15 best AS Roma players ever
Speaking about the numbers of trophies and titles, AS Roma may not be as great as Juventus, AC Milan, or Internazionale. However, this club has a long history in Italian football and has produced many world-class players. Not only that, AS Roma also has a special value for Italian football fans because it is located in Rome, the capital of Italy.
In this article, I provide a ranking of the best AS Roma players of all time. These players gave great services and enormous contribution in taking Roma to be one of the most respected clubs in European football.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
15. Simone Perrotta
Simone Perrotta was a hardworking midfielder who had important role in Italy to be the champion of World Cup 2006. In the tournament, Perrotta played in all matches, from the preliminary round to the finals. This player played for AS Roma for nine years, from 2004 to 2013. He helped Roma to be four times Serie A runner-up and won two Coppa Italia trophies.
14. Rodolfo Volk
Rodolfo Volk is a former Italian striker who becomes one of the top scorer of AS Roma of all time. This player played in the period 1928-1933, and scored a total of 103 goals in 157 matches. His best season occurred in 1930-1931 where he became the top scorer of Serie A and helped Roma to be the runner-up of the competition. Unfortunately, Volk his life after retiring as a footballer was miserable, when he experienced financial difficulties and had to work as a janitor for the rest of his life.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
13. Attilio Ferraris IV
Attilio Ferraris IV is the first captain of AS Roma. The Italian midfielder played for Il Lupo in the period 1927-1934. Although he did not win any trophy or title with AS Roma, Attilio is still revered by fans of this club because he had great contribution in the development of AS Roma as a football club. His career with the Italian national team is quite brilliant, in which Attilio won the 1934 World Cup and a silver medal at the 1928 Olympics.
12. Marco Delvecchio
Delvecchio was a versatile striker who became a crucial part of the attacking line of AS Roma from 1995 to 2005. He was included as the main striker who formed a trident attacking formation with Francesco Totti and Gabriel Batistuta. This trio led AS Roma win the Scudetto in the 2000-2001 season. In addition to playing as a striker, Delvecchio can also be played as a central midfielder. In total, he scored 77 goals in his 269 appearances for Roma.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cafu
11. Cafu
Cafu is one of the best fullbacks in the world of football. He was part of AS Roma squad during the period of six years, from 1997 to 2003. Besides being known as a tough defender, Cafu also very good at helping the attack and often provided crossings that led to goals. Together with Rome, Cafu won a Serie A trophy in the 2000-2001 season. During his period playing for the club, he also won the 2002 World Cup with Brazilian national team.
10. Giacomo Losi
Giacomo Losi is a former Italian defender who was very loyal to AS Roma. Although he is considerably short for a defender (his height is only 169 centimeters), he possessed formidable defensive abilities. He spent his entire career playing for AS Roma in the period 1955 to 1969. Due to his loyalty, AS Roma's fans dubbed Losi as the "Heart of Rome." Not only that, he also played for nine seasons as a captain of AS Roma and presented two Coppa Italia titles for this club.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
9. Damiano Tommasi
At first glance, there's nothing at all beautiful from Damiano Tommasi. He has frightening looks and his playing style on the pitch was also rough and harsh. This is because Tommasi played as a defensive midfielder who was in charge of stopping the flows of the opponent's attack. He had to do the dirty works to secure the defense of Roma from the opponent's attack. Tommasi performed his job very well and he had a vital role in helping Roma win the Serie A championship in the 2000-2001 season.
Source: http://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldair
8. Aldair
Aldair is the most respected foreign players in AS Roma. Not only that, the number 6 jersey that he used to wear during his period playing for AS Roma in 1990 to 2003 is also retired to appreciate his contribution for this club. Besides winning a Serie A title in the 2000-2001 season, Aldair is also known as an important defender of Brazilian national team in various international tournaments from 1989-2000. In total, Aldair played in 433 matches and scored 23 goals for AS Roma.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlo_Ancelotti
7. Carlo Ancelotti
Prior to establish a position as one of the best midfielders in Italy while playing for AC Milan, Ancelotti was a key player of AS Roma. He became a captain of the club for three years, from 1984 to 1987. Not only that, Carletto also won one Serie A title and four Coppa Italia trophies as an AS Roma player. After his retirement, Ancelotti is regarded as one of the best coaches in the world. He has won league championship in three different countries (England, Italy, and France).
Source: http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniele_De_Rossi
6. Daniele De Rossi
Daniele De Rossi is a central midfielder who has the potential to become one of the legends of AS Roma. This player has joined by Il Lupo since 2001 and until now has never played for any other clubs. Currently, De Rossi is regarded as the second most respected player who is still actively playing for AS Roma, just after the captain, Francesco Totti. In addition to bringing Roma won two Coppa Italia trophies, De Rossi was also one of the key players in the Italian squad that won the World Cup 2006.
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vincenzo_montella_(1).JPG
5. Vincenzo Montella
Montella was known by the nickname "Small Aeroplane" because of his unique goal celebration style, spreading both hands like a plane. This striker played for AS Roma in the period 1999-2009 and had an enormous contribution in helping the club to be the Serie A champion in the 2000-2001 season. One of his best performances that will always be remembered by the fans was when he scored four goals in the derby match against Lazio. After retiring, Montella works as a coach.
Source: http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Conti
4. Bruno Conti
Fast, agile, and dangerous. Bruno Conti is a former Italian winger who was known for his strong left-foot shooting ability. Conti played for AS Roma for 17 years, from 1973 to 1990. He led Roma to be the Serie A champions in 1983 and won four Coppa Italia trophies for this club. Not only that, Conti is also one of the best players of Italian national team that won the 1982 World Cup tournament.
Source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roberto_Pruzzo_1972.jpg
3. Roberto Pruzzo
Roberto Pruzzo is the only player AS Roma player who managed to be a three-time Serie A top scorer. He also became the only Italian player to score five goals in a Serie A match. During his best, Pruzzo is known as an effective, efficient, and intelligent striker. He played for AS Roma from 1978 to 1988 and won a Serie A title and four Coppa Italia trophies. Throughout his career with Roma, Pruzzo scored 106 goals in 240 matches.
2. Giuseppe Giannini
Before the emergence of Francesco Totti, Giannini was regarded as the biggest legend of AS Roma. This Italian midfielder became the captain of the team for nine years, from 1987 to 1996. He is known as an attacking midfielder who is very creative and plays a major role in building the team's attacking pattern. During his career at AS Roma, Giannini played in 318 matches and scored 49 goals. His best achievement is winning a Serie A title in 1983.
1. Francesco Totti
Considering the loyalty and quality as a footballer, it seems very appropriate to name Francesco Totti as the best AS Roma player of all time. Totti has been playing for Roma since 1992. He has acted as the captain of the team for 14 years, and holds the record as the player with the most appearances and goals for AS Roma. Not only leading Roma to be a Serie A champion in the 2000-2001 season, Totti was also elected five times as the best Italian footballer. He became a Serie A's top scorer in 2007 and helped Italian national team win the World Cup 2006. What a truly a perfect player!