Former Roma coach Daniele De Rossi recently shared his thoughts on his time at the club, his relationship with Francesco Totti, and his experiences as a manager. Speaking at the Sport Industry Talk event at the Maxxi in Rome, De Rossi touched on various aspects of his career, though he carefully avoided discussing his recent departure from Roma.
De Rossi emphasized the importance of altruism in coaching, drawing from his experiences at both SPAL and Roma. “At SPAL, I was seen as an unidentified object. They saw me as a former important player, and it took the right approach to be credible and tell them they were more important than me,” he explained. “At Roma, I entered as a club legend. For many, I was a friend, and there too, it was necessary to be close to them but not give them too much space.”
The former midfielder stressed the significance of managing group dynamics and emotions. “The mental aspect of management is important. Of course, football knowledge is necessary, but group management is fundamental,” he stated.
Reflecting on his playing career, De Rossi touched on the concept of loyalty to a single club. “Continuing your entire career with one team has a special flavor, even though temptations exist,” he admitted. “Sometimes you think about ‘going for a ride somewhere else,’ but in the end, you stay for that strong feeling.”
When asked about the most fascinating player he’s played with, De Rossi didn’t hesitate to name Francesco Totti. “It’s Francesco. I played with him for many years, and he was fascinating even for his teammates,” De Rossi recalled. “Besides being the strongest, he had this light, this silent charisma. He spoke with gestures and was always there when you were in difficulty. I experienced him as a fan and as a teammate.”
De Rossi also shared his thoughts on the importance of simplicity in football, citing Rodri’s Ballon d’Or win as an example. “Simplicity, or normality as Spalletti called it, is undervalued in football. It’s difficult to play simply,” he explained. “Today, everyone tends to overdo it. We need to return to normality.”
The former Roma captain concluded by emphasizing the responsibility of youth coaches. “Those who coach children have a greater responsibility,” he said. “If you take the ball away from their feet to make them do tactics or schemes, you’re making a mistake. The kid should be thinking about dribbling or taking the ball away from opponents.”
