Spalletti calls time on Roma career

AS Roma coach Luciano Spalletti has announced his resignation from the Italian Serie A side, the Ansa news agency reported on Tuesday.

“I submitted my resignation and the club accepted it,” said Spalletti after a 30-minute meeting with club president Rosella Sensi.

Roma lost 3-1 at home to likely title contenders Juventus on Sunday to leave them bottom of the Serie A table, having lost their opening game of the season 3-2 at Genoa.

Spalletti, 50, joined the ‘Giallorossi’ in 2005 from Udinese. His contract was due to expire in 2011.

He initially enjoyed success at the Stadio Olimpico, taking the side to second-placed league finishes in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and back-to-back triumphs in the Italian Cup in 2007 and 2008.

Roma also made it to the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2007 and 2008, but they never recovered from a terrible start to last season and finished the campaign in a disappointing sixth place.

Spalletti had previously expressed his frustration at Roma’s lack of activity during the summer transfer window.

Young striker Fabio Zamblera, veteran Romanian goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont and Argentine defender Nicolas Burdisso, a loan signing from Inter Milan, were the only arrivals, while home-grown midfielder Alberto Aquilani was allowed to join Liverpool.

Spalletti was also rumoured to have fallen out with Roma’s iconic captain Francesco Totti, who has been at the club since 1989.

Spalletti is the first coach or manager to quit or be sacked from Italy’s top flight this season.

The Italian media have identified Claudio Ranieri as Spalletti’s potential successor. The 57-year-old was sacked as coach of Juventus prior to the end of last season.