Former Leicester coach Claudio
Ranieri said Friday he was "returning to my mother's house"
after the 73-year-old Rome native took over at AS Roma for the
third time, vowing to heal ructions with fans.
"I had stopped coaching, I would have returned only for Roma and
(other former club) Cagliari if it had been necessary," said
Ranieri, who has replaced Croatian manager Ivan Juric, sacked
following a 3-2 home defeat to Bologna Sunday that left the
Giallorossi four points above the relegation zone in 12th place.
"Here I have returned to my mother's house, I am first a fan and
then a coach," he told his first press conference back on the
Roma bench.
"This is why I tell the fans to stay close to us. "Playing at
home with the public whistling is the most difficult thing that
can exist.
"I want a united team and public. We are all a family: players,
coach, club, employees.
"I don't have time to make mistakes.
"I have to get the fans to come to the stadium and send them
away satisfied."
The team had hired former Torino coach Juric in September to
replace club legend Daniele De Rossi after a winless run in
their first four Serie A games of the season.
Ranieri is best known for the football fairy tale of leading
Leicester City to the Premier League title in the 2015-16
season.
He was previously in charge of Roma from 2009-2011 and for a
short spell in 2019.
He had said he would not coach another club, but was open to
taking over a national team, after guiding Cagliari to safety in
Serie A last season.
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