Roma Greatest All-Time Team
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| 2007 Supercoppa |
Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.
This is my selection of a 25 member all-time team for the club. The number 25 was chosen because it is the official squad size for the Champions' League.
AS Roma have won Serie A three times, first in 1941–42 then in 1982–83 and again in 2000–01, as well as winning nine Coppa Italia titles and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. On the European stage Roma won an Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1960–61, coming close to European Cup victory in 1983–84 (lost the one-legged final played at home against Liverpool), and finishing as runners-up in the UEFA Cup for 1990–91 (two-legged aggregate defeat against Internazionale). Therefore, Roma is the fourth Italian club by major honours won, behind Juventus, Milan and Inter, and it is considered one of the Seven Sisters of Italian football.
GK: Franco Tancredi (Italy)
He began his career with Giulianova, and later also played with Milan and Rimini, before joining Roma. He was long-time keeper for Roma winning a scouted in the 1982-1983 season. He played for them between 1977 and 1990. He is a member of the A.S. Roma Hall of Fame. He played a single season with Torino. Capped 12 times. He went to the WC Finals in 1986.
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| Franco Tancredi |
GK: Guido Masetti (Italy)
He played for Hellas Verona and AS Roma from 1926 to 1943. For the Italian national team he was merely used as a stand-in for Gianpiero Combi and Aldo Olivieri. Masetti won two World Cups in 1934 and 1938 without playing in any of the matches.
GK: Fabio Cudicini (Italy)
He played Udinese, Roma, AC Milan and Brescia. He was remembered for his two stints with AC Milan. Between 1967 and 1972, he played for AC Milan. He helped Milan to win the 1969 European Cup. He won the European Cup in 1969. Before Milan, he played for Roma and Udinese. He won the Inter-Cities Fair Cup with Roma. His son is Carlo Cudicini. He was playing in the same generation as Dino Zoff, Lozenzo Buffon and Enrico Albertosi. He was uncapped.
RB: Francesco Rocca (Italy)
Rocca played his entire career with Roma from 1972 to 1981. He played 18 games for the Italy national football team from 1974 to 1976. He retired at the age of 26 because of a serious injury.
RB: Cafu (Brazil)
Cafu is the all-time cap record holder for Brazil with 142 caps. He is the only man to play in three Finals of a WC Finals, winning it in 1994 and 2002. He was the captain of the national team as they won the World Cup in 2002. He played with Sao Paulo, Real Zaragoza, Roma and AC Milan. With Sao Paulo, he won two Copa Libertadores: 1992, 1993. In Europe, he won a Cup Winners Cup with Real Zaragoza, and he also won a singe Champions League with AC Milan in 2006. He was South American Player of the Year in 1994.
SW: Giacomo Losi (Italy)
Nicknamed "the Heart of Roma", he was considered one of the greatest player who ever played for AS Roma. He held Roma's all-time appearance record until Francesco Totti broke it in 2007. He won Inter-Cities fairs Cup in 1960-61. For Italy, he was capped 11 times and went to the 1962 World Cup Finals.
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| Gaicomo Losi |
CB: Sergio Santarini (Italy)
Santarini played for Rimini, Internazionale, Roma, and Catanzaro. He spent 13 seasons with AS Roma, where he won three Italian Cups in 1969, 1980 and 1981. He had two caps for Italy. He was elected to Roma's Hall of Flame.
CB: Aldair (Brazil)
Aldair played for Flamengo before heading to Europe. He started with Benfica, but he was widely remembered for his 13 seasons with Roma. The club retired his #6 jersey for 10 seasons. For the national team, he had 80 caps. He was a key member of the great defensive unit of the World Cup winning team in 1994. In addition, he also played in the World Cup Finals 1990 and 1998.
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| Aldair |
LB/CB: Sebcastiano Nela (Italy)
He could play as a left back, rightback and sweeper. He joined Roma in 1981 from Geona. He was a part of the great team that won the Serie A title in 1982-83 and 3 Italian Cups. He later played briefly for Napoli. Nela was capped 5 times for Italy and went to the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico.
LB: Vincent Candela (France)
For his club career, Candela played in France with Toulouse and Guingamp before moving to Italian side A.S. Roma in 1997. He won one scudetto with Roma, as well as the Supercoppa Italiana, in 2001. He later joined Bolton Wanderers in 2005), before returning to Italy to play for Udinese Siena and Messina. Internationally,he was a part of the great French team that won the World Cup in 1998 and then European Championship in 2000. He also went to play in the WC Finals in 2002.
LB: Amedeo Carboni (Italy)
Carboni played for a number of Italian clubs before joining Roma in 1990. He stayed there for 7 seasons mainly as a starter before he went to Valencia in 1997. With Valencia, his team made it to the Champions' League Finals twice and won the UEFA Cup/League Double in 2003/2004. He played 9 seasons with them. He represented Italy at Euro 1996, where he earned two of his 18 caps for Italy.
DM: Daniele De Rossi (Italy)
At the time of writing, he has played his entire career with Roma. De Rossi inherited the captaincy of Roma at the start of the 2017–18 season following the retirement of Francesco Totti. He was an important player for Italy since making his national debut in 2004. He went to every major international tournaments. He had 117 caps after his retirement from the national team in 2017. He was a member of the 2006 World Cup winning team. He was Italian Footballer of the Year in 2009.
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| Daniele De Rossi |
DM: Attilio Ferraris (Italy)
Ferraris played 10 seasons (254 games, 2 goals) in the Serie A, for A.S. Roma, S.S. Lazio and A.S. Bari. Ferraris had 28 caps. He won the bronze medal at the 1928 Olympics, and was part of the World Cup winning team of 1934, being named to the tournament's All-Star Team for his performances.
CM: Carlo Ancelotti (Italy)
Carlos Ancelotti began his career with Parma, but he made his name with AS Roma. He won the Serie A title in 1982-1983 and 4 Italian Cup's. In 1987, he joined AC Milan and became a part of the team that won two European Cups. The team is considered one of the greatest club sides in history. He was capped 26 times. He narrowly missed the WC Finals in 1982, but went to Mexico 1986 and 1990.
AM/CM: Agostino Di Bartlomei (Italy)
With Roma, Di Bartlomei formed a midfield partnership with Falcao in the mid-1980's. He was a part of the great team that won the Serie A title in 1982-83 and 3 Italian Cups. He is considered to be one of the greatest footballers in Roma's history. However, he was uncapped. In 1984, he moved A.C. Milan. After three seasons he left Milan and his career fizzled out after playing for Cesena and Salernitana.
CM: Falcao (Brazil)
At one stage, Falcao was the world's highest paid footballer. He played with Internacional at home before becoming the star of Roma in the 1980's. He won Serie A in 1982-83 and Roma had to wait 17 years for the next title after that. In 1985, he returned home and played for Sao Paulo. For the national team, he was left out of the World Cup team in Argentina, but four years later, he was a key player for the fantastic Brazilian of Spain 1982. He won the Silver Ball as the best Brazilian playing in Spain. He also went to the World Cup Finals in 1986.
RW: Bruno Conti (Italy)CM: Carlo Ancelotti (Italy)
Carlos Ancelotti began his career with Parma, but he made his name with AS Roma. He won the Serie A title in 1982-1983 and 4 Italian Cup's. In 1987, he joined AC Milan and became a part of the team that won two European Cups. The team is considered one of the greatest club sides in history. He was capped 26 times. He narrowly missed the WC Finals in 1982, but went to Mexico 1986 and 1990.
AM/CM: Agostino Di Bartlomei (Italy)
With Roma, Di Bartlomei formed a midfield partnership with Falcao in the mid-1980's. He was a part of the great team that won the Serie A title in 1982-83 and 3 Italian Cups. He is considered to be one of the greatest footballers in Roma's history. However, he was uncapped. In 1984, he moved A.C. Milan. After three seasons he left Milan and his career fizzled out after playing for Cesena and Salernitana.
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| Agostino Di Bartlomei |
At one stage, Falcao was the world's highest paid footballer. He played with Internacional at home before becoming the star of Roma in the 1980's. He won Serie A in 1982-83 and Roma had to wait 17 years for the next title after that. In 1985, he returned home and played for Sao Paulo. For the national team, he was left out of the World Cup team in Argentina, but four years later, he was a key player for the fantastic Brazilian of Spain 1982. He won the Silver Ball as the best Brazilian playing in Spain. He also went to the World Cup Finals in 1986.
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| Falcao |
Conti was the greatest winger in Italy's history. He had 47 caps. He won the World Cup in 1982 and also took part at the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico. Except with two loan spells with Genoa, he played his entire career with AS Roma. The season after the World Cup Finals in 1982, he helped Roma to win the league title. He also led them to the 1984 European Cup Final but were defeated on penalties by Liverpool.
RW: Alcides Ghiggia (Uruguay)
Ghiggia played for the national sides of both Uruguay and Italy during his career. He was known for scoring the winning goal against Brazil in the 1950 World Cup Finals that sealed the World Cup for Uruguay. The match was known as the "Maracanazo". He also played for the club sides of the Peñarol and Danubio in Uruguay and A.S. Roma and A.C. Milan in Italy.
AM/LM: Francesco Totti (Italy)
Totti was the long serving captain of Roma and perhaps the greatest ever player for the club. He brought the scudetti back to Roma in 2001 after a 20 year drought. He was named the Italian Footballer of the Year for 2000 and 2001. He won the European Golden Boot award in 2006-2007. A 2006 FIFA World Cup winner and UEFA Euro 2000 finalist with Italy, Totti was selected in the All-Star team for both tournaments; he also represented his country at the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004.
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| Francesco Totti |
Giuseppe Giannini's nickname was "Il Principe" (The Prince). He was a symbol of Roma before the emerge of FrancescoTotti. He played for AS Roma between 1982 and 1996. After AS Roma, he played in Austria for Sturm Graz, and for Napoli and Lecce in Italy. Giannini was capped 47 times for the Italian senior national team between 1986 and 1991, scoring 6 goals. He represented Italy at both the 1988 European Championships and the 1990 World Cup.
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| Giannini "Il Principe" Giannini |
He started with Inter Milan, but went through several clubs before settling with AS Roma in 1995. He played 10 seasons winning the 2000-2001 league there. At international level, he represented Italy on 22 occasions between 1998 and 2004, scoring 4 goals, taking part at UEFA Euro 2000, reaching the final of the tournament, in which he scored, and at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
ST: Fulvio Bernardini (Italy)
He played Lazio and and Inter Milan before spending 9 seasons with Roma. He was a member of the 1928 Italian Olympic team that won a bronze medal. He was one of the first players elected to Roma's Hall of Flame.
ST: Vincenzo Montella (Italy)
Montella played for Italian clubs Empoli, Genoa, Sampdoria and Roma, and also had a spell on loan in England with Fulham. His best years were spent with Roma, where he scored many, important goals, despite having conflicts with Coach Fabio Capello. He won won the Serie A title and the Supercoppa Italiana during the 2000–01 season. For Italy, he went to Euro 2000 and the WC Finals in 2002, but saw limited action.
ST: Amadeo Amadei (Italy)
Known as the "Eight King of Rome", Amadei made his Serie A debut in 1937 as a 15 years old. He became the youngest ever scorer a week later, a record still held today. He won the Serie A in 1941-42. He also played for Atlanta, Inter Milan and Napoli. He went to the World Cup Finals in 1950.
ST: Roberto Pruzzo (Italy)
Pruzzo made his debut in professional football for Genoa in 1973, winning the Serie B title during the 1975–76 season, as well as the top scoring award. Pruzzo went to Roma in 1979, for the then record sum of 3 billions liras. Here he became famous as one of the most effective Italian strikers of the 1980s, winning one scudetto during the 1982–83 season, and four Italian Cups in 1980, 1981, 1983, and 1986. He also won the Serie A top scorer award three times, in 1981, 1982, and 1986. For Italy, he was capped 6 times and went to Euro 1980.
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| Roberto Pruzzo |
Honorable Mention
Simone Perrotta, Damiano Tommasi, Toninho Cerezo and Giancarlo De Sisti, Ubaldo Righetti, Ubaldo Righett, Philippe Mexes, Walter Samuel, Gabriel Batistuta, Marco Delvecchio, Rudi Voller, Abel Balbo, Rodolfo Volk, Arne Selmosson, Pedro Manfredini, Francesco Graziani, Christian Panucci, Alberto Ginulfi, Fabio Cudicini, Paolo Conti, Pierluigi Pizzaballa, Doni, Simone Perrotta, Damiano Tommasi, Toninho Cerezo and Giancarlo De Sisti.
Squad Explanation
-- After selecting 24 players, the team lacked a good left midfielder or left winger. I was considering Zbigniew Boniek and Naim Krieziu were considered. Boniek only played briefly for the club and was not in his prime. It would be hard to select him over an all-time great. Naim Krieziu seldom got mention on any all-time team. In the end, I took Marco Delvecchio who had played as a left wing forward. He got ahead of other Roma attacking legends such as Gabriel Batistuta and Pedro Manfredini.
-- Roma had many great strikers. I could not take Gabriel Batistuta, Rudi Voller, Abel Balbo, Rodolfo Volk, Arne Selmosson, Pedro Manfredini and Francesco Graziani.
-- Batistuta appeared in many all-time list for AS Roma. His impact for the 2000-01 was great. Basically, that was his only good season. Instead, I took Montella who had a long and fruitful career with AS Roma.
-- Because Sebcastiano could play as a centerback and a left back, I have the options of taking a left back or a centerback. For centerbacks, I was looking at Ubaldo Righett, Philippe Mexes and Walter Samuel. In the end, I took a left back, Amedeo Carboni.Simone Perrotta, Damiano Tommasi, Toninho Cerezo and Giancarlo De Sisti, Ubaldo Righetti, Ubaldo Righett, Philippe Mexes, Walter Samuel, Gabriel Batistuta, Marco Delvecchio, Rudi Voller, Abel Balbo, Rodolfo Volk, Arne Selmosson, Pedro Manfredini, Francesco Graziani, Christian Panucci, Alberto Ginulfi, Fabio Cudicini, Paolo Conti, Pierluigi Pizzaballa, Doni, Simone Perrotta, Damiano Tommasi, Toninho Cerezo and Giancarlo De Sisti.
Squad Explanation
-- After selecting 24 players, the team lacked a good left midfielder or left winger. I was considering Zbigniew Boniek and Naim Krieziu were considered. Boniek only played briefly for the club and was not in his prime. It would be hard to select him over an all-time great. Naim Krieziu seldom got mention on any all-time team. In the end, I took Marco Delvecchio who had played as a left wing forward. He got ahead of other Roma attacking legends such as Gabriel Batistuta and Pedro Manfredini.
-- Roma had many great strikers. I could not take Gabriel Batistuta, Rudi Voller, Abel Balbo, Rodolfo Volk, Arne Selmosson, Pedro Manfredini and Francesco Graziani.
-- Batistuta appeared in many all-time list for AS Roma. His impact for the 2000-01 was great. Basically, that was his only good season. Instead, I took Montella who had a long and fruitful career with AS Roma.
-- I took Cafu over Christian Panucci.
-- The third keeper was between Alberto Ginulfi, Fabio Cudicini, Paolo Conti, Pierluigi Pizzaballa and Doni. I took Cudicini because he was probably the most well-known.
-- Roma also had too many great centre midfielders. I took Ancelotti, Falcao, Di Bartlomei , De Rossi and Ferraris. I have no more spot for Simone Perrotta, Damiano Tommasi, Toninho Cerezo and Giancarlo De Sisti. All of the players deserved a space on the 25 team.
-- Naim Krieziu, Omero Losi and Arcadio Venturi were old players whom I knew very little.
Formation
Fabio Cudicini was the most famous keeper, but Guido Masetti and Tancredi were more identified with the club. De Rossi earned his starting position over Ancelotti. I reunited Falcao with Di Bartlomei. Then, I tried to use two playmakers up front and Pruzzo as the lone striker.
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