Fondly called as “The Gladiator” by fans and pundit alike in his native country of Italy, Roma legend Francesco Totti has officially announced that he is set to retire at the end of the season – his last game to be played on Monday, 28th May, as his side prepare to face off against Genoa in the final day of the campaign.
“Roma-Genoa, Sunday 28th May 2017, the last time I can wear Roma’s Jersey,” Totti’s said in a tweet in his official Twitter account.
“I can’t tell you in a few words how much these colours meant, mean and will always mean to me. I just feel that my love for football never fades; It’s a passion, my passion. It’s so deep I can’t imagine not fuelling it any longer. Ever,” the legendary footballer added.
The 40-year-old’s decision to retire brings to a close a career spanning an impressive quarter-of-a-century, spending all of his playing days with his one and only club Roma, making a total 785 appearances, scoring 307 goals.
The World Cup winner first made his debut with the club when he was just 16 years of age, appearing in Roma’s 2-0 away victory against Brescia on 28th March 1993. From there, he would establish himself as a first choice secondary striker for the team until the arrival of Czech manager Zdenek Zeman, who employed Totti as a main centre-forward starting in 1998. At just the young age of 20, Totti was already a first-team player, making 36 league appearances, scoring 14 goals, including 13 in the league.
Totti would eventually lead Roma to a Serie A title win, only their third Scudetto in their club’s history, during the 2000-01 season. In total, the Gladiator would win five trophies with the capital club apart from the Italian league title, including two Italian Cups and two Italian Supercups.
In the international stage, the impossibly talented playmaker would also win the prestigious World Cup with Italy in 2006, as he was involved in the run-up to the goal Allesandro Del Piero would score against hosts Germany to win the semi-final and book a place in the final against France.
Roma sporting director Monchi has taken time to heap praise on the retiring Totti, who said of the 40-year-old: “He will continue as a director. I want him on my side because he is Roma and can teach me what Roma is.”
Touted by Italian icon and current Bayern Munich manager Carlo Ancelotti as “immortal and a symbol of our sport,” Totti, while his playing days are over, his legacy will forever be remembered by fans not just of his club, but of the whole game.