De Rossi's Contract at Roma is Extended Just 3 Months after Replacing Mourinho

Roma's head coach Daniele De Rossi, center, celebrates at the end of the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Roma's head coach Daniele De Rossi, center, celebrates at the end of the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
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De Rossi's Contract at Roma is Extended Just 3 Months after Replacing Mourinho

Roma's head coach Daniele De Rossi, center, celebrates at the end of the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Roma's head coach Daniele De Rossi, center, celebrates at the end of the Europa League quarterfinal first leg soccer match between AC Milan and Roma at the San Siro Stadium, in Milan, Italy, Thursday, April 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)

Daniele De Rossi’s contract at Roma has been extended after just three months on the job, club owners Dan and Ryan Friedkin announced Thursday.
“After meeting yesterday afternoon with Daniele De Rossi, we are delighted to announce he will continue as head coach of AS Roma after this season and for the foreseeable future,” the Friedkins said in a statement. “In his short tenure as head coach, the positive impact that his leadership has brought to the entire club has told its own story.”
When De Rossi, a former Roma captain, took over for the fired Jose Mourinho in January with a contract through the end of the season, Roma was languishing in ninth place and at risk of missing out on qualifying for Europe. Under De Rossi, Roma has surged to fifth place and is in contention for a Champions League spot, The Associated Press reported.
In 16 games across all competitions under De Rossi, Roma has won 11, drawn three and lost two. The only defeat under De Rossi in Serie A came against Italian leader Inter Milan, with the other loss being a 1-0 defeat to Brighton in the second leg of the Europa League round of 16 after Roma had virtually secured advancement with a 4-0 victory in the opening leg.
The owners' announcement comes ahead of a Europa League quarterfinal second leg against AC Milan later Thursday — with Roma holding a 1-0 lead from the first leg.
“We couldn’t be happier to build a long-term project with Daniele,” the Friedkins said. “Further details to follow in the coming days.”



South Korea Expresses Regret after Its Athletes Introduced as North Korea at Opening Ceremony

 Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
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South Korea Expresses Regret after Its Athletes Introduced as North Korea at Opening Ceremony

 Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)
Athletes of South Korea travel by boat along the Seine river during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, in Paris, France, Friday, July 26, 2024. (AP)

South Korea expressed regret that its delegation of athletes at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on Friday was introduced as from rival North Korea and has demanded assurances from organizers the mistake will not happen again.

As the boat carrying South Korean athletes passed on the Seine, the announcer introduced them as the "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" - the official name of North Korea - in French and English.

The announcer used the same introduction when the North Korean delegation passed.

South Korea's vice minister for sports and culture, Jang Mi-ran, who was in Paris, had requested a meeting with International Olympics Committee President Thomas Bach, the ministry said in a statement.

"We express regret that the country was introduced as North Korea at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games when the athletes of the Republic of Korea were entering," it said.

South Korea's National Olympic Committee immediately referred the incident to the Games' organizers and requested that the error will not be repeated.

South Korea's delegation includes 143 athletes competing in 21 events. North Korea, which is returning to the Games for the first time since Rio 2016, has sent 16 athletes.