buying players in January.
However, the club hierarchy were already pondering Ranieri's
position before he resigned.
"We want to think about things calmy. We will make a
decision with our head," director Gian Paolo Montali told
reporters straight after the Genoa game.