“Roma CEO Lina Souloukou Resigns Amid Fan Backlash: Club Eyes Successor”
The owners of Roma were taken aback by CEO Lina Souloukou’s resignation, which came in response to the backlash following Daniele De Rossi’s dismissal. Despite their surprise, they accepted her decision and plan to search for her replacement in the coming weeks.
According to Corriere della Sera, Souloukou stepped down due to insults and threats from fans. She was particularly unsettled by needing a security detail even while taking her children to school. Her decision to resign came swiftly.
In addition to the tension over De Rossi, Souloukou’s position was further weakened by the collapse of the Paulo Dybala transfer to Al-Qadsiah, a deal she had personally negotiated. Despite these issues, the Friedkin family would have kept her on if she had chosen to stay.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, director Florent Ghisolfi may also be in jeopardy, as he was never formally introduced in his role. For now, general secretary Maurizio Lombardo will temporarily step in.
The club’s owners have a shortlist of candidates to replace Souloukou. They are considering bringing back Umberto Gandini, a former executive with long-standing ties to Milan, who is currently the head of the Italian basketball league, and Giampaolo Montali, who played a key role during the Franco Sensi era.
Additionally, Roma may look to a former player to fill the CEO role. Potential candidates include Zibì Boniek, who has been linked to a return in the past, and Zvonimir Boban, who has prior managerial experience. There’s also the possibility of a less conventional choice, perhaps from the world of American sports.