Discover AS Roma
# AS Roma – the Club of the Eternal City
Few football clubs carry the identity of their city as visibly as AS Roma. Its colours come directly from the colours of Rome, its badge features the Capitoline Wolf with Romulus and Remus, and its home matches are accompanied by songs dedicated not only to the team but also to the city itself.
For the supporters known as Romanisti, Roma is more than a football club. It represents family tradition, local pride and a connection to a particular part of the Italian capital. Although the club has won fewer trophies than Juventus, Inter or AC Milan, its history, legendary players and atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico make it one of Italy’s most famous teams.
## The Club’s Foundation and the Symbols of Rome
Associazione Sportiva Roma was formed on 7 June 1927 through the merger of three Rome-based clubs: Fortitudo-Pro Roma, Football Club di Roma and Alba-Audace. The aim was to create a powerful team capable of challenging the successful clubs of northern Italy.
Lazio remained outside the project and retained its independence, laying the foundations for the future rivalry over control of the capital.
The new club adopted the yellow and red colours of the city. This is the origin of the nickname Giallorossi, meaning the Yellow and Reds. The crest featured the Capitoline Wolf feeding Romulus and Remus, one of the most recognisable symbols of Rome.
Other club nicknames include La Lupa, the She-Wolf, and La Magica, the Magic One.
## Campo Testaccio and the First Scudetto
The club’s first true home was Campo Testaccio, where Roma played between 1929 and 1940. Located in a traditional working-class district, the ground helped create a powerful bond between the team and the people of the city.
Roma won its first league title in 1941/42. Coach Alfred Schaffer could rely on a strong defence led by goalkeeper Guido Masetti and the goals of Amedeo Amadei, who scored 18 times during the championship season.
Roma became the first club from outside northern Italy to win the national league. The achievement carried considerable symbolic importance, although it arrived during a period overshadowed by the Second World War.
A sporting and financial decline followed the war. Roma were relegated to Serie B in 1950/51 – still the only relegation in the club’s history. The Giallorossi returned to the top division the following season.
## The First International Success
Roma won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a predecessor of the modern Europa League, in 1960/61. The team defeated Birmingham City in the final after a 2–2 draw in England and a 2–0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico.
Argentine striker Pedro Manfredini was the star of the European campaign, scoring 12 goals in the competition.
Roma added two Coppa Italia victories in 1963/64 and 1968/69. Important figures from this era included Giacomo Losi, Antonio Angelillo, Francisco Lojacono and Giancarlo De Sisti.
## The Second Scudetto and the Golden Era of the 1980s
A new golden era began following the arrival of president Dino Viola and the return of Swedish coach Nils Liedholm. Roma built a team around players such as Agostino Di Bartolomei, Paulo Roberto Falcão, Bruno Conti, Roberto Pruzzo, Carlo Ancelotti, Franco Tancredi and Sebastiano Nela.
After winning two consecutive editions of the Coppa Italia, Roma claimed its second Scudetto in 1982/83. Pruzzo’s equalising goal in Genoa during the penultimate round mathematically secured the championship.
The celebrations inspired singer-songwriter Antonello Venditti to write “Grazie Roma”, which joined “Roma Roma Roma” as an essential part of the club’s culture.
## The Painful 1984 European Cup Final
During the following season, Roma reached the European Cup final. The match against Liverpool was played at the Stadio Olimpico, meaning supporters expected the greatest night in the club’s history.
Liverpool took the lead through Phil Neal, although the Roma players complained that their goalkeeper had been fouled during the move. Roberto Pruzzo equalised before half-time, but no further goals were scored.
The final was decided by penalties. Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar famously moved around on his line and performed his “spaghetti legs” routine in an attempt to distract Roma’s players. Roma missed twice and Liverpool lifted the trophy.
Losing a European Cup final inside their own stadium remains one of the most painful moments in Roma’s history. Winning the Coppa Italia during the same season provided only partial consolation.
Roma contested another European final in 1991 but lost the UEFA Cup to Inter, 2–1 on aggregate. The club at least finished the season by lifting its seventh Coppa Italia.
## Francesco Totti and the Third Scudetto
Francesco Totti made his Roma first-team debut in March 1993 at the age of 16. He gradually became the captain, the club’s greatest symbol and one of the most famous players in Italian football.
Under Fabio Capello, Roma assembled a team featuring Totti, Gabriel Batistuta, Vincenzo Montella, Cafu, Aldair, Walter Samuel, Emerson, Damiano Tommasi and Vincent Candela.
Roma led Serie A for virtually the entire 2000/01 season. The title was secured on the final day with a 3–1 victory over Parma, in which Totti, Montella and Batistuta scored. It was the third Scudetto in the club’s history.
Totti spent his entire professional career with Roma, making 786 competitive appearances and scoring 307 goals. His total of 250 Serie A goals, European Golden Shoe and numerous club records made him one of football’s most celebrated one-club players.
His long-serving teammate Daniele De Rossi became another symbol of Roman identity. Supporters nicknamed him Capitan Futuro – the Future Captain.
## Spalletti’s Football and Cup Success
During Luciano Spalletti’s first spell as coach, Roma played a fast, fluid style of football regarded as one of the most tactically interesting in Europe. Totti was frequently deployed as a “false nine”, dropping from the forward position into midfield.
Roma won consecutive editions of the Coppa Italia in 2007 and 2008 and added the Italian Super Cup in 2007. In Serie A, however, the Giallorossi repeatedly finished behind an exceptionally strong Inter side.
Roma have won the Coppa Italia nine times, making them one of the most successful clubs in the competition’s history.
## The Unforgettable Comeback Against Barcelona
One of the greatest European nights in Roma’s modern history came in April 2018. The Giallorossi lost the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final 4–1 in Barcelona, leaving few people expecting them to advance.
In front of a sold-out Stadio Olimpico, Roma won the return match 3–0. Edin Džeko opened the scoring, Daniele De Rossi converted a penalty and Kostas Manolas completed the sensational comeback with a header eight minutes from time.
Roma advanced to the semi-finals on away goals. Although Liverpool eventually eliminated them 7–6 on aggregate, the victory over Barcelona remains one of the greatest matches in the club’s history.
## José Mourinho and European Silverware
The American Friedkin Group completed its takeover of Roma in 2020, with José Mourinho appointed as coach one year later.
During his first season, Mourinho led Roma to the final of the newly created UEFA Europa Conference League. The Giallorossi defeated Feyenoord 1–0 in Tirana thanks to Nicolò Zaniolo’s goal.
Roma lifted its first trophy in 14 years, its first international cup in 61 years and its first competition organised by UEFA. Hundreds of thousands of supporters filled the streets of Rome to welcome the team home.
One year later, Roma reached the Europa League final. Paulo Dybala put the team ahead against Sevilla in Budapest, but the Spanish side equalised before winning the penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw.
Roma reached the Europa League semi-finals again in 2023/24, where they were eliminated by Bayer Leverkusen.
## Major Honours
- 3 Italian league titles: 1941/42, 1982/83 and 2000/01
- 9 Coppa Italia victories
- 2 Italian Super Cups
- UEFA Europa Conference League winners: 2021/22
- Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winners: 1960/61
- European Cup runners-up: 1983/84
- UEFA Cup runners-up: 1990/91
- UEFA Europa League runners-up: 2022/23
- Champions League semi-finalists: 2017/18
## The Derby della Capitale
The most important match of Roma’s season is the Derby della Capitale against Lazio. The clubs share the Stadio Olimpico but occupy separate traditional ends. Roma’s most passionate support is based in the Curva Sud, while Lazio supporters occupy the Curva Nord.
The first league derby was played in 1929, with Roma winning 1–0 through a Rodolfo Volk goal. Roma’s biggest victory in the fixture came in 1933, when the Giallorossi defeated Lazio 5–0.
The derby is more than a sporting contest. It reflects family traditions, social differences and the everyday battle for control of the city. A defeat can affect the mood of supporters for months.
The 2013 Coppa Italia final was particularly painful. It remains the only major cup final contested by the two Roman clubs. Lazio won 1–0 through Senad Lulić’s goal, denying Roma the opportunity to lift a tenth Italian Cup.
## Rivalries with Juventus and Napoli
Roma’s historic rivalry with Juventus developed during the 1930s and reached its peak in the early 1980s, when the clubs competed directly for the league title.
For Roma, matches against Juventus often symbolise a contest between the capital and the traditionally powerful and wealthy footballing north.
The fixture against Napoli is known as the Derby del Sole, or Derby of the Sun. It brings together the most prominent clubs from central and southern Italy. The supporters once shared a friendlier relationship, but it gradually developed into a heated rivalry.
Matches against Inter and AC Milan are also significant, particularly because of the clubs’ many league battles and repeated meetings in cup finals.
## Controversies and Difficult Moments
One of the most debated incidents in Italian football history is Maurizio Turone’s disallowed goal against Juventus in 1981. The direct contest between the title rivals ended 0–0 after the goal was ruled out for offside.
Juventus eventually won the championship by two points. Many Roma supporters remain convinced that the goal should have stood. The expression “Turone era bono” – meaning “Turone was onside” – became part of club folklore.
Roma’s greatest sporting traumas also include the 1984 European Cup final defeat against Liverpool, the loss to Lazio in the 2013 Coppa Italia final and the penalty shootout defeat against Sevilla in 2023.
Following the 2023 Europa League final, Roma strongly criticised referee Anthony Taylor’s performance. UEFA suspended José Mourinho for four European matches for directing abusive language at a match official. The club was also fined and banned from selling tickets to away supporters for one European fixture because of incidents during the final.
## Interesting Facts About AS Roma
- Roma’s colours are based on the traditional colours of the city.
- The badge depicts the Capitoline Wolf with Romulus and Remus.
- The official mascot is a wolf named Romolo.
- Roma supporters are known as Romanisti.
- The Curva Sud is the traditional home of the club’s most passionate fans.
- Antonello Venditti’s “Roma Roma Roma” is played before home matches.
- “Grazie Roma” is closely associated with celebrations of important victories.
- Francesco Totti holds the club records for both appearances and goals.
- Totti and Daniele De Rossi were born in Rome and both captained their hometown club.
- Roma have won the Coppa Italia nine times.
- The club’s training centre is located in the Trigoria district of Rome.
- “Daje Roma!” is a typical Roman expression of encouragement, roughly meaning “Come on, Roma!”
## Attending an AS Roma Match
Roma plays its home matches at the Stadio Olimpico, which it shares with Lazio. The stadium holds approximately 70,000 supporters and has hosted the Olympic Games, the World Cup and several major European finals.
The Derby della Capitale, matches against Juventus, Napoli, Inter and AC Milan, and European knockout fixtures usually produce the strongest atmosphere.
Roma’s most active supporters are located in the Curva Sud. The Tribuna Tevere and Tribuna Monte Mario provide a calmer environment and a better overall view of the pitch. Because of security checks and the number of people arriving, the club recommends reaching the stadium at least 90 minutes before kick-off.
An evening at the Stadio Olimpico, with the entire stadium singing “Roma Roma Roma”, is one of the most powerful football experiences in Italy. Combining the match with a visit to historic Rome also makes the club an ideal destination for a football trip.
Few football clubs carry the identity of their city as visibly as AS Roma. Its colours come directly from the colours of Rome, its badge features the Capitoline Wolf with Romulus and Remus, and its home matches are accompanied by songs dedicated not only to the team but also to the city itself.
For the supporters known as Romanisti, Roma is more than a football club. It represents family tradition, local pride and a connection to a particular part of the Italian capital. Although the club has won fewer trophies than Juventus, Inter or AC Milan, its history, legendary players and atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico make it one of Italy’s most famous teams.
## The Club’s Foundation and the Symbols of Rome
Associazione Sportiva Roma was formed on 7 June 1927 through the merger of three Rome-based clubs: Fortitudo-Pro Roma, Football Club di Roma and Alba-Audace. The aim was to create a powerful team capable of challenging the successful clubs of northern Italy.
Lazio remained outside the project and retained its independence, laying the foundations for the future rivalry over control of the capital.
The new club adopted the yellow and red colours of the city. This is the origin of the nickname Giallorossi, meaning the Yellow and Reds. The crest featured the Capitoline Wolf feeding Romulus and Remus, one of the most recognisable symbols of Rome.
Other club nicknames include La Lupa, the She-Wolf, and La Magica, the Magic One.
## Campo Testaccio and the First Scudetto
The club’s first true home was Campo Testaccio, where Roma played between 1929 and 1940. Located in a traditional working-class district, the ground helped create a powerful bond between the team and the people of the city.
Roma won its first league title in 1941/42. Coach Alfred Schaffer could rely on a strong defence led by goalkeeper Guido Masetti and the goals of Amedeo Amadei, who scored 18 times during the championship season.
Roma became the first club from outside northern Italy to win the national league. The achievement carried considerable symbolic importance, although it arrived during a period overshadowed by the Second World War.
A sporting and financial decline followed the war. Roma were relegated to Serie B in 1950/51 – still the only relegation in the club’s history. The Giallorossi returned to the top division the following season.
## The First International Success
Roma won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, a predecessor of the modern Europa League, in 1960/61. The team defeated Birmingham City in the final after a 2–2 draw in England and a 2–0 victory at the Stadio Olimpico.
Argentine striker Pedro Manfredini was the star of the European campaign, scoring 12 goals in the competition.
Roma added two Coppa Italia victories in 1963/64 and 1968/69. Important figures from this era included Giacomo Losi, Antonio Angelillo, Francisco Lojacono and Giancarlo De Sisti.
## The Second Scudetto and the Golden Era of the 1980s
A new golden era began following the arrival of president Dino Viola and the return of Swedish coach Nils Liedholm. Roma built a team around players such as Agostino Di Bartolomei, Paulo Roberto Falcão, Bruno Conti, Roberto Pruzzo, Carlo Ancelotti, Franco Tancredi and Sebastiano Nela.
After winning two consecutive editions of the Coppa Italia, Roma claimed its second Scudetto in 1982/83. Pruzzo’s equalising goal in Genoa during the penultimate round mathematically secured the championship.
The celebrations inspired singer-songwriter Antonello Venditti to write “Grazie Roma”, which joined “Roma Roma Roma” as an essential part of the club’s culture.
## The Painful 1984 European Cup Final
During the following season, Roma reached the European Cup final. The match against Liverpool was played at the Stadio Olimpico, meaning supporters expected the greatest night in the club’s history.
Liverpool took the lead through Phil Neal, although the Roma players complained that their goalkeeper had been fouled during the move. Roberto Pruzzo equalised before half-time, but no further goals were scored.
The final was decided by penalties. Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar famously moved around on his line and performed his “spaghetti legs” routine in an attempt to distract Roma’s players. Roma missed twice and Liverpool lifted the trophy.
Losing a European Cup final inside their own stadium remains one of the most painful moments in Roma’s history. Winning the Coppa Italia during the same season provided only partial consolation.
Roma contested another European final in 1991 but lost the UEFA Cup to Inter, 2–1 on aggregate. The club at least finished the season by lifting its seventh Coppa Italia.
## Francesco Totti and the Third Scudetto
Francesco Totti made his Roma first-team debut in March 1993 at the age of 16. He gradually became the captain, the club’s greatest symbol and one of the most famous players in Italian football.
Under Fabio Capello, Roma assembled a team featuring Totti, Gabriel Batistuta, Vincenzo Montella, Cafu, Aldair, Walter Samuel, Emerson, Damiano Tommasi and Vincent Candela.
Roma led Serie A for virtually the entire 2000/01 season. The title was secured on the final day with a 3–1 victory over Parma, in which Totti, Montella and Batistuta scored. It was the third Scudetto in the club’s history.
Totti spent his entire professional career with Roma, making 786 competitive appearances and scoring 307 goals. His total of 250 Serie A goals, European Golden Shoe and numerous club records made him one of football’s most celebrated one-club players.
His long-serving teammate Daniele De Rossi became another symbol of Roman identity. Supporters nicknamed him Capitan Futuro – the Future Captain.
## Spalletti’s Football and Cup Success
During Luciano Spalletti’s first spell as coach, Roma played a fast, fluid style of football regarded as one of the most tactically interesting in Europe. Totti was frequently deployed as a “false nine”, dropping from the forward position into midfield.
Roma won consecutive editions of the Coppa Italia in 2007 and 2008 and added the Italian Super Cup in 2007. In Serie A, however, the Giallorossi repeatedly finished behind an exceptionally strong Inter side.
Roma have won the Coppa Italia nine times, making them one of the most successful clubs in the competition’s history.
## The Unforgettable Comeback Against Barcelona
One of the greatest European nights in Roma’s modern history came in April 2018. The Giallorossi lost the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final 4–1 in Barcelona, leaving few people expecting them to advance.
In front of a sold-out Stadio Olimpico, Roma won the return match 3–0. Edin Džeko opened the scoring, Daniele De Rossi converted a penalty and Kostas Manolas completed the sensational comeback with a header eight minutes from time.
Roma advanced to the semi-finals on away goals. Although Liverpool eventually eliminated them 7–6 on aggregate, the victory over Barcelona remains one of the greatest matches in the club’s history.
## José Mourinho and European Silverware
The American Friedkin Group completed its takeover of Roma in 2020, with José Mourinho appointed as coach one year later.
During his first season, Mourinho led Roma to the final of the newly created UEFA Europa Conference League. The Giallorossi defeated Feyenoord 1–0 in Tirana thanks to Nicolò Zaniolo’s goal.
Roma lifted its first trophy in 14 years, its first international cup in 61 years and its first competition organised by UEFA. Hundreds of thousands of supporters filled the streets of Rome to welcome the team home.
One year later, Roma reached the Europa League final. Paulo Dybala put the team ahead against Sevilla in Budapest, but the Spanish side equalised before winning the penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw.
Roma reached the Europa League semi-finals again in 2023/24, where they were eliminated by Bayer Leverkusen.
## Major Honours
- 3 Italian league titles: 1941/42, 1982/83 and 2000/01
- 9 Coppa Italia victories
- 2 Italian Super Cups
- UEFA Europa Conference League winners: 2021/22
- Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winners: 1960/61
- European Cup runners-up: 1983/84
- UEFA Cup runners-up: 1990/91
- UEFA Europa League runners-up: 2022/23
- Champions League semi-finalists: 2017/18
## The Derby della Capitale
The most important match of Roma’s season is the Derby della Capitale against Lazio. The clubs share the Stadio Olimpico but occupy separate traditional ends. Roma’s most passionate support is based in the Curva Sud, while Lazio supporters occupy the Curva Nord.
The first league derby was played in 1929, with Roma winning 1–0 through a Rodolfo Volk goal. Roma’s biggest victory in the fixture came in 1933, when the Giallorossi defeated Lazio 5–0.
The derby is more than a sporting contest. It reflects family traditions, social differences and the everyday battle for control of the city. A defeat can affect the mood of supporters for months.
The 2013 Coppa Italia final was particularly painful. It remains the only major cup final contested by the two Roman clubs. Lazio won 1–0 through Senad Lulić’s goal, denying Roma the opportunity to lift a tenth Italian Cup.
## Rivalries with Juventus and Napoli
Roma’s historic rivalry with Juventus developed during the 1930s and reached its peak in the early 1980s, when the clubs competed directly for the league title.
For Roma, matches against Juventus often symbolise a contest between the capital and the traditionally powerful and wealthy footballing north.
The fixture against Napoli is known as the Derby del Sole, or Derby of the Sun. It brings together the most prominent clubs from central and southern Italy. The supporters once shared a friendlier relationship, but it gradually developed into a heated rivalry.
Matches against Inter and AC Milan are also significant, particularly because of the clubs’ many league battles and repeated meetings in cup finals.
## Controversies and Difficult Moments
One of the most debated incidents in Italian football history is Maurizio Turone’s disallowed goal against Juventus in 1981. The direct contest between the title rivals ended 0–0 after the goal was ruled out for offside.
Juventus eventually won the championship by two points. Many Roma supporters remain convinced that the goal should have stood. The expression “Turone era bono” – meaning “Turone was onside” – became part of club folklore.
Roma’s greatest sporting traumas also include the 1984 European Cup final defeat against Liverpool, the loss to Lazio in the 2013 Coppa Italia final and the penalty shootout defeat against Sevilla in 2023.
Following the 2023 Europa League final, Roma strongly criticised referee Anthony Taylor’s performance. UEFA suspended José Mourinho for four European matches for directing abusive language at a match official. The club was also fined and banned from selling tickets to away supporters for one European fixture because of incidents during the final.
## Interesting Facts About AS Roma
- Roma’s colours are based on the traditional colours of the city.
- The badge depicts the Capitoline Wolf with Romulus and Remus.
- The official mascot is a wolf named Romolo.
- Roma supporters are known as Romanisti.
- The Curva Sud is the traditional home of the club’s most passionate fans.
- Antonello Venditti’s “Roma Roma Roma” is played before home matches.
- “Grazie Roma” is closely associated with celebrations of important victories.
- Francesco Totti holds the club records for both appearances and goals.
- Totti and Daniele De Rossi were born in Rome and both captained their hometown club.
- Roma have won the Coppa Italia nine times.
- The club’s training centre is located in the Trigoria district of Rome.
- “Daje Roma!” is a typical Roman expression of encouragement, roughly meaning “Come on, Roma!”
## Attending an AS Roma Match
Roma plays its home matches at the Stadio Olimpico, which it shares with Lazio. The stadium holds approximately 70,000 supporters and has hosted the Olympic Games, the World Cup and several major European finals.
The Derby della Capitale, matches against Juventus, Napoli, Inter and AC Milan, and European knockout fixtures usually produce the strongest atmosphere.
Roma’s most active supporters are located in the Curva Sud. The Tribuna Tevere and Tribuna Monte Mario provide a calmer environment and a better overall view of the pitch. Because of security checks and the number of people arriving, the club recommends reaching the stadium at least 90 minutes before kick-off.
An evening at the Stadio Olimpico, with the entire stadium singing “Roma Roma Roma”, is one of the most powerful football experiences in Italy. Combining the match with a visit to historic Rome also makes the club an ideal destination for a football trip.
