Sports
Mourinho leaves behind a ‘hidden’ message for Roma after sack
In the aftermath of his abrupt departure from Serie A club AS Roma, Jose Mourinho has left an emotional message for the club’s supporters.
The 60-year-old was relieved of his duties on Tuesday, marking the sixth time in his career that he has been sacked, having previously managed Chelsea (twice), Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Tottenham. Mourinho, known as the ‘Special One,’ had spent two-and-a-half years at the helm of the Italian club.
The decision reportedly caught Roma players unaware, as Mourinho’s dismissal came just months after he guided the team to their first major European trophy by defeating Feyenoord in the 2021/22 UEFA Europa Conference League final.
Despite the disappointing first half of the season that led to his departure, Mourinho had cultivated a strong connection with Roma supporters, who credit him with bringing success back to the Stadio Olimpico after a 14-year trophy drought.
In a tearful farewell on Tuesday morning, Mourinho bid adieu to fans who had gathered at the club’s training ground. Later in the day, he broke his silence by posting an emotional video on his Instagram page, accompanied by a hidden message.
The video montage featured images capturing Mourinho’s time in Rome, including moments with the club’s fans and the triumphant celebration of the Conference League trophy.
Set to Andrea Bocelli’s operatic ballad “Nelle tue mani” (Now we are free), the post was captioned with a heartfelt message: “Sudore, sangue, lacrime, allegria, tristezza, amoR, fratelli, storia, cuore, eternità,” which translates to “Sweat, blood, tears, joy, sadness, love, brothers, history, heart, family.”
Roma fans expressed gratitude in the comments section, and some keen-eyed supporters noticed that Mourinho had capitalized the ‘R’ in ‘amoR.’
When spelled backward, ‘amoR’ becomes ‘Roma,’ hinting at the manager’s deep connection to the club.
Read more; How much Mourinho makes from getting sacked
