Luciano Spalletti has resigned as Roma coach after the team opened their Serie A account with two consecutive losses. "I have given my resignation and the club have accepted it," he said. Claudio Ranieri, who was sacked by Juventus towards the end of last season, is being tipped to replace him. Roma lost 3-2 to Genoa in their first game of the campaign and were beaten 3-1 by Juventus on Sunday. Spalletti made the announcement himself after leaving a meeting with the Roma president, Rosella Sensi. Spalletti was in his fifth season with the club, having won two Italian Cups and one Italian Super Cup during his tenure. Roma finished runners-up in Serie A in Spalletti's first three seasons, but the Giallorossi finished sixth last season and out of the Champions League places. Spalletti was known to be unhappy with the club's efforts to strengthen the side in the transfer market and the club is still largely dependent on captain Francesco Totti, who turns 33 later this month. Roma made only a modest showing in the latest transfer window by signing two players on loan - Romania goalkeeper Bogdan Lobont from Dinamo Bucharest and 19-year-old forward Fabio Zamblare from Newcastle.
* Agencies