Jose Mourinho has already turned his attention to his next challenge as he looks to build on Roma’s Europa Conference League win.
A first-half strike from Nicolo Zaniolo on Wednesday secured a 1-0 final win over Feyenoord to give the Giallorossi secured their first UEFA trophy and first title in any competition since the Coppa Italia in 2008.
Mourinho became the second coach to win five major European titles after Giovanni Trapattoni; the Portuguese coach added to his two crowns in both the Champions League and Europa League/UEFA Cup.
Roma had already secured Europa League football for next season by finishing sixth in Serie A, seven points behind a place in the top four for Champions League qualification.
Mourinho will lead them into that competition, having asserted his desire to stay, but he is quickly focusing on “what next” in the Eternal City.
“Memories stay forever and history can’t be deleted,” Mourinho posted on Instagram. “For me these were incredible, unforgettable emotions, but I need to think ‘what next’…
“Before that, I need to hug everyone. I need to tell the world my gratitude to my PLAYERS: every one of them, from Rui [Patricio] who played 54 matches to Pietro [Boer] who didn’t play one single minute.
“But in this team everyone played every minute of every game, that is what the Einsteins of football don’t know, don’t understand, and I feel sorry for them.
“Football is what you see and what you can’t see, football is not played by 11, it is played by many more, and we were so many… Players, coaches, medical staff, analysts, kitmen, kitchen people, families, friends, Romanisti, Mourinhisti, and I am so grateful to everyone.
“One day I will leave Roma and AS Roma, that’s the law of football, but more than one or more cups I would love to see this club forever and ever united by this passion and love.
“Two pictures to hug you all. Have a great June.”