* Director confirms Spanish coach has left
* No replacement yet in the frame, Roma say
(Adds quotes and details)
ROME, May 11 (Reuters) – Luis Enrique has quit as manager of
AS Roma, putting an end to a troubled reign in charge of the
Serie A side, the club’s general director confirmed on Friday.
“His work was good. At a certain point it wore him out and
he felt the need to stop,” general director Franco Baldini told
Sky. “He won’t be training anywhere next season.
“We invited him to take all the time he needed to decide,
hoping right until the end that he would stay.”
Italian media had reported Luis Enrique’s departure on
Thursday, after a video surfaced of him apparently saying to
goodbye to the players at the club’s training ground, but
neither Roma, nor the coach himself, confirmed the news.
The season has been a tough one for Roma, whose new owners,
led by American Thomas DiBenedetto, put the Spaniard in charge
of a long-term project that they hoped would make the club as
successful as the big three of AC Milan, Juventus and Inter
Milan.
However, the club have suffered 14 defeats, are seventh in
the league with one game to play and may not qualify for Europe
next season.
The club remained publicly supportive of Luis Enrique but it
was clear that pressure from fans and the local media irritated
him.
Baldini said the club was committed to a flamboyant style of
play which would continue under the new manager.
“The project hasn’t failed, we want to carry on playing a
certain type of football, and from league statistics Roma is the
team that has had more possession than any other, and is third
behind Juve and Milan for territorial dominance and pass
completion.
“This says a lot about the quality of play. The failure has
been how our league campaign went, but the style of play was
want we wanted from the beginning.
Former Roma striker Vincenzo Montella, who coached the club
in the second half of last season after Claudio Ranieri’s
departure, has been tipped to take Luis Enrique’s place but
Baldini said the club had not yet lined up anyone.
“I don’t know (about Montella). From when we knew that
Enrique was leaving we have thought about alternatives, but we
haven’t had the time to contact anyone.
“I don’t know how long it will be before we know the name of
our new coach, (but outgoing Barcelona coach Pep) Guardiola
would be science-fiction.”
(Reporting by Terry Daley; Editing by Clare Fallon;
clare.fallon@thomsonreuters.com; +44 20 7542 7933; Reuters
Messaging:
clare.fallon.reuters.com@reuters.net
)
