Just hours after leaving the San Siro Stadium with a painful lower back injury, Daniele De Rossi was in Milan to finalize his contract as head coach of Genoa CFC—a move that could define the final chapter of his football career. The 42-year-old Italian legend, once the heartbeat of AS Roma as both player and short-lived manager, sustained an impact injury to his right lower back during or after Roma’s 2-1 defeat to Inter Milan on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Medical tests confirmed the injury on Wednesday, November 5, but crucially, no surgery was mentioned. The timing couldn’t be worse—or more dramatic.
A Coach in Pain, a Club in Crisis
Genoa CFC is drowning. After 10 matches in the 2025-2026 Serie A season, they have just six points: one win, three draws, six losses. Eight goals scored. Nineteen conceded. They sit dead last in the relegation zone, two points from safety and already behind the curve in a 38-game marathon. Their next match—November 9, 2025, at 13:00 UTC against ACF Fiorentina at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris—isn’t just another fixture. It’s a lifeline. And De Rossi, still limping from his injury, is expected to be on the sideline.Reports from football insider Fabrizio Romano, cited by Zamin.uz, confirm De Rossi met with Genoa’s board in Milan on November 5 to sign a two-year deal. The club didn’t delay. They didn’t wait for him to heal. They needed him—now. In a league where managerial changes are often reactive, Genoa’s decision to move forward despite the injury is bold. Maybe even desperate.
De Rossi’s Rocky Coaching Resume
This isn’t De Rossi’s first time taking a job under fire. His previous head coaching stints—first at AS Roma in 2024, then at SPAL in early 2025—both lasted less than eight months. At Roma, he inherited a squad in transition and was sacked after a string of poor results. At SPAL, he was fired after failing to win a single match in his first six games. Critics called him too emotional, too tied to his Roma legacy. But fans? They remember the player.De Rossi played 765 games for Roma over 20 years. He captained them to three Coppa Italia titles. He was the last great link between the club’s 2001 Scudetto and the modern era. His November 14, 2014 press conference—where he famously said, “No regrets for staying at Roma”—still echoes in the stands. Now, he’s being asked to rebuild another club with the same grit.
Can He Walk the Walk?
The injury isn’t just a physical hurdle—it’s a psychological one. Can De Rossi effectively lead training sessions? Can he analyze film from a seated position? Can he rally players when he’s in pain? Genoa’s medical staff reportedly confirmed he’s expected to be “mobile and mentally engaged” by the Fiorentina match. But no one’s seen him train yet.His playing career ended in Argentina with a brief spell at Boca Juniors in 2020, after which he transitioned fully into coaching. That’s the key: he’s never coached while injured. Not even close. The last time he played with a back issue was in 2017, and even then, he was a 33-year-old veteran with a decade of experience to fall back on. Now, he’s the boss. The buck stops with him.
Why This Matters Beyond Genoa
This isn’t just about one club’s survival. It’s about the culture of Italian football. Genoa, founded in 1893, is the oldest club in Italy. They’ve won nine league titles—but haven’t won one since 1924. Their fans are loyal, weary, and desperate for a spark. De Rossi represents something bigger: a bridge between past glory and present chaos. He’s not a flashy hire. He’s not a tactical genius like Mancini or Allegri. But he’s a warrior. And in Serie A, where results are everything, sometimes that’s enough.Meanwhile, Roma’s medical team quietly confirmed that De Rossi’s injury was sustained during a collision in the 78th minute of the Inter match. No red card. No immediate substitution. He walked off under his own power. That’s the kind of player he was. And maybe, just maybe, that’s the kind of coach Genoa needs.
What’s Next?
De Rossi’s first test comes on November 9. If Genoa beats Fiorentina, even 1-0, it will be seen as a miracle. If they lose again, pressure will mount—and questions will turn to whether his injury is a distraction or a dealbreaker. The club’s board has publicly stated they’re “fully committed” to De Rossi, but Serie A doesn’t wait for healing. It rewards results.Meanwhile, De Rossi’s former club, Roma, is now under new management. They’re 11th in the table. No one’s talking about him anymore. But in Genoa, the streets are whispering his name. The fans are hoping he still has that fire.
Frequently Asked Questions
How serious is Daniele De Rossi’s back injury?
AS Roma’s official statement described it as "after-effects of an impact injury" to the right lower back, with no mention of surgery. While not classified as severe, it’s significant enough to limit mobility and training. Medical sources suggest a 2-4 week recovery timeline, but De Rossi is expected to coach through the pain, especially with Genoa’s immediate relegation threat.
Why did Genoa hire him despite the injury?
Genoa is in freefall—18th in Serie A with only 6 points. They’ve tried five coaches since 2023. De Rossi brings credibility, leadership, and deep Serie A experience. Even injured, he’s seen as the only figure capable of uniting a fractured locker room. The club believes his emotional connection to the game can inspire players more than tactics alone.
Has De Rossi ever coached while injured before?
No. De Rossi has never managed a professional team while physically impaired. His previous roles at Roma and SPAL ended due to poor results, not health issues. This is uncharted territory. His ability to communicate, analyze, and motivate from the bench—rather than on the pitch—will be the true test of his coaching adaptability.
What’s at stake for Genoa in the Fiorentina match?
A win would lift Genoa to 9 points, pulling them within one point of 17th-place Spezia and out of the automatic relegation zone. A loss would drop them to 6 points with seven matches left before the winter break—making survival nearly impossible without a dramatic turnaround. The match isn’t just about points; it’s about momentum, belief, and proving De Rossi’s appointment wasn’t a gamble.
Could De Rossi return to Roma as coach again?
Unlikely. Roma’s board has moved on, hiring a new manager after De Rossi’s short tenure in 2024. His legacy at Roma is sacred, but his coaching stints have been too turbulent. The club now favors younger, tactically modern coaches. De Rossi’s future lies elsewhere—perhaps in the national team setup, or even abroad—if Genoa survives.
How does this compare to other coaching transitions in Serie A?
It’s rare for a manager to take over a relegation-threatened club while injured. The closest parallel was Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus in 2014, who returned from a minor injury to lead a title charge—but he was healthy by matchday. De Rossi’s situation is more akin to Luciano Spalletti’s 2005 return to Roma after a heart scare: emotionally powerful, physically uncertain, and entirely dependent on willpower.
