Best AS Roma players of all time

Founded in 1927,

is a professional football club based in Rome, Italy and competing in the Italian Serie A.

The club has been in Serie A throughout its history, except for the 1950-51 season. Since 1953, Rome has been hosting its home games at the Rome Olympic Stadium; A stadium with a capacity of 72,000 spectators, which is also used by their compatriot

. Rome Olympic is the second largest stadium in Italy after San Siro.

Their home colors are carmine red and gold yellow; the presence of this "Belarusian" team also means yellows and reds. The symbol of AS Rome is a female wolf feeding to babies, inspired by the myth of the founding of Rome.

In the following, we will briefly review the honors of AS Roma club. Then we will present a list of greatest AS Roma players of all time in our opinion, and share the personal and professional backgrounds of each of these best AS Roma players ever.

Before we get into the list of best AS Roma footballers of all time in our opinion, we will have a brief overview of the honors of AS Roma Club.

Known as "I Giallorossi" which means "The Yellow and Reds" due to the color of their shirt, A.S. Roma won the

title on 3 occasions in 1942, 1983 and 2001. Moreover, Roma has also achieved 9 Coppa Italia titles as well as 2 Italian Super Cups.

In addition, they won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1961 and finished the 1984 European cup and the UEFA Cup in 1991 as runner-ups. Although they are not as decorated as other well-known Italian clubs, they are renowned for having loyal committed players who had dedicated their lives and careers to the Giallorossi, and have made AS Roma a widely known iconic club in that matter.

Besides winning trophies with Roma, many players have won the World Cup while wearing the Yellow and Reds' shirt.

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The greatest AS Roma players of all time:

It is easy to pick the side's top players of all time when they had probably the best ones who ever played the game.

Franco Tancredi

• Full name: Franco Tancredi

• Date of birth: 10 January 1955 (age 66)

• Place of birth: Giulianova, Italy

• Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 1⁄2 in)

• Position(s): Goalkeeper

Franco Tancredi was an Italian goal keeper who is regarded as one of the best Italian keepers of his generation and one of the

best AS Roma players of all time

. He had played for Giulianova,

and

before joining Roma and staying there for 13 years.

He played for Giallorossi from 1977 to 1990, and helped them secure 4 Coppa Italia titles and 1 Serie A trophy in season1982-83. Moreover, he reached the final of the 1984 European Cup where they faced a defeat against

. Franco Tancredi made a total of 289 League appearances for the club, including 258 consecutive ones between 1980 and 1989.

He left Roma to join Torino in 1990 and spent the last year of his career with them. However, one of the most memorable moments of his career in Roma paradoxically happened when he was playing for Torino. When he came to Stadio Olimpico as a Torino player, he came across 2 giant banners erected by the Curva Sud (the extremely passionate fans who are known for their fanatical support- also known as the "Ultras") reading "Franco is in Ultras' hearts" and " Hello Franco, welcome back" that caused him going under the Sud (the place of the STADIUM where Ultras sit) and greet them many times.

That was a day which he marked as the best day of his life. In addition, he one a Mitropa Cup in is only season with Torino.  Moreover, Tancredi was a part of the Italian national team squad in 1984 summer Olympics and 1986 FIFA World Cup. However, he has only made 12 friendly appearances for Azzurri.

Tancredi was a fast-paced agile goalkeeper who had expertise in stopping shots. He was also renowned for his ability in saving penalties and his one-arm dives. Not only is he deservedly one of the best goalkeepers in the history of Giallorossi, he is also one of the all-time greatest AS Roma players. He is also an inductee to the A.S Roma Hall of Fame.

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Aldair

• Full name: Aldair Nascimento dos Santos

• Date of birth: 30 November 1965 (age 56)

• Place of birth: Ilhéus, Brazil

• Height: 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)

• Playing position(s): Centre back

Aldair Nascimento Dos Santos is regarded as one of the greatest Brazilian defenders in history and one of the best AS Roma players of all time. Aldair joined Giallorossi in 1990 and stayed there for 13 years, becoming their captain.

He made 436 appearances for the club, and is the most-capped foregi player in the history of the team. Aldair won 1 Coppa Italia in 1991, as well as 1 Serie A title and 1 Italian Super Cup in 2001.

Even though Aldair was widely recognized as one of the best players in the world due to him being selected in the FIFA Best XI in 2000, and the club had not won any major titles for years, he chose to stay loyal to the club. His act of dedication added to his popularity among the fans.

Moreover, he has scored 20 goals for Giallorossi. Before coming to Olimpico in 1990, the Brazilian strong defender had played for Flamengo in his country, where he had won the Campeonato Carioca (The championship of the state of Rio de Janeiro) in 1987.

He also had a 1-year spell with the Portuguese club Benfica where he achieved a Portuguese Super Cup and reached the f European Cup final. After leaving Roma in 2003, he went on to play for

,

and

, where he won a Sanmarinese championship title, before he hung his boots.

Furthermore, Aldair has a glittering career with Brazilian national team. He won the 1994 FIFA World Cup, 2 Copa America titles in 1989 and 1997, as well as a Confederations Cup in 1997 with Selecao. He also reached the final of 1998 World Cup where they were beaten by France, as well as earning the Bronze Medal of 1996 Olympics and being runner-up in 1995 Confederations Cup.

Moreover, he has made a total of 80 appearances for Brazilian national team including taking part in 3 World Cups. Aldair is indubitably one of the best footballers in history of AS Roma and is a member of the club's Hall of Fame due to his astonishing performances as well as his bravery and loyalty to the club.

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Cafu

• Full name: Marcos Evangelista de Morais

• Date of birth: 7 June 1970 (age 51)

• Place of birth: Itaquaquecetuba, Brazil

• Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)

• Position(s): Right back

Cafu is widely regarded as one of the best full backs in history, one of the greatest Brazilian defenders ever and one of the best AS Roma players of all time. Cafu has played for Sao Paulo,

,

,

, Roma ad AC Milan, but his career is mainly remembered for his spells at the 2 Italian Club.

He joined Giallorossi in 1997, and went on to wear the Yellow and Reds' shirt on 218 occasions. He won the Serie A title in 2001 as well as an Italian Super Cup in the following year.

Regarded as one of the best players in AS Roma history, he is a worthy inductee in AS Roma Hall of Fame, as well as in AC Milan's, where he spent his post-Roma career and helped them secure 1 Serie A title, 1 Italian Super Cup, 1 FIFA Clubs World Cup, 2 UEFA Super Cups and the Champions League title in 2006.

Moreover, Cafu had an exhilarating career on the international scene with Brazilian national team. With 142 appearances, he is Brazil national team's most-capped player ever, and he is the only player in the history of football who has played in 3 World Cup finals.

He appeared in 4 World Cups, reached the final of 3 of them, and won the trophy twice in 1994 and 2002, with him lifting the cup as the captain in the latter. Furthermore, Cafu has achieved 2 Copa America titles, as well as 1 Confederation Cup with Selecao.

In addition, the legendary right back had won 3 Brazilian League title, 2 Copa Libertadores trophies and 2 Intercontinental Cups with Sau Paulo before moving to Europe and claiming UEFA Cup winners' Cup with Zaragoza in 1995.

Moreover, among his numerous individual achievements we can point out to some most notable ones; he was named the South American player of the year in 1994, was included in 2005 FIFA Best XI, and was included in the France Football's dream team of all time as the best right back in history.

Cafu is indubitably one of the

best AS Roma players ever

whose hard-working incursive style of play will forever be in the minds of Giallorossi fans, as well as is energetic attitude, technical abilities, his runs up the right flank, stamina, intelligence and his expertise in leadership.

Giacomo Losi

• Full name: Giacomo Losi

• Date of birth: 10 September 1935 (age 86)

• Place of birth: Soncino, Cremona, Italy

• Height: 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)

• Playing position(s): Full-back

Giacomo Losi, born 10 September 1935, is an Italian former football manager and player, who played as a defender. He spent his entire professional career, from 1955 to 1969, with Italian club A.S. Roma.

Giacomo Losi is a genuine legend of AS Roma and is deservedly considered as one of the

best AS Roma players of all time

. He was a one-man club who spent the entirety of his senior professional career playing for Giallorossi.

The Italian defender joined AS Roma in 1955, stayed there for 14 years, became their most-capped player with 455 appearances and held the record for 38 years before Francesco Totti broke it in 2007. He is now the third most-capped player in the history of The Yellow and Reds after Totti and De Rossi.

Regarded as one of the best AS Roma footballers of all time, he was nicknamed "the Heart of Roma", not only due to his technical abilities, but for his loyalty to the club. To clarify the point, he was offered by the Inter Sporting Director to be earning three times as much he had been earning with Roma, but he preferred to stay with the club.

Furthermore, he won 2 Coppa Italia titles in 1964 and 1969, as well as 1 Inter-Cities fairs Cup in 1961 with the Giallorossi. Moreover, he has made 11 appearances for Italian national team, including taking part in 1962 FIFA World Cup.

Losi is unquestionably one of the best players in AS Roma history with a magnificent long career with Giallorossi and is a member of AS Roma Hall of Fame, due to his fair style of play even though he was a strong combating defender, his dedication to the club as well as his achievements.

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Giuseppe Giannini

• Full name: Giuseppe Giannini

• Date of birth: 20 August 1964 (age 57)

• Place of birth: Rome, Italy

• Height: 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)

• Playing position(s): Midfielder

Giuseppe Giannini, born 20 August 1964, is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

Giannini is widely known as one of the best Italian midfielders of his generation, and one of the best AS Roma players of all time. He spent the majority of his career with the Yellow and Reds shirt by playing for the Giallorossi for 15 years.

He went on to captain the club and become the Roma's 4th most-capped player with 437 appearances. He has also scored 75 goals for the club, helping them secure 1 Serie A title in season 1982-83, as well as 3 Coppa Italia titles. Moreover, he played in the UEFA Cup final in 1991, although they could not win the trophy.

He left Olimpico to have a brief spell with the Austrian club

, where he won the Austrian Cup and Super Cup in his half-of-the-season stay, as well as with Napoli and Lecce.

The versatile midfielder has also made 47 appearances for Italian national team, including representing them in the 1988 European Championships and 1990 World Cup on Italian soil, 2 tournaments in which Azzurri reached the semi-finals.

He won the Bronze medal in the 1990 World Cup, and was named in the team of the tournament in Euro 1988. Considered as one of the

all-time greatest AS Roma players

, he was nicknamed "The Prince" (in Italian: II Principe) due to his innate elegance on the pitch.

He was a creative visionary player who had astonishing technique on the ball alongside notable tactical intelligence and impressive stamina. Giannini is also an inductee in AS Roma Hall of Fame, as a memorable player with a majestic career with the Giallorossi that will be engraved in the history book of the club.

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Agostino Di Bartolomei

• Full name: Agostino Di Bartolomei

• Date of birth: 8 April 1955

• Place of birth: Rome, Italy

• Date of death: 30 May 1994 (aged 39)

• Place of death: San Marco di Castellabate, Italy

• Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)

• Playing position(s): Central midfielder, Sweeper

Agostino Di Bartolomei (8 April 1955 in Rome – 30 May 1994 in San Marco di Castellabate) was an Italian football player, who played as a midfielder or as a defender, in a sweeper role.

"Ago", as he was known, is regarded as one of the

greatest AS Roma players of all time

. Years before De Rossi, Totti and Giannini, Di Bartolomei was the symbol of Giallorossi.

He made 310 appearances for the club, captained them in 148 matches, and scored 69 goals within 15 years. Di Bartolomei won 3 Italian Cups with Giallorossi, as well the leading them to their second Serie A title in 1983, and captaining the team in the European cup final in 1984, the match they lost to Liverpool and Ago would describe as "the game of his life".

Sadly, the unforgettable legend committed suicide exactly 10 years from the day of the doomed final match, on 30 May 1994, which does not seem to be a coincidence. Furthermore, he was a brilliant midfielder who could play as a sweeper- a position in which he would mostly play in winning the 1982-82 Escudetto- with an outstanding ability in playmaking.

Ago was also renowned for his adeptness in long-range passes and vision, as well as his elegance and stunning technique on the ball. In addition, he had astonishing powerful shots, and normally took free-kicks and penalties without taking a run-up.

Di Bartolomei is an undisputed member of AS Roma Hall of Fame, as one of the most notable captains in the history of Giallorossi, and one of the best AS Roma layers of all time indeed.

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Amedeo Amadei

• Full name: Amedeo Amadei

• Date of birth: 26 July 1921

• Place of birth: Frascati, Italy

• Date of death: 24 November 2013 (aged 92)

• Place of death: Frascati, Italy

• Height: 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)

• Playing position(s): Striker

Amedeo Amadei (26 July 1921 – 24 November 2013) was a professional Italian football player and manager, who played as a striker.

Amedeo Amadei is widely known as one of the best AS Roma players ever, and one of the best Italian strikers of all time.

He has made a total of 234 appearances and scored 111 goals for Giallorossi. Amadei holds the joint record (along with Pietro Pellegri) of being the youngest player to have ever appeared in a Serie A match with 15 years and 280 days.

Moreover, he is also the youngest player to have scored in the League. Regarded as one of the

best players in AS Roma history

, Amadei was a part the squad in winning the first ever Escudetto (Serie A) title in 1941-42 season, where his name was marked as a genuine symbol of the club as he inherited the captain's armband from Guido Masetti.

In spite of the fact he has also played for Atalanta, AC Milan and Napoli, he is still largely loved by the Giallorossi fans. Take 17 October 1948 for example, when he was an Inter Milan player who came to watch the Roma derby, and when the referee awarded Roma a free-kick, the fans shout out his name. Amedei was known for his astonishing pace and his extremely forceful shots.

He had an expertise in running forward with the ball from the midfield as his teammate, Guido Masetti, once said "Letting Amadei control the ball in midfield was akin to conceding a goal".

Moreover, The Italian genuies is one of the 11 members of the AS Roma Hall of Fame, and he was named by Giallorossi fans as the "Eighth king of the Roma". Furthermore, Amadei appeared in 13 matches for Italian national team, scored 7 goals and played in 1950 FIFA World Cup.

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Bruno Conti

• Full name: Bruno Conti

• Date of birth: 13 March 1955 (age 66)

• Place of birth: Nettuno, Italy

• Height: 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)

• Playing position(s): Winger

• Current team: Head of A.S. Roma's youth sector

Bruno Conti, born 13 March 1955, is an Italian football manager and former player. He is currently head of A.S. Roma's youth sector.

Bruno Conti is regarded as one of the best Italian wingers of all time and undisputedly one of the best footballers in the history of AS Roma. Conti spent his entire career with Giallorossi, aside from two loan-spells with Genoa- where he achieved a Serie B title in 1976.

Conti appeared in 402 matches with The Yellow and Reds shirt, and currently stands 7th in the list of the players with the most appearances for the club, in addition to scoring 47 goals for the Giallorossi.

He won 5 Coppa Italia titles and was a pivotal part of the Serie A winning team in 1983, and helped the team reach the European Cup final in 1984, where he missed a penalty shout-out in the loss against Liverpool- as well as the 1991 UEFA Cup final.

Moreover, Conti played a vital role in Italy's championship in 1982 World Cup, with him playing in every single match for Azzurri. He was also named in the team of the tournament, and in Pele's opinion, was the best player of the games.

Moreover, he represented his national team in 1986 World Cup as well, and retired from playing for Italian national team after making 47 appearances, scoring 5 goals and becoming a world champion.

Regarded as one of the best AS Rona players of all time, Conti was also known as one of the best players in his generation worldwide, and arguably the best Italian right winger ever due to his stunning pace, brilliant technique with the ball, outstanding agility, impressive vision and play making abilities as well as excellent creativity which made him an amazing assist provider.

Conti is worthily a member of AS Roma Hall of Fame which includes 11 players of the club's legends, considered as the

best AS Roma footballers of all time

.

Roberto Pruzzo

• Full name: Roberto Pruzzo

• Date of birth: 1 April 1955 (age 66)

• Place of birth: Crocefieschi, Italy

• Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)

• Playing position(s): Forward

• Current team: Como (Sports manager)

Roberto Pruzzo, born 1 April 1955, is an Italian former football striker, now a coach. He currently is the Sports manager of Como.

After making his professional debut for Genoa, the club he stayed in for 6 years, scored 57 goals in 143 matches for, won the Serie B title and finished the tournament as the top scorer, and oddly became their captain at the age of 18, Pruzzo moved to Roma to be a part of one of the most successful AS Roma periods ever, and make his name a worthy name to enter the list of the

best AS Roma players of all time

.

He played in a total of 315 matches and scored 138 goals for the club. With Giallorossi, the natural prolific goal scorer won the Serie A in 1983 as well as 4 Coppa Italia titles. Pruzzo finished the Serie A tournament as the top scorer on 3 occasions, a glory which only 8 players have achieved.

In addition, he was the top scorer of the 1979-80 Coppa Italia- which was one of the 4 Coppa Italia titles he claimed with Roma. Moreover, Pruzzo scored Roma's only goal in 1984 European Cup final match against Liverpool, the match went to penalty shout-outs and Roma lost to the English Club in Olimpico (Roma's home Stadium). He then spent the last season of his career with Fiorentina in 1989.

In spite of his luminous club career, he only managed to make 6 appearances for Italian national team, including representing Azzurri in 1980 UEFA European championship where they reached semi-finals. The legendary striker was renowned for his strong stature as well as having great skills with the ball.

However, his most remarkable feature was his ability to score from accurate headers that stemmed from his elevation. He is deservedly one of the greatest AS Roma players of all time and is an inductee to the club's Hall of Fame.

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Daniele De Rossi

• Full name: Daniele De Rossi

• Date of birth: 24 July 1983 (age 38)

• Place of birth: Rome, Italy

• Height: 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)

• Playing position(s): Defensive midfielder

Daniele De Rossi Ufficiale OMRI, born 24 July 1983, is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. He is definitely one of the

best footballers in the history of AS Roma

.

De Rossi is a true symbol of the club and is regarded as one of the greatest Italian midfielders ever, and one of the best AS Roma players of all time. He spent 18 seasons of his 19-season career with the Giallorossi. He made his debut for Roma in 2001, and went on to become the second-most capped player in the history of the club with 616 appearances.

He won 2 Coppa Italia titles in 2007 and 2008 as well as 1 Italian Super Cup with AS Roma. De Rossi was named the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year in 2006, and won the award of the Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year in 2009.

De Rossi was handed the captain's armband at the end of 2016-17 season as a result of Totti's retirement, and he led the team to reach their first ever champions league semi-finals in 2017-18 season. He decided to leave Olimpico at the end of 2018-19season after 18 years of passion, scoring 63 goals and providing 56 assists to spend the last year of his professional career with the Argentinean club

.

However, he only managed to appear in only 7 matches for the club and declared his retirement in the January of 2020. Moreover, he has made 117 appearances for Italian national team and was a part of the squad that won the 2006 World Cup.

He is Azzurri's 4th most capped player. In addition, he stands 2nd in the list of highest scoring midfielders for Italian national team with 21 goals behind Adolfo Balopncieri.

Furthermore, De Rossi took part in 3 World Cups, 3 Euros, including Euro 2012 where Italy finished as runner-up and De Rossi was named in the team of the tournament, as well as 2 Confederations Cup, a tournament in which he is Italy's all-time top scorer with 2 goals. He also represented his national team in youth levels and won the UNDER-21 European championship in 2004. Regarded as one of the best AS Roma players ever, De Rossi was also known as one of the best midfielders of his generation.

He was a physically strong midfielder with admirable vision and tenacity, as well as adeptness in scoring goals and making attacking runs. He was considered as a "Perfect Midfielder" who was excellent at passing, shooting and tackling.

De Rossi's loyalty as well as the dedication he showed for the club both on and off the pitch, alongside his astounding performances have made him one of the most loved players among the Giallorossi fans.

Francesco Totti

• Full name: Francesco Totti

• Date of birth: 27 September 1976 (age 45)

• Place of birth: Rome, Italy

• Height: 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)

• Playing position(s): Attacking midfielder, forward

Francesco Totti Ufficiale OMRI, born 27 September 1976, is an Italian former professional footballer who played solely for Roma and the Italy national team primarily as an attacking midfielder or second striker, but could also play as a lone striker or winger.

Totti indubitably stands 1st in every list of the best AS Roma footballers of all time. The greatest player in the history of Giallorossi, spent the entirety of his 25-year career devoting himself to the club.

Totti was a Roma player for 28 years, including 3 years in youth teams and 25 years as a senior team player. He inherited the captain's armband from Aldair in 1998 at the age of 22, becoming the youngest club captain in the history of Serie A-that is a record to this day- and had been the captain of the club for 19 years before he hung his boots in 2017.

Totti is the most-capped player in the history of the club with 786 matches. Moreover, he is AS Roma's top scorer of all time with 307 goals, and is the 2nd Italian League's top scorer of all time with 250 goals, behind Silvio Piola with 274 goals.

He won 1 Serie A title in 2001, 2 Coppa Italia trophies and 2 Italian Super Cups with the Giallorossi. "The Gladiator", as he was nicknamed, was the Serie A top scorer of the 2006-7season and won the European Golden Shoe. "The Golden Boy", which is his other nickname, has been named the Serie A Italian player of the year on 5 occasions as well as being named as the Serie A Footballer of the Year twice.

Moreover, he has finished the league as the best assist provider three times. Regarded as one of the best Italian players of all time, he made 58 appearances for his national team, and won the 2006 World Cup, where he was the assists leader and was named in the tournament's all-star team.

Furthermore, he won the 1996 UNDER-21 European championship with Azzurri as well. He holds the record of being the oldest player to have scored in a Champions League match, by doing so at the age of 38 years and 59 days. Moreover, he was named the Serie A young Footballer of the Year award in 1999, and was awarded the "Golden Foot" in 2010.

"Il Capitano" is not only one of the best Italian strikers of all time, but is undoubtedly the most memorable and iconic player in the history of Giallorossi. The symbol of AS Roma and the City of Rome, is the first player that comes to mind every time one comes across the phrase of "Best AS Roma players of all time".

He was a mixture of vision, technical abilities and finishing capabilities as well as his inspirable leadership and commitments to the club, even though he could have claimed many more titles with some other clubs that had made offers to him such as

.

Yet, he chose to stay with his family, as he once said, "You never abandon your poor family to leave with a wealthy one. I was born Roman, and I will die Roman. I will never leave this team or my city."

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