After Roma Make History In Conference League, Mourinho Wants “Special Project”

As the full time whistle blew at the Arena Kombëtare, Roma fans everywhere joyfully celebrated becoming the first team ever to lift the UEFAEFA
Europa Conference League trophy.

Not only did it mark the end of the inaugural edition of this newest competition, it also saw the Italian club claim their first ever international trophy and end their 14-year wait for silverware of any kind.

Furthermore, this was the first time a Serie A side had won a European trophy since Inter’s Champions League triumph back in 2010. That the same coach had masterminded both triumphs would certainly not be lost on Jose Mourinho, but in truth this victory was about so much more than adding yet another winner’s medal to the Portuguese boss’ impressive collection.

Indeed, this was a redemption story for so many of the club’s players. Mourinho’s compatriot and goalkeeper Rui Patricio was rewarded for his decision to leave Wolves, just as 24-year-old Tammy Abraham’s bold move to leave London at a key moment in his career paid off in spectacular fashion.

Former Manchester United men Chris Smalling and Henrikh Mkhitaryan also started the final, while Lorenzo Pellegrini will never be forgotten by Roma fans after captaining his hometown club to glory.

Just as Giallorossi supporters celebrated, so too did their American owners, led by billionaire Dan Friedkin. Having bought the club in August 2020, they had made bold moves – including the appointment of Mourinho – which have now begun to reap dividends, Roma moving back into Italian football’s elite group after spending the past few years struggling to keep pace.

They might have only finished sixth in Serie A this term, but their Conference League victory guarantees them a place in the Europa League next season while putting them on a clearly upward trajectory.

Also important was the prize money this successful European campaign has delivered. It might pale in comparison with the funds earned by sides in the UEFA Champions League, but this prize money will be vital to Roma in the coming months.

According to this UEFA report, the club will have received almost €20 million ($21m) in total from their journey to the final. They earned €2.94 million ($3.14m) for reaching the group stage, then €500,000 ($534,760) for each of their victories and €166,000 ($171,123) for the match they drew, plus a further €650,000 ($695,188m) for topping their pool

That gives a group stage total of €5.75 million ($6.15m), then €300,000 ($320,856m) for winning in the round of 32, €600,000 ($641,712m) for the last-16, €1 million ($1.07m) for winning in the quarterfinals, €2 million ($2.14m) for the semis and €5 million ($5.34m) for winning the competition.

Added to that is a payment of €1.34 million ($1.43m) based on their UEFA coefficient over the past 10 years, and finally – as the peninsula’s sole representative – all of Italy’s market pool worth an additional €4.36 million ($4.66m).

That gives the important sum of €19.63 million ($21 million) in total prize money from UEFA, a sum that represents a huge boost to Roma’s finances that should help them further boost the squad available to Mourinho as they look to build on their successes next season.

“I’ve been at Roma for 11 months, I knew the moment I arrived what it meant to the people. They had been waiting for something like this,” the Coach told Sky Italia immediately after the final had ended.

“This was not work tonight, this was history. We had to write history. We wrote it,” Mourinho continued. “We need to see what our owners, who are fantastic people, want to do next season because this is history, but we can build a special project.”

He’s already started.