“When we sat down to discuss the ideal candidate for the role of Roma coach, we wanted someone who could come in and get the very best out of our first team players and also help bring through some of the great young talent coming out of our academy,” Roma’s American owner James Pallotta told the club’s official website on Tuesday.
With his trademark trendy specs, in walked Eusebio Di Francesco, the former Sassuolo man fitting that brief perfectly. The 47-year old was brought in as a replacement to Luciano Spalletti and signed a two-year deal with the Giallorossi, his excellent reputation in Serie A having landed him the prestigious role.
Alongside the monumental appointment of famed former Sevilla sporting director Monchi, this marked a clear change in direction for the capital club, especially in light of the turbulent times suffered last season. On-field matters were completely overshadowed by the “will-he-won’t-he” saga of Francesco Totti’s retirement, a worn-out Spalletti having opted to leave the club for Inter after the issue left him broken and exhausted.
With a clean break, Pallotta is looking to finally bring success to the club. It may come as a surprise to some that the last time Roma won the title was back in 2001, with Totti as captain and Di Francesco as his team-mate. Despite his more widely-recognised peers, he was already well-known for his workrate and leadership on the field, and it was perhaps inevitable that this reliable character would make the move into coaching after his retirement in 2005.
2017: Roma manager 🤓
Eusebio Di Francesco returns to Roma as Luciano Spalletti's replacement. 🇮🇹
Lega Pro club Virtus Lanciano provided his first opportunity as head Coach, and from there he moved onto Pescara in Serie B and Lecce in Serie A. Sacked at Lecce after having only achieved an eight point-haul in 13 games, Di Francesco moved on to second-tier Sassuolo in summer 2012. And it was here where he truly made his mark.
After current Juventus boss Max Allegri had brought the Neroverdi to Serie B in 2008, many – including the experienced Andrea Mandorlini and Stefano Pioli – had tried and failed to take the club over the threshold to Serie A. But despite his relative lack of experience, Di Francesco did so at the first attempt, achieving a top-flight berth for the first ever time in the club’s history.
Not only did he manage to avoid relegation the following year, but in 2015-16 Sassuolo defied all expectations by finishing in sixth place, achieving Europa League qualification. Results waned last season, the rigours of European competition too much for a young and developing squad. But the achievements of Di Francesco were widely recognised, his peers voting him in 3rd place in the “Panchina d’Oro” (golden bench) awards only behind Allegri and Napoli’s Maurizio Sarri.
His spell in Reggio Emilia was clearly characterised by a focus on youth and a 4-3-3 system that was initially learned from his former Roma boss Zdenek Zeman. Now he clearly intends to take this philosophy forward at his new club, as he confirmed upon his appointment.
“I almost always played with 4-3-3. I prefer a four-man defence, as I only ever used three at the back when it was absolutely necessary,” he told Roma TV. “In order to grow, a Coach must know how to transmit his philosophy to the squad. As far as I am concerned, the four-man defence is the basis for this Roma.”
Having set out his stall from the get-go is a positive sign at a club where the fans can place immense pressure on those in charge. His partnership with Monchi will allow him to grow like never before, but he will also need that toughness in order to face the criticism that will inevitably come when results don’t go as planned.
The issue of mentality has plagued the Roma squad right through spells in charge for Rudi Garcia and Luciano Spalletti, something that the young boss will never have faced at Sassuolo. Sticking to his principles and protecting the players will be something that becomes as important as his Coaching ability as the weeks progress in his new job.
“Walking through those gates was like coming home again after many years,” he revealed in the same interview. Eusebio Di Francesco will receive a heroes’ welcome at the Stadio Olimpico when the season kicks off, but how long that feeling will last will be very much up to him.
