Final game - Will Claudio Ranieri's incredible Roma return end with Champions League?

Claudio Ranieri will evoke warm memories for even the coldest hearted football fans. The congenial Italian is adored in his homeland and England with his managerial career spanning five decades. Ranieri’s managerial career began almost 40 years ago at Vigor Lamezia and he’s coached 18 different clubs, plus internationally with Greece during an incredible career.

The 73-year-old’s most famous achievement arrived in 2016 when he led Leicester City to an unthinkable Premier League title against all odds - one of the greatest shocks in history. Despite his age, Ranieri's love for the beautiful game remains undiminished and he’s had an incredible impact since returning to his hometown club Roma for his third spell in charge. The veteran Italian will take charge of his final game tonight against Torino before moving upstairs and it could end with Champions League qualification for the first time in six years.

Claudio Ranieri’s Roma swansong

Ranieri returned to the Stadio Olimpico amid turmoil in November to become their fourth permanent manager in 2024. Despite leading the club to their first ever European trophy, Jose Mourinho was sacked in January and replaced with club legend Daniele De Rossi. The Italian, however, was dismissed in September with his replacement Ivan Juric only lasting 53 days in charge before Ranieri was brought in to instill calm until the end of the season. Roma director and icon Francesco Totti labelled Ranieri a ‘safe pair of hands’ and that assessment has proven true. Roma were languishing in 13th in Serie A when the legendary Italian returned and their league campaign looked destined to be miserable but Ranieri has revived their fortunes and they now sit fifth. European football is already guaranteed but it could yet be in the Champions League.

As the graphic above illustrates, no club have picked up more points than Roma since Ranieri's appointment. I Giallorossi have picked up 53 points from 24 games which is level to the two title rivals Inter Milan and Napoli - Roma's record is even superior to Antonio Conte's men on goal difference. Ahead of the final matchday tonight, Roma are one point off Juventus in the final Champions League place with Lazio just one point behind their Rome rivals. Fifth place secures Europa League qualification in Italy and sixth place is Conference League, so it is all to play for. Roma are away to Torino, who have nothing to play for, while Juventus are away to Venezia, who are fighting to avoid relegation, so Ranieri's men still have hope.

Claudio Ranieri: The view from Italy

So how has Ranieri revived Roma’s season so successfully? Jatin Dietl, Transfermarkt’s Serie A expert, explains: “They always had a good squad but there were some problems with their coaches. De Rossi, in my opinion, is very good at pushing emotions and motivation, which is why they finished the last season so well. But he still lacks other qualities, so over the course of a long season, he still has room to grow. That’s one reason why they started so badly, and it wasn’t a good fit with Juric.

“Ranieri, with all his experience, was able to calm down a tense atmosphere. As I mentioned, the roster is good, and they have some very important players like Paulo Dybala and Manu Kone. He was also able to get key players like Mats Hummels, Leandro Paredes, Gianluca Mancini, and lately Matias Soulé, back into form. They’ve played a lot of the worst teams in Serie A but you still need to win those games. Tactically at the beginning of the season, Roma held onto the ball a lot without knowing exactly what to do with it - it seemed like they were passing the ball more to create danger for themselves than for the opponents. Ranieri, compared to De Rossi, gave Roma a more vertical style, and the team found a way to become dangerous.”