Roma and Italy legend Francesco Totti will have his autobiography published in English for the first time later this month, with the new title Gladiator.
The original was one of the best-selling books in Italy in 2018 and was used as the basis for a documentary, My Name is Francesco Totti, which won the Italian academy award.
The 2006 World Cup winner wore the Roma jersey for 25 years, 20 of them as captain, and may well be the last of the one-club stars in this sport.
Totti’s book was originally co-written with journalist Paolo Condo, has been translated into English by Anthony Wright and will be published by deCoubertin Books on September 23, just a few days shy of the legend’s 45th birthday.
At the moment of his retirement, Er Pupone had 785 competitive appearances in the Roma jersey, scoring 307 goals and providing 186 assists.
That includes 250 goals in 618 Serie A matches.
“I’m beyond thrilled to have worked with Francesco and Paolo on their wonderful book and to be able to introduce it to an English audience,” said deCoubertin founder, James Corbett.
“It is one of the best footballer memoirs I’ve ever read, never mind worked on – full of heart and great stories – and is as much about being the physical embodiment of one of the world’s great cities as it is about being a footballing superstar.”