Everton owners The Friedkin Group have appointed Gian Piero Gasperini as the new head coach at AS Roma after 9 years at the helm in Bergamo.
Having gone through four different head coaches in 2024 – Jose Mourinho, Daniele De Rossi, Ivan Juric (who, curiously after taking Southampton down, now takes over at Atalanta), and interim boss Claudio Ranieri – Roma’s owners, The Friedkin Group, have now turned to Gasperini.
A club statement said: “Gasperini’s career is defined by its creative tactics, dedication to hard work, and exceptional player development. Both ownership and Claudio Ranieri (who now takes up an executive role at the club) believe Gasperini is the right man for the mission.”
The 67-year-old has signed a 3-year contract at the Stadio Olimpico. TFG appear to be developing a pattern of having trusted experienced men at the helm after their dalliance with rookie coach and former fan favourite as a player, De Rossi, ended swiftly, and later the 73-year-old Ranieri was brought out of retirement to steady the ship last November.
It's tempting to draw parallels with TFG's ownership of Everton, where David Moyes spoke of his task on the occasion of his 62nd birthday in April:
“I don’t want to do a Fergie and I don’t want to be Roy Hodgson. That is not my plan.
“I have two more years left here and I will take my time and see how it goes. I am looking forward to seeing how we can go again and see if I can try and help build it again.
“I look at the way I came in the first time and even following a bit at West Ham, a team near the bottom of the league and we made a great improvement the next year and started to get in and around Europe. I have a wee bit of hope that that is the way I can get it going but I think the big thing for us is to try and get the ship moving in the right direction again.
“It looks as if it is, but we are still introducing new owners, there’ll be new players and that might take a bit of time for us to find our feet.”
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Posted
08/06/2025 at
06:27:27
These owners don't seem shy in moving managers on.
I wouldn't confess to be a supporter, but I follow Roma.
We visit most years and will be doing in October. If it aligns with a fixture, I'll go along.
The last time I went to the Olympico, you had to present identification, passport or driving licence, to buy a ticket.
I don't know much about this manager, but with European football and a new 55,000 seater stadium on the horizon, they could have a bright future.
Posted
08/06/2025 at
07:01:53
Yes, it was interesting, Eric.
To your other question, I think we'll see a few more Everton-Roma links now due to them both being part of TFG. That could also result in player exchanges, be they loans (more likely) or transfers.
From what I've read, the Roma supporters have been suspicious since their takeover of Everton. But TFG don't operate that way. They put people in place to run their businesses (all 21 of them).
The only time it could get complicated will be when we qualify for Europe. Should we end up in the same competition, Uefa rules, as I understand them, stipulate that no two clubs with the same owners can compete in the same competition. That could be an awkward one.
Posted
08/06/2025 at
15:10:00
I don't disagree with you Robert. Be it FIFA, UEFA or the Premier League, they look after what "assets" they feel will draw the most revenue.
But, who is to say we and Roma can't crack that? Roma gave it a good go last season and only just missed out.
Stephen, I don't believe TFG are in this to be nearly rans.
Top tip, and a first world problem, when submitting a link, highlight it and click on the URL button under the post. It then just shows up as link and avoids click and past.
On the subject of the new stadium, for those who were rumouring that we won't be ready, I don't think the club are thinking that way. This from the official website today.
Hill Dickinson Stadium Nears Fitting Finale
Then again, there were some who doubted it would ever happen. It's happening and we will kick off our first game of the new season at our new home.
Posted
08/06/2025 at
15:41:51
I guess we'll see after the fixtures are announced on 18th June, Brian. I still can't see how the club wouldn't have said something by now, but who knows?
I'm sure many of you have received the email offering 3 levels of corporate seats and facilities. The two top tiers are already sold out. The lowest one, that provides pre-match visibility of the players on their way to the tunnel to enter the pitch has limited availability.
I'll just go in the stand and watch the team come out on the pitch like I always have done.
To repeat, I can't see how the club wouldn't have said something by now. The owners and board will have contracted businesses to carry out the work to a deadline, which is just cosmetic now.
And since the appointment of a new CEO, with Colin Chong now overseeing the new stadium and projects for regeneration of the surrounding docklands.
The only thing would not be obtaining the safety certificate, but after two test events, I've seen nothing to suggest we won't, and my word, Goodison must have been passing that through the skin of it's teeth these past few years.
But as you allude to, wait and see.
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1 Posted 07/06/2025 at 16:15:39
Seems so, Michael, and it'll be a tendency worth noting when Moyes inevitably requires replacement.