Roma
emblem
Full name	Associazione Sportiva Roma SpA
Nickname(s)	i Giallorossi (the Yellow-reds) La Magica (The Magic) i Lupi (the Wolves)
Founded	July 22, 1927
Ground	Stadio Olimpico Rome, Italy
Capacity	82,307
Chairman	Franco Sensi
Head Coach	Luciano Spalletti
League	Serie A
2006–07	Serie A, 2nd
Home colours 　 Away colours

Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma or the abbreviation AS Roma, is an Italian professional football club from Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated at the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence apart from one season. For their 56th season in a row, Roma are competing in Serie A for 2007–08.

Roma have won Serie A three times, first in 1941–42 then again in 1982–83 and 2000–01. As well as winning eight Coppa Italia trophies; on the European stage Roma won an Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1960–61, but have had come close to success finishing as runners-up in the European Cup in 1983–84 and the UEFA Cup in 1990–91.

Home games are played at the Stadio Olimpico, a stadium they share with rivals SS Lazio. With a capacity of over 82,000 it is the second largest of its kind in Italy, only the San Siro is bigger. Currently AS Roma are the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana holders in Italian football.

History

Main article: History of A.S. Roma

''For information on the current season, see A.S. Roma 2007–08

Associazione Sportiva Roma was founded in the summer of 1927 by Italo Foschi,^[1] who initiated the merger of three older Italian Football Championship clubs from the city of Rome; Roman, Alba-Audace and Fortitudo.^[1] The purpose of the merger was to give the Eternal City a strong club to rival that of the more dominant Northern Italian clubs of the time.^[1] The only major Roman club to resist the merger was Lazio who were already a well established sporting society.^[4]

The club played its earliest seasons at the Motovelodromo Appio stadium,^[5] before settling in the working-class streets of Testaccio, where it built an all-wooden ground Campo Testaccio; this was opened in November 1929.^[6] An early season in which Roma made a large mark was the 1930–31 championship, the club finished as runners-up behind Juventus.^[7] Captain Attilio Ferraris along with Guido Masetti, Fulvio Bernardini and Rodolfo Volk were highly important players during this period.^[8]

First title victory and decline

After a slump in league form and the departure of high key players, Roma eventually rebuilt their squad adding goalscorers such as the Argentine Enrique Guaita.^[9] Under the management of Luigi Barbesino, the Roman club came close to their first title in 1935–36; finishing just one point behind champions Bologna.^[10] Roma returned to form after being inconsistant for much of the late 1930s; AS Roma recorded an unexpected title triumph in the 1941–42 season by winning their first ever scudetto title.^[11] The eighteen goals scored by local player Amedeo Amadei were essential to the Alfréd Schaffer coached Roma side winning the title. At the time Italy was involved in World War II and Roma were playing at the Stadio del Partito Nazionale Fascista.^[12]

In the years just after the war, Roma were unable to recapture their league stature from the early 1940s.^[7] Roma finished in the lower half of Serie A for five seasons in a row, before eventually circumming to their only ever relegation to Serie B at the end of the 1950–51 season;^[14][7] around a decade after their championship victory. Under future national team manager Giuseppe Viani, promotion straight back up was achieved.^[16]

After returning to Serie A, Roma managed to stabilise themselves as a top half club again with players such as Egisto Pandolfini, Dino Da Costa and Dane Helge Bronée.^[7] Their best finish of this period was under the management of Englishman Jesse Carver, when in 1954–55 they finished as runners-up, after Udinese who originally finished second were relegated for corruption.^[7]

Although Roma were unable to break into the top four during the following decade, they did achieve some measure of cup success. Their first honour outside of Italy was recorded in 1960–61 when Roma won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup by beating Birmingham City 4–2 in the finals.^[19] A few years later Roma won their first Coppa Italia trophy in 1963–64, by beating Torino 1–0.^[20] Their second Coppa Italia trophy was won in 1968–69 when it was competed in a small league like system.^[20] Giacomo Losi set a Roma appearance record during 1969 with 450 appearances in all competitions, the record he set would last for 38 years.^[22]

Time of mixed fortunes

Roma were able to add another cup to their collection in 1972, with a 3–1 victory over Blackpool in the Anglo-Italian Cup.^[23] During much of the 1970s Roma's appearance in the top half of Serie A was sporadic. The best place the club were able to achieve during the decade was third in 1974–75.^[7] Notable players who turned out for the club during this period included midfielders Giancarlo De Sisti and Francesco Rocca. The dawning of a newly successful era in Roma's footballing history was brought in with another Coppa Italia victory, they beat Torino on penalties to win the 1979–80 cup.^[20] Roma would reach heights in the league which they had not touched since the '40s by narrowly and controversially finishing as runners-up to Juventus in 1980–81.^[26] Former Milan player Nils Liedholm was the manager at the time, with prominent players such as Bruno Conti, Agostino Di Bartolomei, Roberto Pruzzo and Paulo Roberto Falcão.^[27]

The second scudetto did not elude Roma for much longer; in 1982–83 the Roman club won the title for the first time in 41 years, amidst joyous celebrations in the capital.^[28] The following season Roma finished as runners-up in Italy^[7] and collected a Coppa Italia title,^[20] they also finished as runners-up in the European Cup final of 1984.^[31] The European Cup final with Liverpool ended in a 1–1 draw with a goal from Pruzzo, but Roma eventually lost the penalty shoot-out.^[31] Roma's successful run in the 1980s would finish with a runners-up spot in 1985–86^[7] and a Coppa Italia victory, beating out Sampdoria 3–2.^[20]

After that a comparative decline began in the league, one of the few league highs from the following period was a third place in 1987–88.^[7] At the start of the 1990s the club was involved in an all-Italian UEFA Cup final, where they lost 2–1 to Internazionale in 1991;^[36] the same season the club won its seventh Coppa Italia trophy^[20] and ended runners-up to Sampdoria in the Supercoppa Italiana. Aside from finishing runners-up to Torino in a Coppa Italia final,^[20] the rest of the decade was largely sub-par in the history of Roma; especially in the league where the highest they could manage was fourth in 1997–98.^[7]

In the new millennium

Roma returned to form in the 2000s, starting the decade in great style by winning their third ever Serie A title in 2000–01; the scudetto was won on the last day of the season by beating Parma 3–1, edging out Juventus by two points.^[7] The club's captain, Francesco Totti was a large reason for the title victory and he would become one of the main heroes in the club's history,^[27] going on to break several club records.^[27] Other important players during this period included Aldair, Cafu, Gabriel Batistuta and Vincenzo Montella.^[43]

The club attempted to defend the title in the following season but ended as runners-up to Juventus by just one point.^[7] This would be the start of Roma finishing as runners-up many times in both Serie A and Coppa Italia during the 2000s; they lost out 4–2 to AC Milan in the Coppa Italia final of 2003^[20] and lost out to Milan again by finishing second in Serie A for the 2003–04 season.^[7] A Serie A scandal was revealed during 2006 and Roma were one of the teams not involved; after punishments were handed out Roma was re-classified as runners-up for 2005–06;^[47] the same season in which they finished second in the Coppa Italia losing to Inter.^[20]

In the Champions League of 2006–07 Roma reached the quarter-finals before going out to Manchester United,^[49] they also finished second in Serie A meaning that in the 2000s Roma have finished in the top two positions more than any other decade in their history.^[50]

Players

As of 8 September, 2007^[51]

Doni Mexès Juan Tonetto Panucci (Cicinho) Aquilani (Pizarro) De Rossi Giuly (Perrotta) Taddei Totti Mancini

Roma's usual starting lineup for 2007–08 season.

No. Position Player 1 GK Gianluca Curci 2 DF Christian Panucci 3 DF Cicinho 4 DF Juan 5 DF Philippe Mexès 7 MF David Pizarro 8 MF Alberto Aquilani 9 Mirko Vučinić 10 FW Francesco Totti (captain) 11 MF Rodrigo Taddei 13 DF Marco Andreolli 14 FW Ludovic Giuly 15 DF Antunes 16 MF Daniele De Rossi (vice-captain)

No. Position Player 18 FW Mauro Esposito 20 MF Simone Perrotta 21 DF Matteo Ferrari 22 DF Max Tonetto 25 GK Carlo Zotti 26 MF Adrian Piţ 27 GK Júlio Sérgio 29 MF Ahmed Barusso 30 FW Mancini 31 DF Samuel Kuffour 32 GK Doni 33 MF Matteo Brighi 77 DF Marco Cassetti

For all transfers events pertaining to Roma for the current season, please see: AS Roma 2007–08

Retired numbers

Main article: Retired numbers in football

6 – Aldair, centre back, 1990–2003^[27]

Notable players

Main article: List of A.S. Roma players

Presidential history

Roma have had numerous presidents over the course of their history, some of which have been the owners of the club, others have been honorary presidents. Currently Franco Sensi is the chairman, with his daughter Rossella Sensi in place as honorary president.^[53] Here is a complete list of Roma presidents from 1927 until the present day.^[53]

Managerial history

:

Main article: List of A.S. Roma managers

Roma have had many managers and trainers running the team during their history, here is a chronological list of them from 1927 onwards.^[16]

Club statistics and records

Main article: A.S. Roma statistics and records

Francesco Totti holds Roma's official appearance record, having made 470 appearances in all competitions, over the course of 15 seasons from 1992 until the present day.^[56] Giacomo Losi holds the record for Serie A appearances with 386. However, Totti is expected to break Losi's record in the near future as he is currently on 375. (as of October 2007)^[56]

Including all competitions, Francesco Totti is the all-time leading goalscorer for Roma, with 188 goals since joining the club, 151 of which were scored in Serie A (another Roma record).^[56] Roberto Pruzzo, who was the all-time topscorer since 1988 comes in second in all competitions with 136. In the 1930–31 season, Rodolfo Volk scored 29 goals in Serie A over the course of a single season, not only was he the league's topscorer that year, but he set a Roma record for most goals scored in a season which still lasts today.^[56]

The first ever official game participated in by Roma was in the Italian Football Championship of 1928–29, the predecessor of Serie A, against Livorno; Roma won 2–0.^[60] The biggest ever victory recorded by Roma was 9–0 against Cremonese during the Serie A season of 1929–30.^[56] The highest defeat Roma have ever suffered is 7–1, this has happened three times; first against Juventus during 1931–32, then against Torino in 1947–48 and most recently against Manchester United in 2006–07.^[56]

Colours, badge and nicknames

Roma's colours of maroon red with a golden yellow trim represents the traditional colours of the Eternal City, the official seal of the comuni features the same colours.^[63] The gold symbolizes God in Roman Catholicism,^[64] while the maroon represents imperial dignity.^[65] White shorts and black socks are usually worn with the maroon red shirt, however in particularly high key games the shorts and socks are the same colour as the home shirt.^[66]

The kit itself was originally worn by Roman Football Club; one of the three clubs who merged to form the current incarnation in 1927.^[67] Because of the colours they wear, Roma are often nicknamed i giallorossi meaning the yellow-reds.^[68] Roma's away kit is traditionally white, with a third kit changing colour from time to time.

A popular nickname for the club is i lupi (the wolves), the animal has always featured on the club's badge in different forms throughout their history. Currently the emblem of the team is the one which was used when the club was first founded. It portrays the female wolf with the two infant brothers Romulus and Remus, illustrating the myth of the creation of Rome,^[69] superimposed on a bipartite golden yellow over maroon red shield.^[70]

In the myth from which the club take their nickname and logo, the twins (sons of Mars and Rhea Silvia) are thrown into the River Tiber by their uncle Amulius, a she-wolf saved the twins and looked after them.^[69] Eventually the two twins took revenge on Amulius, before falling out themselves; Romulus killed Remus and as thus was made king of a new city named in his honour, Rome.^[69]

Supporters and rivalries

Roma is the fourth most supported football club in Italy with around 6% of Italian football fans supporting the club (according to the Doxa Institute-L'Expresso’s research of April 2006).^[73] Historically the largest section of Roma supporters in the city of Rome have come from the inner-city and south parts, which is the working-class area of the city, especially Testaccio.^[6]

The traditional ultras group of the club was the politically left-leaning Commando Ultrà Curva Sud^[75] commonly abbreviated as CUCS; this group was founded by the merger of many smallers groups and was considered one of the most historic in the history of European football.^[75] However, by the mid-1990s CUCS had been usurped by rival factions and ultimately broke up. Since that time, the Curva Sud of the Stadio Olimpico has been controlled by more right-wing groups;^[75] AS Roma Ultras, Boys, Giovinezza and others. The oldest group Fedayn is apolitical however and politics is not the raison d'être of Roma, just a part of their overall identity.

The club anthem and motto is La Roma non si discute, si ama^[78] by local singer Antonello Venditti. The title roughly means "Roma is not discussed, it is loved" and is sung before each match, the song Grazie Roma, by the same singer, is played at the end of victorious home games. Recently, the main riff of The White Stripes song Seven Nation Army has also become widely popular at games.^[79]

In Italian football Roma are a club with many rivalries; first and foremost is their rivalry with Lazio, the club who they share the Stadio Olimpico stadium with. The derby between the two is called the Derby della Capitale, it is amongst the most heated and emotional footballing rivalries in the world. A Lazio fan, Vincenzo Paparelli was killed at one of the derby games during the 1979–80 season after being hit in the eye by a flare thrown by a Roma fan.^[80]

A second extreme incident happened during the Rome derby in 2003, when it was called off after Roma ultras spread untrue rumours that a child had been killed by police during the game.^[81] The game was called off but there was trouble on the streets outside of the stadium, with battles between police and ultras in which 150 police officers were injured, as well as a number of tifosi; nobody was killed.^[81] With Napoli, Roma also compete in the Derby del Sole rivalry meaning the "Derby of the Sun"; the two cities are within close proximity to each other and the two clubs are the most successful in Central and Southern Italy.^[83] The fans also consider Juventus, AC Milan and Inter amongst their rivals.^[75]

Honours

National titles

Serie A:

*Champions (3): 1941–42; 1982–83; 2000–01

*Runners-up (10): 1930–31; 1935–36; 1954–55; 1980–81; 1983–84; 1985–86; 2001–02; 2003–04; 2005–06; 2006–07

Coppa Italia:

*Winners (8): 1963–64; 1968–69; 1979–80; 1980–81; 1983–84; 1985–86; 1990–91; 2006–07

*Runners-up (6): 1936–37; 1940–41; 1992–93; 2002–03; 2004–05; 2005–06

Supercoppa Italiana:

*Winners (2): 2001; 2007

*Runners-up (2): 1991; 2006

Serie B:

* Winners (1): 1951–52

European titles

European Cup / UEFA Champions League:

*Runners-up (1): 1983–84

Inter-Cities Fairs Cup:

*Winners (1): 1960–61

UEFA Cup:

*Runners-up (1): 1990–91

Anglo-Italian Cup:

*Winners (1): 1971–72

Anglo-Italian League Cup:

*Runners-up (1): 1969

Youth titles

Campionato Nazionale Primavera:

*Winner (6): 1972–73; 1973–74; 1977–78; 1983–84; 1989–90; 2004–05

Coppa Italia Primavera:

*Winner (3): 1973–74; 1974–75; 1993–94

Torneo di Viareggio:

*Winner (3): 1981; 1983; 1991

*Runners-up (7): 1950; 1957; 1978; 1985; 1989; 1992; 2007

Associazione Sportiva Roma as a company

Since 1999, during Franco Sensi's period in charge, Associazione Sportiva Roma has been a joint stock company. Currently Roma's shares are distributed between; 64.3% to Compagnia Italpetroli SpA (the Sensi family holding), 2.7% to ABN AMRO Holding NV, 2.5% to Danilo Coppola and 30.4% to other shareholders.^[85]

Along with Lazio and Juventus, i Lupi is one of only three Italian clubs quotated in Borsa Italiana (Italian stock exchange). According to The Football Money League published by consultants Deloitte, in the season 2005–06, Roma was the twelfth highest earning football club in the world with an estimated revenue of €127 million.^[86]

References

External links

• Official Site (Italian) (Chinese)
• A.S. Roma Forever fansite

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