The De Rossi Legacy: A Father's Influence on Rome's Football Scene

The name De Rossi, around Trigoria and throughout Rome, is well known and not only thanks to Daniele. Alberto De Rossi, the father, is in fact the longest-serving coach in the history of Roma's Primavera team: in charge from 2003 to 2022, today he has changed roles and holds the position of 'Head of Development and Training for National Team Coaches'. In total, De Rossi senior has spent 29 years serving Roma, 19 of those as a coach of the youngsters: 740 benches, 3 league titles, 2 Italian Cups, and 2 Italian Super Cups. And he has launched several talents: the current captain, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Frattesi, Verde, Sadiq. In short, he has an eye for talent. What he said about his father Everything Daniele knows about football he learned from the very beginning following the wise guidance of his father, as he recalled a few days ago during a press conference after the Roma-Brighton match: 'I've seen him twice since I've been coaching Roma, he runs away when he passes near the field where we train. I caught him at the bar and he told me he would leave immediately... He never talked to me about football when I was playing and he does so even now. From him, I inherited the passion, the football ideas, and knowing how to relate to people. He is shy, but he didn't come to the stadium since I stopped, now he has started to be there again. He enjoyed these 50 days in silence.' But who is Alberto De Rossi? Between 1977 and 1992, Alberto De Rossi developed his career as a footballer, as a defender. He wore the jerseys of 10 clubs, in various professional categories (including Serie C1 and C2), but never played in Serie A: Piacenza, Mantova, Siena, Montevarchi, Prato, Livorno, Lucchese, San Marino, Sarzanese, Ostiamare. The arrival at Roma De Rossi arrived at Roma in 1993 at the age of 36. The call came to him in the summer, in the days of July close to his son Daniele's birthday (the 24th), while the coach was at the seaside with his family. It was Bruno Conti who contacted him, offering him the position. The manager Agnolin, at Trigoria, had him sign the contract. The first youth team led by De Rossi was that of the 'Pulcini' of the 1984 class. Aquilani, Ferronetti, Corvia, Mantioni, Stillo, Piva, Viscontini, Ricozzi, Servi are some of the names that make up the squad. He carried forward the same group for four years, culminating with the national Giovanissimi championship in Catania. The successes With the Primavera, De Rossi has led the Giallorossi boys well beyond 600 benches. He has won 3 league titles, 2 Italian Cups, and 2 Italian Super Cups. By 2020, he celebrates 27 years in the youth sector of Trigoria. He maintained the Primavera category for personal and professional choice, not making the leap into professional championships. 'I prefer to train young footballers and give them all the necessary tools to make the leap. Not only from a footballing point of view but also a human one. I have had several offers from Serie B clubs, always refused. I am at Roma, in a great club.' He refused to coach his son Always by his own admission, De Rossi also refused to lead Roma's first team on a couple of occasions over the years. For a specific reason: 'For my son Daniele. And it seems like a natural choice. For a father, it's spontaneous not to create a problem for his son. I say it calmly, as a normal parent, without wanting to be a hero.' Alberto never coached Daniele even in other categories.