Tag: Roma

Francesco Totti had a weird idea for his final match with Roma

It’s a good thing they weren’t awarded a penalty with him on the pitch

(AS Roma)

A lot of thought and planning went into Francesco Totti’s final match with Roma, but according to teammate Juan Jesus, the captain kept changing his mind on the decision in the days leading up to his farewell. He even formulated an insane strategy if he had the chance to take a penalty in the match.

From ESPN FC:

“He was nervous all week,” Jesus told Porto Alegre-based station Radio Atlantida. “One day he would say, ‘I’m quitting,’ and the next he would be, ‘I’m going to keep playing.’ Before Roma-Genoa, we all got together in the dressing room and he said, ‘If I get a penalty, I won’t score it, I’ll kick the ball into the Curva [Sud].’

“There wasn’t a penalty so instead he sent an autographed ball into the Curva after the game. Totti is a fantastic person and he deserves far more than just that party. He’s somebody who helps those in need a lot, without anybody needing to know about it.”

Now, it’s important to remember that this match had serious implications for Roma behind Totti’s sendoff. They were still battling Napoli for second place in Serie A and an automatic place in the Champions League group stage. They only won that decisive match against Genoa by a 3–2 margin on a Diego Perotti goal in the 90th minute. So Totti blasting a penalty into the stands in this situation would’ve been absolutely bananas.

And people thought John Terry orchestrating a guard of honor upon his substitution in the 26th minute of his final (far less meaningful) match was crazy.

Rome flooded with tears after Francesco Totti plays his final match

The Stadio Olimpico is now the world’s third largest body of salt water

Roma ended their season by beating Genoa 3–2 on a Diego Perotti goal in the 90th minute that secured second place in Serie A and a Champions League place next season. But the joy of this success was completely overshadowed by the sadness of Francesco Totti’s farewell after 25 years with his hometown club.

Totti came on in the 54th minute and would’ve scored if Daniele De Rossi didn’t edge him out to the ball in the 74th minute. After the match, there was a special ceremony where Totti symbolically passed his captain’s armband to Mattia Almaviva, the youngest captain in Roma’s youth academy. Mattia was born in 2006, when Totti was already 14 years into his professional career.

Totti was presented with a framed shirt inscribed with a heartfelt message.

And his teammates tossed him in the air one last time.

All the while, everyone in the stadium was crying as if they were living out the ending of Old Yeller.

Totti retires with 706 appearances and 307 goals for Roma across all competitions. He won Serie A in 2001 (and was a runner-up eight times, including this season), the Coppa Italia twice, and the World Cup in 2006 with Italy. He led all of Europe in scoring in 2006/07, and led Serie A in assists three times.

Before his final match, Totti wrote a letter to Roma fans, which was published on the club’s website.

Thank you, Rome.

Thank you to my mother and father, my brother, my relatives and my friends.

Thank you to my wife and to my three children.

I wanted to start from the end — from the goodbyes — because I don’t know if I’ll be able to read these lines.

It is impossible to sum up 28 years in a few sentences.

I’d like to do so with a song or poem, but I can’t write any.

Over the years, I’ve tried to express myself through my feet, which have made everything simpler for me ever since I was a child.

Speaking of childhood, can you guess what my favourite toy was? A football, of course! And it still is today.

At some point in life, you grow up — that’s what I’ve been told and that’s what time has decided.

Damned time.

Back on 17 June 2001, we all wanted time to pass a little more quickly.

We couldn’t wait to hear the referee blow the final whistle.

I still get goose bumps now when I think back to it.

Today, time has come to tap me on the shoulder and say:

‘We have to grow up. As of tomorrow, you’ll be an adult. Take off those shorts and boots because starting today, you are a man. You can no longer enjoy the smell of the grass, the sun on your face as you bear down on the opposition’s goal, the adrenaline consuming you, the joy of celebrating.’

Over the past few months, I’ve asked myself why I’m being awoken from this dream.

Imagine you’re a child having a good dream… and your mother wakes you up to go to school.

You want to keep dreaming… you try to slip back into the dream but you never can.

This time, it’s not a dream, but reality.

And I can no longer slip back in.

I want to dedicate this letter to all of you — to all the children that have supported me.

To the children of yesterday, who have grown up and become parents and to the children of today, who perhaps shout ‘Tottigol’.

I’d like to think that for you, my career has become a fairytale for you to pass on.

It’s really over now.

I’m taking off that jersey for the final time.

I’ll fold it away, even though I’m not ready to say ‘enough’ and perhaps I never will be.

Forgive me for not giving interviews and clarifying my thoughts, but it’s not easy to turn out the light.

I’m afraid. It’s not the same fear you feel when you’re standing in front of the goal, about to take a penalty.

This time, I can’t see what the future looks like through the holes of the net.

Allow me to be afraid.

This time, it’s me who needs you and the love that you’ve always shown me.

With your support, I will succeed in turning the page and throwing myself into a new adventure.

Now, it’s time for me to thank all of the team-mates, coaches, directors, presidents and everyone who has worked alongside me during this time.

To the fans and the Curva Sud, a guiding light for all Romans and Romanisti.

Being born Roman and Romanisti is a privilege.

Being the captain of this team is an honour.

You are — and will always be — my life. I will no longer entertain you with my feet, but my heart will always be there with you.

Now, I will go down the stairs and enter the dressing room that welcomed me as a child and that I now leave as a man.

I’m proud and happy to have given you 28 years of love.

I love you.

Great, now I’m crying, too.

Francesco Totti sits atop his throne at launch of gold 25th anniversary boots

Francesco Totti sits atop his throne at launch of gold 25th anniversary boots

A perfect celebration of Il Capitano’s 25 seasons with Roma

(AS Roma)

Francesco Totti is celebrating his 25th season with his beloved Roma and to mark the occasion, Nike released gorgeous limited-edition gold Tiempos ahead of Sunday’s Rome derby.

(Nike)

But the launch event in Rome was equally fitting, as Totti was given a proper throne to sit on while looking out over his adoring subjects. Each step leading up to Totti bore the name of previous ruler of Rome, with his own at the top.

Though his playing time has dwindled, Totti’s love of Roma has not diminished over the years. From Reuters:

“Rome is the most beautiful city in the world,” he added. “From one moment to the next, it takes your breath away with narrow streets and stunning scenery.

“Sure, I might have won more trophies elsewhere but my loyalty to Roma was like winning the Champions League to me.”

Here’s to another 25.

Francesco Totti scores late winner, makes young fan cry tears of joy

(AS Roma)
(AS Roma)

A little more than two weeks away from his 40th birthday, Francesco Totti hasn’t been given many chances to make an impact for Roma, but after coming off the bench at halftime against Sampdoria, he led his side to a comeback victory capped off by his stoppage time penalty (see the goal here). It was a moment that had fans weeping with joy, showing just how much they love this man.

Read more

Roma deny Francesco Totti a final appearance in the Champions League, Totti not amused

(@beinsports)
(@beinsports)

Francesco Totti’s final season is off to a less than ideal start. Porto beat Roma 4-1 on aggregate in Champions League qualifying and Totti didn’t make it off the bench in either leg of the tie. During the final minutes of the second leg, with Roma down to nine men after red cards to Daniele De Rossi and Emerson in the first hour of play, Totti’s displeasure with his status as an unused substitute was evident as he stopped warming up and leaned on corner flag, staring daggers at the pitch.

Read more

After doing nothing and achieving everything at Barcelona, Thomas Vermaelen joins Roma on loan

Vermaelen arrives with his suitcase full of winner's medals. (AS Roma)
Vermaelen arrives in Rome with his suitcase full of winner’s medals. (AS Roma)

In two seasons with Barcelona, frequently injured defender Thomas Vermaelen made 21 appearances and won seven trophies. Two La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, a Champions League title, a UEFA Super Cup, and even a Club World Cup. That’s one trophy for every three appearances. Even the people who hand out youth league participation medals would find that obscene and excessive.

In two seasons of doing nothing and getting paid handsomely for it, Vermaelen has accomplished more than most footballers can do in a full career of playing match after match. And so, with nothing left to achieve at Barcelona, he has decided to move on to Roma on a season-long loan in pursuit of a new challenge.

Continuing his ungodly trophy haul with Roma while keeping his playing time to the absolute minimum for someone to still be considered a professional footballer will definitely be a challenge, too. But, in his infinite genius, Vermaelen is only going to Roma on loan, so if the task proves too difficult, he can simply reclaim his seat on Barcelona’s bench and get back to letting the trophies fall into his lap for the remainder of his five-year deal.

We really should be inviting Vermaelen into schools around the world to give children career advice. Of course, if we did, he’d probably just be too injured to attend and send someone else to give the talk in his place, then split the money and accolades with them.

It has long been thought that injuries can only ruin a professional athlete’s career, but Vermaelen is proving that they can also benefit it. Had he actually played for Barcelona, he could have underperformed and gotten himself sold off to some third-rate club in a city that can’t compare to the beauty of Rome. Instead, he gets to linger on at Barca and also have a glorious change of scenery for a season.

There are footballing geniuses like Pele and Maradona, Messi and Ronaldo, then there are geniuses of football. And in that class Vermaelen stands alone. Well, sits alone.

Francesco Totti keeps making Roma fans cry with his goals

Struggling with injuries and out of favor with Roma manager Luciano Spalletti, it seemed Francesco Totti might have already scored his last goal in a Roma shirt way back in September. But on Sunday, he came off the bench to score a late equalizer against Atalanta, making Roma commentator Carlo Zampa have a euphoric meltdown on the air (above).

Read more

Stephan El Shaarawy gives his jacket to cold mascot

(AS Roma)
(AS Roma)

Prior to Roma’s match at Carpi on Friday, January loan signing Stephan El Shaarawy endeared himself to his new club by taking off his jacket and putting it on the chilly kid standing in front of him.

While looking at this picture, you can almost hear all of his teammates thinking “Damn it, do we all have to give the kids our jackets now?” The children, meanwhile, are thinking “Why couldn’t they give us clothing that actually fits?!?!”

Anyway, there’s a lot going on here.