A.S. Roma

A.S. Roma
source
Clubname	Roma
Fullname	Associazione Sportiva Roma
Founded	1927
Ground	Stadio Olimpico
Capacity	70,634
Chairman	Dan Friedkin
Manager	Daniele De Rossi
League	Serie A
Website	Official website

A.S. Roma is a professional Italian football club based in Rome, founded in 1927 through a merger that involved three Roman clubs. The club has competed primarily in Serie A, winning multiple league titles and domestic cups, and has featured prominent players from Italy, Argentina, Brazil, and France. Roma has a long-standing rivalry with S.S. Lazio and has played home matches at the Stadio Olimpico, sharing the venue with Lazio and hosting international fixtures for the Italy national football team. The club's history intersects with major figures and institutions in Italian sport, European competitions, and Roman civic life.

History

Roma was established in 1927 after the merger of Fortitudo-Pro Roma SGS, Roman FC, and Alba-Audace, intended to challenge northern dominance from clubs like Juventus, Inter Milan, and AC Milan. In the 1941–42 season Roma won their first Serie A title under coach Alfredo Foni with key contributions from players such as Ermes Muccinelli and Annibale Frossi. The club enjoyed a resurgence in the 1980s under managers like Nils Liedholm and owners with ties to Olimpia SPC, culminating in the 1982–83 Scudetto. Roma reached the European Cup Final in 1984, facing Liverpool F.C., and later the UEFA Cup Final in 1991 and the UEFA Champions League Final in 2001 against Bayern Munich. The early 2000s saw investment from figures associated with Telecom Italia and later ownership changes that included Franco Sensi, whose tenure brought domestic cup successes in the Coppa Italia and the Supercoppa Italiana. Recent decades featured financial restructuring, stadium projects debated with the Comune di Roma, and new international ownership by the Friedkin Group.

Stadium and Facilities

Roma plays home matches at the Stadio Olimpico, a multi-purpose venue constructed for the 1960 Summer Olympics and renovated for the UEFA Euro 1980 and UEFA Euro 2020 preparations. The club has long pursued a dedicated stadium project, engaging architectural firms and municipal bodies including the Comune di Roma and private developers. Training and youth development take place at the Fulvio Bernardini Training Center and academies that have produced players who reached clubs such as Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United. The club's facilities have been used for matches involving the Italy national under-21 football team and have hosted concerts and events featuring international artists.

Supporters and Culture

Roma supporters include organized groups like the Curva Sud ultras, and the fanbase maintains traditional chants, banners, and mosaics referencing Roman history and symbols such as the Capitoline Wolf and the Colosseum. The club's principal derby with S.S. Lazio—the Derby della Capitale—rivals fixtures like the Milan Derby and Der Klassiker in intensity and social significance. Prominent supporters have included public figures from Italian politics, entertainment, and sport who have attended matches at the Stadio Olimpico and been linked to charity initiatives with institutions like Telethon and cultural events in the Piazza del Popolo.

Kit and Crest

Roma's traditional colors are deep maroon and gold, inspired by the colors of Rome and historical civic emblems. The club crest has evolved, prominently featuring the image of the Lupa Capitolina suckling Romulus and Remus, a motif shared with municipal iconography found at sites like the Capitoline Museums. Kit manufacturers and sponsors over the years have included international sportswear companies and corporate partners such as Nike, Puma, and multinational brands formerly associated with clubs like AC Milan and Inter Milan. Special edition kits have commemorated anniversaries and partnerships with cultural institutions and humanitarian campaigns.

Players and Personnel

Roma's squads have featured legendary players like Francesco Totti, Daniele De Rossi, Gabriel Batistuta, Rudi Völler, and Bruno Conti, many of whom progressed from the youth academy to senior international recognition with Italy and other national teams. Managers who have led the club include Luigi Radice, Carlo Ancelotti, Zdeněk Zeman, and Walter Sabatini in sporting director roles; contemporary coaching staff have included assistants and technical analysts with experience across Serie A, La Liga, and Premier League structures. The youth academy has partnerships with clubs and institutions across Europe and South America to loan and develop talents who later joined squads at Atalanta BC, Fiorentina, and Napoli.

Records and Statistics

Roma's top appearance and goalscoring records are headlined by Francesco Totti, who holds club records for appearances and goals and won individual honours such as the European Golden Shoe nomination years. The club's official statistics record multiple Serie A titles, several Coppa Italia victories, and performances in UEFA competitions including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and UEFA Conference League. Roma's highest transfer fees paid and received have involved players who later transferred to Real Madrid, Chelsea F.C., and Paris Saint-Germain. Match records against rivals like S.S. Lazio, Juventus, and Inter Milan are noted in seasonal archives and matchday programmes.

Ownership and Finances

Ownership has shifted from founding Roman businessmen to media-linked proprietors and international investors, most recently to the Friedkin Group led by Dan Friedkin. Financial management has involved dealings with UEFA fair play regulations, domestic commercial partners, and stadium-related revenue strategies negotiated with the Comune di Roma. The club's commercial activities include sponsorships, global merchandising, and broadcast rights with partners across Europe and Asia, aiming to compete commercially with clubs like AC Milan and Inter Milan while investing in squad development and infrastructure.

Category:Football clubs in Italy