Ranieri: ‘Would be a mistake’ to continue as Roma coach, even with Champions League | OneFootball

Claudio Ranieri has admitted that it ‘would be a mistake’ for him to continue as head coach of his beloved Roma for 2025-26, even if the Giallorossi manage to qualify for next season’s edition of the Champions League.

Ranieri is currently acting as interim head coach of the Giallorossi until the end of the 2024-25 campaign, at which stage he will transition into a directorship role and will also have a say on his replacement in the dugout.

Is Ranieri the best man for the Roma job?

However, despite his age, 74 in October, and the fact that he already has an agreement in place to step into a backroom role in the summer, there have been suggestions that the best man for the Roma head coach job is still Ranieri himself.

That is because Roma are currently the division’s form side, having won more points than any other team in the division over the last 10 games. Eight wins and two draws for 26 points, to be precise.

ROME, ITALY – APRIL 19: The players of AS Roma pose for a team photo prior to kick-off ahead of the Serie A match against Hellas Verona at Stadio Olimpico on April 19, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

By comparison, league leaders Napoli have picked up 19 points over that period, and have overtaken Inter to the top of the table in the process.

As things stand, Roma are in sixth place in the Serie A table, but are just two points off the top four. And, they could be set to benefit from the upcoming match between fourth-placed Juventus and fifth-placed Bologna over the weekend.

Why Ranieri will not continue as Roma head coach: ‘A mistake’

ROME, ITALY – APRIL 19: Claudio Ranieri looks on prior to the Serie A match between AS Roma and Verona at Stadio Olimpico on April 19, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

However, even if Roma do pull off an impressive run to the 2025-26 Champions League, Ranieri has admitted that he will still not be convinced to stay on as head coach.

Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of the upcoming game against Fiorentina, Ranieri said: “I love my team. But another year would be a mistake for Roma.

“I will help them with everything that will be needed. Getting into the Champions League is not what it was like at Leicester. We have to fight, we can’t have any excuses. We have four games and we have to be champing at the bit.”