Ranieri rejected Chelsea for Roma return: ‘I have no connections in England’ | OneFootball

Roma head coach Claudio Ranieri has revealed that he rejected an opportunity to return to Premier League side Chelsea in an advisory role before he ended up back at the Stadio Olimpico with his beloved Giallorossi earlier this year.

Ranieri is currently serving as head coach of Roma until the end of the 2024-25 season, at which point he will transition into a director role behind the scenes. The former Premier League winner will also have a say in the club’s next permanent appointment of a head coach.

epa11753656 Roma’s coach Claudio Ranieri looks on during the Serie A soccer match between AS Roma and Atalanta BC, in Rome, Italy, 02 December 2024. EPA-EFE/ALESSANDRO DI MEO

Ranieri rejected Chelsea before Roma return

Speaking in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport published on Thursday, Ranieri revealed that he had an approach from Chelsea before rejoining Roma, but turned down the chance to go back to Stamford Bridge as he felt he didn’t ‘have the connections’ in England in the same way that he does in Italy.

“In England, they say that ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’. Nobody has a magic wand. I was asked to put things back in their place, also while acting as an advisor,” Ranieri said when asked where Roma are in their journey to returning to the top.

He then continued: “They had already asked after me at Chelsea, but I said no. In England, I don’t have the connections that I have here, which I need to do things properly.

27 Jul 2001: Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri at the launch of the club’s new away kit at Harlington Training Ground in London. Mandatory Credit: Ben Radford/Allsport

“Roma is my life, and now I have more experience, I’m vaccinated against every situation. It’s also the realisation of a childhood dream, from somebody who stood in the Curva Sud.

“I also like this dual role, between coaching and managing.”