Francesco Totti (Part 1)

Francesco Totti, born on 27 September 1976, is a retired Italian professional footballer who spent his entire illustrious career with AS Roma, both at the club level and internationally with the Italy national team. Known for his remarkable technical skills and creative playmaking abilities, Totti primarily operated as an attacking midfielder but was also adept at playing as a forward in various roles.
Throughout his tenure at Roma, Totti achieved numerous accolades, including a Serie A title, two Coppa Italia titles, and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. He holds several records, such as being Roma's all-time top goalscorer and most capped player. Totti is also the second-highest scorer in Italian league history with 250 goals in Serie A matches.


Totti played a pivotal role in Italy triumph at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and was a finalist at UEFA Euro 2000. He also represented Italy in the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. Totti contributions earned him spots in the All-Star teams for both the 2000 Euros and the 2006 World Cup.
Renowned as one of the greatest players of his generation and among the best Italian footballers of all time, Totti received numerous prestigious awards, including eleven Oscar del Calcio awards, the 2007 European Golden Shoe, and the 2010 Golden Foot. He was also named in the FIFA 100 list by Pelé in 2004 and was recognized as the most popular footballer in Europe by IFFHS in 2011.


After retiring from professional football in 2017, Totti received further honors, including the Player's Career Award and the UEFA President's Award, acknowledging his remarkable contributions to the sport. Throughout his career, Totti earned several nicknames such as Er Bimbo de Oro, Er Pupone , reflecting his revered status among fans and the media.
After honing his skills in Roma's youth setup for three years, Francesco Totti made his debut for the senior team in Serie A at the tender age of 16. This milestone occurred on 28 March 1993, when coach Vujadin Boskov included him in the squad for a match against Brescia, which Roma won 2–0. Totti early display of talent caught the attention of fans and coaches alike.


Under the management of Carlo Mazzone in the following season, Totti's involvement in the first team increased significantly. Deployed as a second striker, he began to feature more regularly and netted his first senior goal on 4 September 1994, in a 1–1 draw against Foggia. This marked the beginning of his journey as a goal-scoring sensation for Roma.
By 1995, Totti had firmly established himself as a key player in Roma starting lineup. Over the next three seasons, he continued to impress with his scoring prowess, netting a total of 16 goals while also creating numerous opportunities for his teammates.


Mazzone, his manager at the time, lauded Totti exceptional talent and contribution to the team's success.However, the summer of 1996 brought changes to Roma, with Mazzone departing and club legend Giuseppe Giannini leaving as well. Despite expectations for Totti to take on a more prominent role in the team, the 1996–97 season proved to be challenging. Under new manager Carlos Bianchi, Roma struggled, and Totti found it difficult to secure regular playing time.
Totti was on the verge of being loaned out to Sampdoria to gain more experience and playing time. However, Roma's chairman, Franco Sensi, intervened and blocked the transfer, leading to friction between Bianchi and the club management. Ultimately, Bianchi departed, leaving Totti to continue his journey with Roma amidst the managerial upheaval.


Under the guidance of Zdenek Zeman, Francesco Totti experienced significant growth, both physically and mentally, as a footballer. Totti transition to the left wing in Zeman tactical setup allowed him to exploit his skills effectively. He demonstrated his ability to take on defenders in one-on-one situations and utilize his stronger foot to cut inside and take shots on goal. Additionally, Totti physical attributes improved, as he became stronger, fitter, and more hard-working on the pitch.
During his first season under Zeman, Totti flourished in Roma's 4–3–3 formation, achieving a breakthrough with the club. He reached double figures in goals for the first time in his career, finishing the Serie A season with 13 goals. Notably, Totti's performance contributed to Roma's fourth-place finish in the league.


Despite not being selected for the 1998 FIFA World Cup by Italy manager Cesare Maldini, Totti consistent displays, creativity, and goal scoring prowess earned him recognition. He was awarded the Guerin for the 1997–98 season, recognizing him as the player with the highest average rating in Serie A.
The following season, Totti stature within Roma continued to grow. On 31 October 1998, he was appointed as the team's official captain, becoming the youngest Serie A club captain at the age of 22. Totti leadership qualities began to emerge, and he established himself as a symbol of the club. Additionally, he scored his first goal in the Rome Derby against cross city rivals Lazio on 29 November 1998, further solidifying his status as a Roma legend.


During Zeman two year tenure, Totti showcased his versatility and effectiveness on the pitch, scoring 30 goals and providing 26 assists. For his outstanding performances, he was honored as the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year for the 1998–99 season, highlighting his remarkable impact and potential at a young age.
Roma president at the time, Franco Sensi, made the decision to replace Zdenek Zeman with Fabio Capello in a bid to secure the league title. Under Capello guidance during the 2000–01 season, Roma underwent significant tactical changes, with Totti assuming a central role as a creative attacking midfielder in a 3–4–1–2 formation.


This strategic shift was attributed to Totti's exceptional passing skills and playmaking abilities.
Totti made an impactful start to the season, scoring in Roma 2–0 home victory against Bologna on 1 October 2000. His influential performances continued, notably with a match-winning left footed volley against Udinese on 10 December 2000, securing a crucial 2–1 home win for Roma. As the season progressed, Totti remained instrumental in Roma success, contributing goals and assists to maintain their position at the top of the Serie A table.
On 17 June 2001, in a significant match at the Stadio Olimpico, Roma secured a 3–1 victory over Parma, with Totti, alongside teammates Vincenzo Montella and Gabriel Batistuta, each scoring a goal. This victory clinched the Serie A title for Roma, marking their third league triumph in history. Totti concluded the league campaign with 13 goals, matching his personal best goal tally in a single Serie A season at that time.


Totti played a crucial role in Roma triumph in the Supercoppa Italiana on 19 August 2001, contributing both a goal and an assist in their victory over Fiorentina. His outstanding performances during the 2000 and 2001 seasons earned him prestigious accolades, including the Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year award for both years and the Serie A Footballer of the Year Award for the first time in his career in 2000. Totti's remarkable achievements and leadership qualities solidified his status as a hero among Roma fans, who admired his local roots and lifelong allegiance to the club.

References

1.  "Francesco Totti". AS Roma. Archived from the original on 3 July 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
2. a b "Francesco Totti". Lega Serie A. Archived from the original on 13 July 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
3. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Italy" . FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 15. Archived from the original  on 10 June 2019.
4. a b "Ufficiale Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana". Presidenza della Repubblica. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 6 September 2015.
5. ^ Luciano Canepari. "Francesco". DiPI Online. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
6. ^ Luciano Canepari. "Totti". DiPI Online . Retrieved 26 October 2018.
7. a b "AS ROMA Totti a caccia del record". Gazzetta Giallorossa. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
8. a b "Totti dice addio alla Nazionale". Corriere della Sera. 20 July 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
9. a b c "Totti: "Nazionale addio La priorità è la Roma"". La Gazzetta dello Sport . 20 July 2007. Retrieved 29 January 2015.
10. ^ "Pele's list of the greatest". BBC Sport. 4 March 2004. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
11. ^ "The World's Most Popular Footballer Amongst Currently Active Players in 2011". IFFHS.de. Retrieved 25 January 2012.
12. ^ Thomas Simon . "Le top 10 des meilleurs vieux" . France Football. Retrieved 5 February 2019.