Ranieri: ‘It’s incredible new Roma coach has not leaked yet’ | OneFootball

Claudio Ranieri hints that Roma have already chosen their next coach and jokes it is ‘incredible’ it hasn’t leaked yet, but insists they could not have done more in his tenure before retirement. ‘We gave our all.’

The Giallorossi knew their only chance of securing fourth place and Champions League qualification was to beat Torino and hope Juventus dropped points away to Venezia.

That was the case for a while this evening, as they grabbed a 2-0 victory with goals from Leandro Paredes and Alexis Saelemaekers, but Juve fought back for a 3-2 win, so Roma enter the Europa League in fifth place.

Ranieri still experimenting with Roma

TURIN, ITALY – MAY 25: Eldor Shomurodov of AS Roma runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Adam Masina of Torino during the Serie A match between Torino and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 25, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

There was a somewhat surprising tactical tweak against Torino, as they were set out in a 4-3-3 formation.

“I saw in the second half against Milan we had done some good things, even down to 10 men, so I made adjustments for when we would play 4-3-3, when we’d go 3-5-2, depending on who had possession,” Ranieri told DAZN.

“This is what the lads wanted, and I always said from the start, we must fight to the last second and then see what happens. We didn’t get into the Champions League, I am sad for the fans and players, but we gave our all and could not do more than that.

“When I am in the thick of the fight, I don’t think about these things, but in a few months or years, I will be able to look back and evaluate my career.”

Roma future depends also on Ranieri

TURIN, ITALY – MAY 25: Paulo Dybala and Claudio Ranieri, Head Coach of AS Roma celebrate after the team’s 2-0 victory following the Serie A match between Torino and AS Roma at Stadio Olimpico di Torino on May 25, 2025 in Turin, Italy. (Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images)

Ranieri is going to retire now and helped to choose his replacement at Roma, so would Champions League qualification influence the decision?

“No, absolutely not. It is incredible that the club has been able to keep this quiet. Everyone is going crazy in Rome, when the owner wants to say it, he will say it, and then you will know who is the Roma coach for next season.”

Since Ranieri took over as their third coach of the campaign in November, the Giallorossi have earned enough points to put them top of the Serie A table. Are there regrets he didn’t come in earlier?

“I don’t think we could’ve aimed higher. There was a shake-up, but it’s not a fair evaluation. I took on the team in the worst moment, when their morale was rock bottom, they had lost all their self-esteem, so I tried to keep things simple and give them back the belief in themselves.

“The fans were on my side, because they know I rarely tell lies or sell dreams, at least 90 per cent of the time. They can trust me. We had two early defeats to Como and Atalanta, but then only lost two more all season in Serie A. The lads gave everything and that is what is important for me.”

epa12135665 Roma coach Claudio Ranieri celebrates with players the victory at the end of the Italian soccer Serie A match between Torino FC vs AS Roma at the Olimpico Grande Torino Stadium in Turin, Italy, 25 May 2025. EPA-EFE/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO

Ranieri received an award today for Serie A Fair Play moment of the season, a perfect summary of what he means to everyone as one of the truly great men in football.

“Thank you, I am happy to take these compliments. They are truly pleasing.”

It was pointed out to him that the two DAZN pundits speaking, Andrea Stramaccioni and Ciro Ferrara, had both replaced Ranieri following dismissal at Inter and Juventus respectively.

Stramaccioni therefore revealed an anecdote that again speaks to why the coach will be so sorely missed.

“I haven’t said this before, he waited for me at the Inter training camp to hand over the keys to his office, show me around and explain the team he was leaving to me. This is unheard of and a great way of understanding what a man Ranieri is.”

Now he is retiring from management, but should still be speaking to the media next season, as he will become a special advisor to Roma.

“I think I might even work harder from next season than I do now!” joked Ranieri.