Team Profile: AS Roma

AS Roma’s achievements, while fewer in number compared to Italy’s most decorated clubs, carry immense emotional weight for their fans. 

The three Serie A titles, especially the 1982–83 and 2000–01, triumphs are remembered not just as sporting victories, but as defining moments of identity and pride for the city. 

Winning the 2022 UEFA Europa Conference League under José Mourinho, Roma’s first-ever European trophy, was celebrated like a World Cup victory, uniting generations of supporters in tears and joy. 

For Romanisti, success is not measured purely in silverware but in passion, loyalty, and the fight shown on the pitch. 

Every trophy represents years of devotion, suffering, and hope, making each one feel deeply personal. In Rome, winning means everything—because it means belonging.

AS Roma’s anthem, “Roma (non si discute, si ama)” and the unofficial fan-favourite “Roma Roma Roma” by Antonello Venditti, are more than songs – they are expressions of identity, belonging, and pure emotion. 

Played before every home match at the Stadio Olimpico, “Roma Roma Roma” echoes through the Curva Sud with a powerful, almost sacred energy. The anthem is not just sung — it’s roared from the hearts of thousands, often accompanied by choreographed displays, flares, and scarves held high. 

Its lyrics speak to an unbreakable bond with the club and the city: a love that exists without conditions. The moment the anthem starts is often described as spiritual, a collective declaration of devotion that sets AS Roma apart. 

For many supporters, hearing the anthem live for the first time is an unforgettable, emotional experience — one that symbolises the soul of the club more than any trophy ever could.

Club Overview

• Full Name: Associazione Sportiva Roma S.p.A.
• Founded: July 22, 1927
• Nickname(s): I Giallorossi (The Yellow and Reds), La Lupa (The She-Wolf), La Magica
• Stadium: Stadio Olimpico (Capacity: ~70,000)
• Owner: The Friedkin Group
• Manager (2025): Gian Piero Gasparini 

AS Roma is one of Italy’s most iconic football clubs, representing the capital city in Serie A with passion, drama, and a deep cultural identity. Known for its fiery fanbase and deep-rooted Roman pride, Roma is a symbol of the Eternal City on and off the pitch.

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Major Achievements

• Serie A titles (Scudetti): 3 (1941–42, 1982–83, 2000–01)
• Coppa Italia: 9 (Most recently in 2007–08)
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2
• UEFA Europa Conference League: 1 (2021–22, under José Mourinho)
• UEFA Europa League Runner-up: 2022–23
• European Cup Finalist: 1983–84

Roma has long been a major force in Italian football, known for near-misses in Europe but adored for its loyalty, beauty, and fighting spirit.

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Club Legends

• Francesco Totti: “Il Capitano” – Roma’s all-time top scorer and appearance maker, a symbol of loyalty who never left his boyhood club.
• Daniele De Rossi: A fierce midfielder and natural leader, De Rossi was Roma’s heart and soul after Totti.
• Bruno Conti: Star of the 1982 World Cup and Roma’s creative force in the 1980s.
• Giuseppe Giannini: The “Prince” of Rome, a fan favourite during the late ’80s and early ’90s.
• Aldair: The elegant Brazilian defender who served as a rock at the back for over a decade.
• Agostino Di Bartolomei: Captain during the 1983 scudetto and 1984 European Cup Final.

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Rivalries

Lazio (Derby della Capitale)

• The fiercest rivalry in Italian football.
• More than a football match — it’s a clash of culture, identity, and pride between two Roman sides.
• Matches are intense, emotional, and often chaotic both on and off the pitch.

Juventus

• Seen as a rivalry of class and resentment — North vs South.
• Juve’s dominance contrasts with Roma’s more emotional, underdog spirit.

Napoli

For many years, AS Roma and Napoli shared one of the few strong inter-city ultra friendships in Italian football.

The bond between their fanbases, especially among the Curva Sud (Roma) and Curva B (Napoli), was built on a shared identity: proud southern cities often looked down upon by the northern Italian football elite.

Both sets of fans viewed themselves as outsiders fighting against a system dominated by the likes of Juventus, Inter, and Milan. They stood side by side in stadiums, exchanged banners, and even chanted in support of one another.

This solidarity was especially visible in the early-to-mid 1980s, when ultra culture was at its peak. Roma and Napoli fans would often attend each other’s matches, and many considered the alliance one of the strongest in Italy.

The friendship extended beyond football — rooted in social, political, and cultural parallels between Rome and Naples.

However, the alliance began to fracture in the late 1980s, as tensions rose both on and off the pitch. It is believed the twinning initially finished after Napoli signed Bruno Giordano from Lazio in 1985 and then two years later Napoli player Salvatore Bagni made a gesture to the Roma fans after a fiery game and the relationship was broken forever.

There was a tragic event on May 3, 2014, when Napoli supporter Ciro Esposito was shot and later died following clashes with Roma ultras before the Coppa Italia final in Rome. Although the incident was condemned by many, it permanently poisoned relations between the two fanbases.

Today, the Roma–Napoli fixture is one of the most heated in Serie A, marked by hostility, aggressive chants, and a heavy police presence.

What was once a symbol of southern unity has now become a bitter rivalry. The breakdown of this friendship is a stark reminder of how quickly alliances in ultra culture can dissolve — and how deep emotions, tragedy, and pride run in Italian football.

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Friendship

AS Roma has a friendship with Panathinaikos. This friendship involves close ties between the supporters of these clubs, often expressed through various displays of camaraderie and support. 

Roma and Udinese’s relationship is often around their Serie A matches, this is thought to be a relatively new “friendship” between the two clubs. The primary recent connection stems from a game in March 2024 that was abandoned due to Evan Ndicka’s collapse, and the subsequent resumption of the match from the 72nd minute.

It is also understood that Roma have an old friendship with Palermo.

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Ultras and Fan Culture

Curva Sud

• The beating heart of Roma’s support, located behind the southern goal at Stadio Olimpico.
• Home to the most passionate and vocal ultra groups, including:
  • Boys Roma
  • Fedayn
  • CUCS (Commando Ultra Curva Sud, historically iconic)
• Ultras are known for their choreography, flares, political messages, and fierce loyalty.

Roma’s fanbase is emotional and theatrical — they live football as a daily identity. For locals, the club is a religion.

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Tickets and Matchday Info

• Buy Online: https://asroma.com or official resale platforms like VivaTicket.
• Stadium Box Office: Open before matchdays, but big games sell out fast.
• Memberships: Available through the club for priority access and discounts.
• ID Required: Bring ID or passport; Italian regulations often require it for ticket collection or stadium access.

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How to Get to the Stadio Olimpico

• Address: Viale dei Gladiatori, 00135 Rome, Italy
• Public Transport:
  • Metro A to Flaminio → Tram No. 2 to Piazzale Flaminio.
  • Bus lines: 32, 69, 280, 628.
  • Taxi: Recommended post-match due to crowd congestion.
• Walk from City Centre: Around 45–60 minutes from Piazza del Popolo.

Tip: Arrive early to soak up the atmosphere in the surrounding areas.

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Where to Eat and Drink Before the Game

Near the Stadium:

• Da Cesare al Casaletto (Monteverde): Excellent Roman cuisine, a favourite among locals.
• Trattoria Lo Scopettaro (Lungotevere): Authentic, unfussy Roman dishes close to the Tiber.
• Ponte Milvio area: Trendy bars and cafes for pre-match drinks, popular with younger fans – BUT NOT ON DERBY DAY AS IT’S WHERE THE LAZIO FANS GATHER.

Classic Roman Spots:

• Pizzeria Ai Marmi (Trastevere): Crispy Roman-style pizza, iconic.
• Ivo a Trastevere (Trastevere): Crispy Roman-style pizza with lots of pictures of Roma’s former stars.
• Bar San Calisto (Trastevere): Cheap, old-school bar perfect for a beer among locals.
• Felice e Testaccio (Testaccio): Possibly the best ‘Cacio e Pepe’ in Rome!.
• Roscioli (Campo de’ Fiori): Fancier option for Roman pasta and wine.

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Why Roma Matters

AS Roma is more than a club — it’s a cultural identity for millions. It represents the soul of the city: proud, chaotic, passionate, and beautiful. Its fans don’t demand endless trophies; they demand fight, honour, and emotion. 

Supporting Roma means choosing love and heartbreak over guaranteed glory. It’s about belonging — to the city, the colours, and to something eternal.

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