GIALLOROSSI YORKSHIRE BLOG
Roma have had their fair share of influential leaders over the years.
It's 20 years to the day since Francesco Totti was named as Roma captain, and while the term 'Capitano' has become synonymous with him, he wasn't the only legend who acted as a club symbol. A total of 23 players have held the title of Roma club captain across their 91-year existence, with those reigns lasting anywhere between two months and 19 seasons. Here's a countdown of the 10 most iconic captains in Roma's history. 10. Arcadio Venturi (1953-1957) A loyal player who stayed with Roma during their sole season in Serie B, Venturi helped the side win promotion straight back to the top flight. In appreciation of his commitment to the club, he was awarded the captaincy at the end of the following season. His spell as captain ended in 1957, when he reluctantly moved to Inter to help Roma raise funds. 9. Sergio Santarini (1976-1980) Only five players have played more games for Roma than defender Santarini. The sweeper represented the club across three decades, earning the captaincy towards the end of his 13-year stint with the club. In his final year as captain, he lifted Roma's third Coppa Italia. Such was his longevity at the club, he had been involved in the previous two Coppa wins as well. 8. Guido Masetti (1939-1943) One of the best goalkeepers to have played for Roma, two-time World Cup winner Masetti spent four seasons as captain of the club. During that time, he became the first Roma player to lift the Serie A trophy when Roma won the title in 1942, a feat that only two men have repeated since. Masetti had a major influence on the title-winning campaign, with Roma conceding fewer goals than any other team in the division. 7. Fulvio Bernardini (1929-1939) Roma's second ever captain, Bernardini's contribution to the club was so great that the training ground was later named after him, despite his past association with rivals Lazio. Immediately identified as a leader upon his 1928 arrival at the club, he grew into his role as captain - which he took permanently in 1934 when Attilio Ferraris left - and became part of the club fabric. The midfielder later managed the Giallorossi as well. 6. Giacomo Losi (1959-1968) Captain for nine seasons, which makes him the joint-third longest serving skipper in the club's history, defender Losi held Roma's appearance record for nearly four decades, until he was overtaken by Totti. Partway through his tenure as captain, Losi was given the nickname of the 'Heart of Rome' in recognition of his contributions to the club and the sporting passion he embodied. Losi became the first Roma player to lift the Coppa Italia when they won the competition in 1964. 5. Giuseppe Giannini (1987-1996) Like Losi, Giannini wore the captain's armband for nine seasons, taking over from Milan-bound Carlo Ancelotti. Born and raised in Rome, Giannini was the epitome of what it means to captain La Magica, inspiring a young Totti as well as countless other Romanisti. Just 23 when he inherited the armband, Giannini had big shoes to fill, but he took the responsibility in his stride, inspiring the team to the 1991 Coppa Italia and becoming one of the club's best players of all time. 4. Attilio Ferraris (1927-1934) The first man to be named Roma's captain, Ferraris was another Roman citizen who led the club with distinction. A leader who unified a brand new group of players who had been playing for different clubs, Ferraris wrote his name in history by taking the armband upon the club's foundation. He was the outright captain for the first two years of the club's history, before sharing the role with new acquisition Bernardini, a sign of his nobility and selflessness. In total, Ferraris made over 200 appearances for the Giallorossi. 3. Daniele De Rossi (2017-) While he is only in his second season as official Roma captain, De Rossi has been a leader for much longer. Known for much of his career as 'Capitano Futuro', it was always clear that he had the necessary passion and commitment to captain the club. The first person turned to in the absence of Totti, De Rossi's never-say-die attitude has helped the club through thick and thin. When Totti missed the 2008 Coppa Italia final, it was De Rossi who led the side out and eventually lifted the trophy after a 2-1 win over Inter. A one-club man, De Rossi is the beating heart of the current Roma side. 2. Agostino Di Bartolomei (1980-1984) Nils Liedholm's trusted captain during the glory days of the early 80s, Di Bartolomei led by example. Although a shy man off the pitch, he let his football do the talking on it, being the driving force behind Roma's success. Under his leadership, Roma won their second Scudetto, the Coppa Italia twice and reached the European Cup final for the only time in their history. Although Roma lost that game, Di Bartolomei was an outstanding candidate for man of the match, in what turned out to be his last game for the club. In his wake, he left a legacy that highlighted the value of noble leadership. 1. Francesco Totti (1998-2017) Rome-born, Rome-raised, Roma fan. Francesco Totti was the perfect candidate to represent Roma. When Aldair vacated the captaincy after less than three months in the role, Totti was a clear choice to step into his shoes, despite his tender age of 22. Roma never looked back, and he became the longest-serving captain the club has ever had. Totti's Roma career ended with five trophies, all of which came during his captaincy. So great was the length of his captaincy, that during the same time frame, Juventus and Milan each went through three captains, with Totti outlasting Alessandro Del Piero and Paolo Maldini. Meanwhile, Inter had five captains, and Lazio had 13. All the while, Totti was forging his position as an eternal icon of Roma. And despite all the great leaders that preceded him, it's no wonder the fans sang 'C'è solo un Capitano' in his honour. Do you agree or disagree with the order of this list? Leave a comment below to share your opinions.
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Roma Women will be looking for their first ever home Serie A win when they take on Tavagnacco on Wednesday afternoon.
After finally recording their first league win against Florentia on Saturday, Roma now have something to build on, as they look to make up for lost time in their debut Serie A campaign. Roma lie 10th in the table having lost their first three games, but with a win now secured, it's time for them to put a string of positive results together. This game was meant to be Roma's first home game of the season, but was postponed, so it's a game in hand that Roma must make use of. Tavagnacco have won two and lost two of their four games this season, and Roma can overtake them with a win. However, Tavagnacco are a strong side - they came fourth in Serie A last season, and finished as runners up as recently as 2012-13. They may have no standing in men's football, but they are a dangerous opponent in the women's game. The goals in Saturday's win came from Claudia Ciccotti and Agnese Bonfantini, which were Roma's first goals for over a month. Each of the side's four goals this season have been scored by different players, reflective of the way the men's team have been sharing the goals around as well. Forwards Luisa Pugnali and Martina Piemonte - who has returned home from hospital after suffering a head injury - are yet to score in seven games between them, so there is the potential for even more players to get among the goals in future. Three Roma players have been called up for Italy's friendly against Germany next month, which will be a big morale booster for them. Goalkeeper Rosalia Pipitone and defender Elisa Bartoli have both been everpresent for Roma this season, while striker Annamaria Serturini, the scorer of Roma's first ever goal in Serie A Femminile, has been called up for the first time. Any of these players could have an impact today, as Roma look to record back-to-back wins. The game kicks off at 2pm UK time. Roma were denied victory against Napoli after a late goal saw the hosts snatch a point. The Giallorossi were looking to build on their Champions League win over CSKA Moscow, but despite taking a first half lead, they couldn't hold on for victory. Robin Olsen made a string of impressive saves, but it wasn't enough for Eusebio Di Francesco's side, who drop to eighth in the table as a result. Goal one: Stephan El Shaarawy (1-0) One day after his 26th birthday, Stephan El Shaarawy opened the scoring at the Stadio San Paolo. From a throw in on the right, Roma kept possession of the ball, with the ball eventually being worked to Cengiz Under. The winger played a low first time cross with his right foot, with the ball arriving at El Shaarawy's feet. With the defender distracted by Edin Dzeko's run, the number 92 had space to shoot, rolling the ball to the corner. It bounced off the post and just over the line, despite Kalidou Koulibaly's best efforts to clear it. It wasn't a pretty finish, but an overload into the box had made the Napoli defenders preoccupied, leaving El Shaarawy with just the keeper to beat. Goal two: Dries Mertens (1-1) It just wasn't to be in the end, with Mertens scoring in stoppage time to give Napoli a point. While the way the ball ended up with the Belgian was fortuitous for the hosts, the passage of play before it was not, with Roma undone by sharp, incisive passing. Fabian Ruiz fed the ball to Lorenzo Insigne, who played a one-two with Piotr Zielinski before crossing for Jose Callejon, with no defender taking command. The Spaniard fluffed his attempt at a volley, but Mertens reacted quickly to smash home at the far post. Aleksandar Kolarov had fallen asleep, unaware of Mertens' darting movement behind him. He became just another spectator as Mertens latched onto the ball and finished past Robin Olsen. Highlights from Serie A YouTube
Roma face off with rivals Napoli in the Derby Del Sole on Sunday evening as they look to build on the midweek win over CSKA Moscow.
Eusebio Di Francesco's side put in a fluent performance on Tuesday as they beat the Russians 3-0 in the Champions League, and they will be looking to show similar form in the league, having won less than half of their Serie A matches this season. They come up against a strong Napoli side who have dealt well with transition under Carlo Ancelotti. The former Roma midfielder has helped his new club to seven wins from nine in the league, ensuring they haven't fallen off the pace since Maurizio Sarri's departure in pre-season. Ancelotti has overseen a tactical switch to something that more resembles a 4-4-2 than the 4-3-3 Sarri used last season. As part of this, Lorenzo Insigne has been used more centrally, offering support to Dries Mertens. Insigne is always a danger man and has responded well to his new role, scoring eight goals in 11 games in all competitions. He scored in both games between the two sides last season, including the winner for his team in the first meeting back in October. Di Francesco hinted in his press conference that he could use the same lineup as he did on Tuesday, meaning the double midfield pivot of Daniele De Rossi and Steven Nzonzi could continue. De Rossi will be making his 450th Serie A appearance for Roma if selected. Ahead of them, Lorenzo Pellegrini will be looking to have as big an influence as he did against CSKA, while at left-back, Davide Santon should keep his place in the side while Aleksandar Kolarov continues his return to fitness. Fresh from scoring a double in midweek, Edin Dzeko is expected to lead the line against the side he has scored against more than any other team in Serie A. The Bosnian has netted four times against Napoli. As he looks to continue his ascension up the club's goalscoring charts - which recently saw him overtake the man who has scored the most Derby Del Sole goals, Dino Da Costa - his teammates will be relying on him to once again have an impact in a big game. Justin Kluivert misses out on a place in the squad through injury, while Javier Pastore is also absent. Rick Karsdorp continues his prolonged spell on the sidelines, with the Dutch full-back's long-term Roma future looking increasingly in doubt. If Roma can get a win, they will move to within four points of their opponents, potentially rising to 5th place. The game kicks off at 7:30pm UK time. Expected Roma lineup: Roma shook off the rust on Tuesday night by beating CSKA Moscow 3-0 in the Champions League. It was a bounce back to form for the Giallorossi, following Saturday's embarrassing loss to SPAL. Despite concerns of the threat CSKA could pose - they'd already beaten Real Madrid in the competition this year - Roma looked comfortable from start to finish. Eusebio Di Francesco has now guided Roma to seven consecutive home wins in the Champions League, with last year's 0-0 draw with Atletico Madrid the only time they haven't won under him in the competition at Stadio Olimpico. However, the main protagonist on the night was Edin Dzeko, who showed his importance to the side yet again, winning the UEFA Champions League player of the week award in the process. Here's a look back at both his goals, and the one he assisted for Cengiz Under. Goal one: Edin Dzeko (1-0) Roma took the lead in the first half with a goal that was poetry in motion. The Giallorossi completed an amazing 29 passes before Dzeko dispatched the ball in the net. Every single outfield player touched the ball in the build up to the goal. Things really got into gear when Lorenzo Pellegrini found a space on the edge of the attacking third, turning out as he received the ball from Daniele De Rossi. Pellegrini then played a neat one-two with Stephan El Shaarawy, who was lurking in the centre of the box, running beyond the defender to get to the ball first. Pellegrini played the ball across the face of goal first time, with the instinctive Dzeko ready to pounce. The striker had shown more anticipation for the ball than the defenders, who he had brushed past as he got himself into prime scoring position. It left him with a tap in; there was no doubt he would finish it. The goal highlighted a patient but lethal approach from Roma. They didn't force a cross into the box or panic when they ran out of space. Instead, they kept the ball moving, switching the play carefully from the left to the right and vice versa. Pellegrin's willingness to get on the ball was particularly important in crafting the goal, with De Rossi and El Shaarawy also playing a key role in dictating the play. Goal two: Edin Dzeko (2-0) Edin Dzeko lives for the Champions League. After scoring Roma's first ever hat trick in the competition on the last matchday, the Bosnian went close to repeating the feat on Tuesday. This, his 80th goal, saw him overtake Dino Da Costa into 9th place on the club's all-time scoring chart. This time it was Cengiz Under's positivity that created the chance. The winger picked up possession from the influential De Rossi, driving into the space in front of him. As he tried to get in between two defenders, the ball slipped out of his reach, but El Shaarawy was in the right place at the right time and kept up the positive momentum by playing it around the corner for Dzeko, who had peeled away to the right when Under was coming inside. Having found the space, Dzeko then coolly placed the ball across the keeper to double his side's advantage. Goal three: Cengiz Under (3-0) The first goal of the evening took the headlines for the way it was created, but in terms of a pure finish, this was the best strike of the night. Once again, De Rossi was involved at the beginning of the move, feeding the ball across to Alessandro Florenzi, who kept up the impetus by playing a well-weighted ball over the top. Dzeko used his height and strength to beat off the opposing defenders, with Under reacting to the ball as it dropped down from the number nine's header. Shifting his feet across, Under opened his body up and used the inside of his foot to powerfully place the ball in the top left corner. There was nothing the keeper could do as Under showed impeccable control to find the hardest place for him to reach. Highlights from BT Sport YouTube
Roma Women have a realistic chance of recording their first ever Serie A win when they take on Florentia on Saturday.
Betty Bavagnoli's side have lost their opening three games in their debut Serie A campaign, including a 4-0 loss to Juventus last weekend in their first home game. However, this weekend presents Roma with the chance to make amends. In their short history together, Roma already have experience of beating Florentia. It was a convincing performance as the newly-formed side clinched a 4-0 win in a September friendly for the Trofeo Luisa Petrucci. Annamaria Serturini scored a brace in the game, just weeks before she scored the side's historic first competitive goal in the 3-2 opening day loss to Sassuolo. Roma are without a goal since that day, but will be buoyed by the confidence gained from last time out against Saturday's opponents. Having slipped into the relegation places, it's important for Roma to catch up with their rivals. It's still early days, so panic must not set in. With a calm and intelligent performance, Roma can get their first points on the board. It should be noted that Florentia looked very average when the two sides met in September, although they have won two of their four Serie A games this season. However, should other results go their way, Roma could rise from 11th to 8th in the table with a win. The game is scheduled to kick off at 1:30pm UK time on Saturday. Roma will look to make it into the qualification spots at the halfway point of the Champions League group stage when they face CSKA Moscow tonight.
A win would lift Roma into at least second place - depending on how Real Madrid fare against Viktoria Plzen - after three games, ahead of the return fixture with the Russians in a fortnight. However, it won't be plain sailing, as CSKA have proven themselves to be a stern challenge to Roma's aspirations of making the knockout rounds. Tonight's opponents currently lead Group G after stunning Real Madrid on matchday two with a 1-0 win. It has become clear that CSKA pose a significant threat to Roma's likely target of finishing second. Croatian attacking midfielder Nikola Vlasic has scored in both of CSKA's group stage games so far, including a 95th-minute equaliser against Viktoria in September. He also found the net in their most recent Russian Premier League game, a 2-0 win over Anzhi on Friday. Roma's defence, which has not been water-tight recently, must be on their A-game to stop him. However, one key man who will be absent for the visitors is goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, who was sent off against Real Madrid and so will miss the game through suspension. Akinfeev has been hugely important for the club over the years, a one-club man who serves as their captain. CSKA's two alternative keepers have not made as many appearances in their whole careers put together as Akinfeev has in this season alone, so this will be a boost for Roma's strike force. Who will comprise Roma's attack remains to be seen. Edin Dzeko endured a frustrating afternoon against SPAL on Saturday, but with Patrik Schick only just recovering from a muscle problem, the former is likely to start. Cengiz Under should flank him on the right, with Justin Kluivert and Stephan El Shaarawy competing for a place on the left wing. Crucially, Kostas Manolas is in the squad after missing the loss to SPAL. Roma missed his solidity in Saturday's game, and his experience can benefit Roma tonight. Two men who won't be playing though, are Argentine duo Javier Pastore and Diego Perotti, who are both injured. The game kicks off at 8pm UK time. Can Roma get back to winning ways? Projected Roma lineup: Roma's return from the international break got off to a poor start with a 2-0 defeat at the hands of SPAL. Before the break, Roma had won their last four games whereas SPAL had lost their last four, but it was the latter who upset the odds to come out on top. Even after SPAL were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of keeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Roma weren't clinical enough to claw their way back into the game. This result was of Roma's own doing, after some wastefulness in front of goal and sloppiness at the back. Goal one: Andrea Petagna (0-1) Eusebio Di Francesco brought Luca Pellegrini into the side at left-back, but the youngster was at fault for the first goal as he gave away a penalty. The youngster was caught too high up the pitch, which drew Ivan Marcano out to cover on the left. A couple of quick, incisive passes from SPAL were enough to get in behind, leaving Roma backpedalling. As Pellegrini tried to keep up with the dangerous Manuel Lazzari, he carelessly put his arm on his opponent's shoulder, which was enough to send him down in the box. Contact was minimal, but it was a naive moment from the youngster, who still has a lot to learn in the professional game. Petagna stepped up to take the penalty and comfortably sent Robin Olsen the wrong way to give the visitors an unlikely lead. The keeper was guessing all along and it was an easy finish for the composed Petagna in the end. Goal two: Kevin Bonifazi (0-2) Ten minutes into the second half, SPAL showed their intentions to win the game by doubling their lead. The goal was a disappointing one to concede, coming from a corner. Roma failed to pick up Bonifazi's movement, as he easily strode to the near post to head beyond Olsen. Bryan Cristante and Federico Fazio fell asleep, allowing Bonifazi to move easily to an area where he was unmarked. Since there was no one guarding the post - Edin Dzeko had moved forward to try and attack the ball, but it sailed over him - it was another simple goal for SPAL, adding to the frustration's of Roma's afternoon. Highlights from Serie A YouTube
Roma Women will make their historic home bow when they face Juventus on Sunday.
After the postponement of the game against Tavagnacco in September, which should have been the newly formed side’s first home match, Roma finally get the opportunity to play in front of their own crowd at Stadio Tre Fontane in Serie A. The game pits them against last season’s champions Juventus, who were in the same scenario as Roma 12 months ago. The newly formed Juve team won the league at the first time of asking after setting up a women’s section in 2017, extending their recent monopoly of the Italian game. Roma will be hoping to follow their formula by also achieving success in their debut year, but things have not started in an ideal fashion with successive defeats. The campaign began with a defeat to Sassuolo, before Verona got the better of Roma last weekend. In terms of team selection for today’s game, the players to have started both matches so far have been goalkeeper Rosalia Pipitone, defenders Angelica Soffia, Emma Lipman and Elisa Bartoli, midfielders Giada Greggi and Claudia Ciccotti - who slotted into defence against Verona - and forwards Agnese Bonfantini, Martina Piemonte and Annamaria Serturini. All in all, it’s been quite consistent, with only the central midfield places really being under contention. Coach Betty Bavagnoli is looking forward to experiencing the home support. She told the club’s website: “Juventus are the strongest side in the league. “We respect our opponents but we won’t stop trying to play our way. We are looking forward to the test. “Finally, we get to play at Stadio Tre Fontane in front of our fans – and that can give us a lot of motivation. Even if we are playing a tough side we must remember that we are at our home, playing for our supporters.” The game kicks off at 11:30am UK time. Roma will look to pick up from where they left off as they return to domestic action with a game against SPAL.
Eusebio Di Francesco inspired his side to a run of four games unbeaten before the international break, including victory in the Derby Della Capitale and a record-breaking Champions League win over Viktoria Plzen. Now, after what has been a fruitful period with their countries for many of the players, Roma will be aiming to build on the momentum they gained before the break. One player who enjoyed particular success while on international duty was Edin Dzeko, who entered the top 10 highest goalscorers of all-time for a European nation by scoring a brace for Bosnia-Herzegovina against Northern Ireland. With Patrik Schick ruled out of the matchday squad with a minor injury, Dzeko is practically certain to start, and will be looking to continue his good form in front of goal. Due to Schick’s absence, Primavera forward Gianmarco Cangiano has been called up to the squad. Assigned the number 54 shirt, it will be a valuable opportunity for him to learn the mechanisms of the first team, even if he doesn’t feature. Daniele De Rossi and Aleksandar Kolarov are also out injured, so there will be opportunities for other players to have a run in the first time. Di Francesco confirmed a place in the starting lineup for Luca Pellegrini at left-back, another display of faith in the young Roman. It will be the 19-year-old's second start for the first team. Javier Pastore has overcome his own battles with injury to return to the matchday squad. It’s unlikely that he will slot straight back into the starting lineup, but his presence will be a boost to the squad at a time when several players are injured or fatigued. SPAL have had a decent start to the season with three wins and five losses. And even though four of those losses have come on the bounce in their most recent four fixtures, they will look to give Roma a game, having pushed Inter close before the break. Roma will have to keep an eye on key men such as Manuel Lazzari, Alberto Paloschi and Andrea Petagna, the latter two having each scored two goals this season. The game kicks off at 2pm UK time. Expected Roma lineup: Olsen, Santon, Manolas, Fazio, Luca Pellegrini, Nzonzi, Cristante, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Under, Dzeko, El Shaarawy |
samuel bannister
Founder and editor of Giallorossi Yorkshire, who is also a columnist for Roma's official website about the women's team. Categories
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