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Francesco Totti - The King of Rome!
Some people are born to play football itās in their blood itās not about the fans & the glory they play it for themselves. But others they are born to play for the people to become leaders on the pitch this was the case for Francesco Totti.
Some people are born to play football itās in their blood itās not about the fans & the glory they play it for themselves. But others they are born to play for the people to become leaders on the pitch this was the case for Francesco Totti.
Francesco was born in Rome there he would showcase how talented he was, but the wake-up call would for his parents would come on the beach. As the 4yr old boy would see a group of older boys play & would be denied as he was too small. But he begged eventually getting his wish.
There it was evident he was no ordinary young boy, as the family went back home, the father would immediately register Totti to one of the youth teams. From there on his rise would be continuous and unstoppable.
His love for AS Roma that he had shared with his family had grown more and more as he progressed in the youth. His idol at Roma was that of Peppe Giannini who at the time was the captain of Roma.
As he got older numerous of clubs wanted to sign him, something that would be common in his career. AC Milan wanted him, but Tottiās mother sent them away stating āIf your born in Rome, 2 choices Red or Blue, Roma or Lazio, but in this family, there is one & thatās Roma.ā
He would get his debut in Serie A at 16yrs old, he may have only been on the pitch for two minutes, but this was a show of intent and trust from the Roma faithful at the club.
In the 1994/95 season he started to flourish as he got 7 goals and 6 assists in 25 matches in which he would still barely get a chance to play the full 90min. This tally would round up to a goal contribution every 105 minutes which was incredible for a player so young.
The following season he would get his first shot at continental glory playing in the UEFA Cup, in which he would bag 2 goals and get 2 assists in 390 minutes of play in a European Level. As the summer rolled around, he got to showcase his talent again to a bigger audience.
As he took part in the Under 21ās European Championship for Italy, though he wouldnāt play in the first rounds he was bought in the semi-finals in which he would get the only goal against France and lead his country to the Final. In which he scored their only goal in the Final.
The next season though seem to be tough for Totti as Roma had hired a new coach Carlos Bianchi, who saw no value in the boy. Which resulted in Totti nearly going on loan to Sampdoria, thankfully though the hierarchy stopped the transfer as they saw promise in him & sacked Bianchi
Under the new coach ZdenÄk Zeman, Totti would be deployed to a playmaking role on the left wing and would adapt so nicely and thrived that soon after he was rewarded the Number 10 shirt, despite him playing in this new role it would benefit him.
As Totti would reach double figures in the first time in his career as well get AS Roma 4th in the Serie A. This led to some people hailing Francesco Totti as the best player in the league and AS Roma saw that as well handing a then 22yr old the captaincy of this prestigious club
In 1998/1999 could be regarded as the start of his peak, he would get another chance at European Football & once again managed an exceptional 7 goals & assists in 8 matches, also helping Roma qualify for Europe once again. This performance earned him the Best Young Player Award.
In the year 2000ās Francesco would participate in his 1st official International tournament the Euros. Although despite being used as a bench player Totti would average a goal every 100 minutes as helped Italy to reach the final only to lose to France in Extra Time.
As for AS Roma it looked like they were only a few steps from making history, as Fabio Capello was appointed it looked as though they had their eyes on the title. By the 2000/01 season a team had been built around Totti, players like: Cafu, Walter Samuels, Batistuta & Emerson.
Francesco was deployed in the Number 10 role where every attack went straight through him, where in which then he was also awarded the Serie A Footballer of the Year award as well as getting his 1st nomination in the Ballon Dāor.
By the end of the season Totti would be involved in 21 goals in the league alone, resulting in finally seeing the club he grew up loving lift the Serie A Title and becoming the Champions of Italy.
This form would carry onto the next season as Totti won his 2nd trophy with Roma winning the Italian Super Cup, and although they qualified yet again in the Champion League, they would sadly be knocked out of the group stages level on points with Liverpool.
As the season ended Roma would go by only to be described as heartbreak as they would finish 2nd place in Serie A only 1pt behind Juventus. 5 matches before the end of the season they were 3pts ahead but draws against Milan and surprisingly Venezia cost them.
In 2004 Totti would register the most ever league goals bagging 20, regardless of this a new change was occurring as Cappello would surprisingly leave Roma for Juventus as the club was in a lot of debt. This ultimately led to Roma having 4 different coaches that season.
As Luciano Spalletti was appointed coach this led to Totti being deployed in a new role as a lone Striker this may have been the best choice in the eyes of the manager as Totti was going to be 30yrs old, but Totti would drop more & more deeper as Totti was playing more of a CF.
Unfortunately, Totti would sustain a big injury as he was rested for 3 months, which could have resulted in him missing the World Cup, but lucky in the end he came back on time as he also featured in Romaās Coppa Italia Final where sadly they lost to Inter Milan.
At the time of injury no one thought Totti would make it on time for the World Cup, but Marcello Lippi promised Francesco if he were fit on time he would be featured within the squad. That gave Totti a goal to reach as he played a major role in their triumph in 2006.
As he featured in all 7 games finishing as the top assister in the whole tournament with 4 assists, this form was translated onto his club as he would get a career high 26 league goals making the Serie A top scorer and winner of the European Golden Boot. Sadly, Roma finished 2nd
By the end of the year Francesco Totti would be named the Serie A Player of the Year for the 5th time in his career. Sadly, the following season he suffered yet another injury which resulted in him being out for the rest of the season.
Fortunately, AS Roma went onto win the Coppa Italia and Franesco Totti became the clubs most successful ever captain. As well as winning the Super Cup against Inter Milan.
As more and more years went on, sadly Roma were in a turmoil as managers kept changing year on year from Raneri, Luis Enrqiue and Zeman were all sacked, although they would once again reach the Coppa Italia they would unfortunately lose it again but this time to rivals Lazio.
At this point there was no more left in the tank for Francesco Totti as he had just turned 37yrs old, but he did break record in the UCL due to his longeivity becoming the oldest goal scorer of the competition as he scored past Man City at 38yrs and 58 days.
Quotes:
āTotti is an artist of football, a true Number 10, just like I was. Totti has a genius in him that I donāt see in other players. Not even Zizou has the same kind of intuition.ā ā Michel Platini
āTotti is an artist of football, a true Number 10, just like I was. Totti has a genius in him that I donāt see in other players. Not even Zizou has the same kind of intuition.ā ā Michel Platini
āTotti has fought so much and has won each challenge. He has given everything, putting in love on and off the pitch. For all that he has achieved, he deserves all this satisfaction. He merits all the applause. Totti is what every child dreams of being when they grow up...
A fan that become a champion, a champion that becomes a symbol, a symbol that becomes a legend.ā ā Roberto Baggio
āFrancesco is an immortal player. If he is in these conditions, with the technical skills and talent he has, he is the player that can make the difference in any situation and at any age. With the way he is playing now, he is proving, if he ever had to prove anything..
that he has always been and continues to be a champion.ā ā Gianluigi Buffon
āThe reason Iāve got so much respect for him is because heās got all the pressure on his shoulders in Rome. Heās the king of Rome.ā ā Steven Gerrard
āFor those of us who love football, seeing him on the pitch is always a pleasure.ā - Zinedine Zidane
āFrancesco Totti is impressive. He is an example for all and someone we all look up to. He demonstrates that age is not important in football: if you feel good, you enjoy it. If you play at the level he does itās good for him, for football and also for the children...
because he give them the idea that football has no limits.ā ā Cristiano Ronaldo
āHe was a phenomenonā this was also added with a heartfelt message "You are incredible, Capitano! Wishing you all the best in the next stage of your life Francesco Totti." - Lionel Messi
āAs a boy, I was ecstatic just to see him play. At 38, he still does amazing things on the pitch. I think Iām destined to be āCaptain Futureā forever ā he is the all-time captain.ā
ā Daniele de Rossi
ā Daniele de Rossi
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