For Francesco Totti’s 38th birthday, Roma TV put together a slideshow of some of the player’s most treasured recollections for him to comment on.
The club captain, who celebrates his birthday tomorrow, as the Giallorossi face Verona, spoke on a variety of topics.
For Francesco Totti’s 38th birthday, Roma TV put together a slideshow of some of the player’s most treasured recollections for him to comment on.
The club captain, who celebrates his birthday tomorrow, as the Giallorossi face Verona, spoke on a variety of topics.
One of his favourite memories, alongside his baptism, family trips to the sea, a meeting with Pope John Paul II and his first derby experience, was being able to watch and follow Roma legend Giuseppe Giannini.
“The prince, my idol, my model when I was small,” Totti recollected.
“I always followed in his footsteps even if I played two different roles. “I identified with him as a captain, as everything.
“I knew him, I played with him, I’ve slept in the same room with him—he taught me a lot. Fortunately I was able to do what he did – become captain and take the No 10 jersey.”
Of course, there’s no forgetting the first time he was able to play for the Giallorossi.
“September 4, 1993. I remember the day before when the Coach told me that I was going to play from the start with [Daniel] Fonseca in the place of [Abel] Balbo and I was in disbelief.
“I would never have expected it. Starting on the first day in front of our fans and scoring for me was an incredible emotion.”
But the day that will likely remain most vivid in the mind was when Roma beat Parma 3-1 in June 2001 to secure the club’s third Scudetto.
“A day that I will never forget, an indescribable joy,” Totti said. “I hope that this scenario will repeat itself before I retire.”