Rudi Garcia’s contract extended. Roma fans rejoice.
AS Roma’s management announced Friday that it has renewed its contract with coach Rudi Garcia.Under the terms of his new contract, the 50-year-old former French midfielder will remain in the Roma dugout through June 2018.His contract was due to expire on June 30, 2015 but after Garciaguided Roma to a second-place finish in a Serie A season otherwise dominated by Juventus.It was the club’s most successful season in years as the Giallorossi earned a Champions League bid and look poised to keep most of its star players.
The French coach arrived in Rome last summer after spending five years with Lille – Les Dogues won Ligue 1 in 2011 – and promptly led the Giallorossi into a convincing challenge for the Italian championship. He gave Roma a record-setting defense, one that conceded just 25 goals, including just a single score in that 10-match win streak to start the year.
Juventus eventually came away as the winner with the third straight Scudetto in as many years but Garcia restored UEFA Champions League football to the Stadio Olimpico.
Garcia’s first task this offseason will be to convince breakout defensive star Mehdi Benatia to stay. The 27-year-old told Sky Sports two days ago that the club’s wage offer for a new deal is “unacceptable”, but that he did not explicitly say he wants to leave. Garcia has stood firm that his defender will not leave, despite reported interest from top teams across Europe.
