Captain Daniele De Rossi Decides To Call It Quits On 18-Year Roma Career
14th May 2019
The 35-year-old former World Cup winning midfielder will play his final game at home against Parma on May 26, but will not be retiring from professional football
- Captain Daniele De Rossi will bring the curtain down on his 18-year career with Roma at the end of the season, the Serie A side announced on Tuesday
- The game could be a crucial one for Roma's Champions League ambitions next season as last year's European semi-finalists are sixth in Serie A just one point off fourth place with two games to play
- De Rossi has spent his entire senior career with his hometown team coming through the club's academy system
ROMA, Italy- Captain
Daniele De Rossi will bring the curtain down on his 18-year career with Roma at
the end of the season, the Serie A side announced on Tuesday.
The 35-year-old former World Cup winning midfielder will
play his final game at home against Parma on May 26, but will not be retiring
from professional football.
"(De Rossi) plans to pursue a new adventure away from
Rome," the club said in a statement.
"It will be the end of an era."
The game could be a crucial one for Roma's Champions League
ambitions next season as last year's European semi-finalists are sixth in Serie
A just one point off fourth place with two games to play.
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De Rossi has spent his entire senior career with his
hometown team coming through the club's academy system.
"For 18 years, Daniele has been the beating heart of AS
Roma's team," said club president Jim Pallotta said.
"We will all shed tears when he pulls on
the Giallorossi shirt for the last time against Parma but we respect
his desire to prolong his playing career - even if, at almost 36, it will be
away from Rome.
"On behalf of everyone at Roma, I’d like to thank
Daniele for his incredible dedication to this club and ensure him that our
doors will remain open for him to return to the club in a new role whenever he
wants.”
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Rossi made 615 appearances and scored 63 goals for Roma
in all competitions winning the Coppa Italia in 2007 and 2008,
and the Supercoppa in 2007.
He took over the captain's armband from club legend
Francesco Totti – the one player ahead of him for Roma
appearances – in 2017.
He is also the fourth-most capped player for the Italian
national team with 117 appearances.
The 2006 World Cup winner retired after Italy failed to
qualify for last year's World Cup, missing the tournament for the first time in
60 years.
De Rossi will hold a press conference at the club’s
training centre at Trigoria later on Tuesday.
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