Totti ends 25-year playing career to become Roma director
Francesco Totti hung up his boots for good on Monday to become a director for Roma, ensuring he will go down in football lore as one of the sport’s greatest one-club men.
“The first part of my life as a football player is over, and now another more important one is about to begin,” the 40-year-old said.
The specifics of his new role with his childhood club – which he represented for 25 years and captained for 19 – have yet to be determined.
“We start from square one. I need time to figure out, step by step, in a calm and sensible way, what role suits me better,” he said. “For this reason, I’m putting myself at the disposal of this club, from the young players to the president.”
Totti came off the bench in the 2016-17 Serie A finale against Genoa to make the last of his 786 appearances for the Giallorossi. The way manager Luciano Spalletti handled Totti’s final spell in the Italian capital prompted waves of criticism, but in the end, Totti received a tearful and fulfilling send-off at the Stadio Olimpico.
Related: How Totti became bigger than Roma after 25 years of loyalty
Until Monday, no one knew for certain whether that was his final match.
Prior to his emotional farewell, the Rome native suggested he could continue to play elsewhere.
“I’m ready to go again,” he said. “I’m ready for a new challenge.”
Miami FC and Tokyo Verdy emerged as potential destinations, but neither move happened. Tokyo said it ended negotiations because the Rome native “was unable to get his family’s blessing.”
Totti began his fabled journey with Roma as a 13-year-old after his mother turned down advances from AC Milan. He also courted interest from Real Madrid during his days in the Italian capital. Nothing could draw him away.
In all, he won just a single Serie A title in 2001, along with Coppa Italia triumphs in 2007 and 2008.
But it was never about the trophies. It was about loyalty to his hometown.
Totti’s 250 Serie A goals rank second only to Silvio Piola’s 274 league tallies.
Related: The numbers behind Totti’s remarkable Roma career
