• Bologna
• Roma

• • 3-5-2
  • Giocatore n.
  • CURCI 1
  • ANTONSSON 5
  • NATALI 14
  • MANTOVANI 22
  • GARICS 8
  • KONE 33
  • KHRIN 4
  • CHRISTODOULOPOULOS 19
  • MORLEO 3
  • BIANCHI 9
  • CRISTALDO 99
  • All. Ballardini
• • 4-3-3
  • Giocatore n.
  • DE SANCTIS 26
  • TOROSIDIS 35
  • BENATIA 17
  • CASTAN 5
  • BASTOS 20
  • PJANIC 15
  • DE ROSSI 16
  • STROOTMAN 6
  • FLORENZI 24
  • DESTRO 22
  • GERVINHO 27
  • All. Garcia

03/17/2014

Totti’s first armband: the legend of captain is born

There have been many important moments in the long love affair between Francesco Totti and Roma. His debut at Brescia, his first Serie A goal at the Stadio Olimpico against Foggia, and the evening he reached Nordahl’s record, just to name a few. These moments have gone on to become part of the collective memory; true watersheds in football history.

Among these there is another one that stands out, and one that perhaps has not received the attention it deserves. On October 31, 1998, a Saturday evening, the Giallorossi hosted Udinese. Only an hour before the opening whistle, "Pluto" Aldair declared that he no longer wanted to wear the captain's armband. Coach Zdenek Zeman then decided to put it on the arm of Totti. And so began the legend of captain.

The result was a resounding 4-0 victory, with goals from Di Francesco, Paulo Sergio and a brace from – you guessed it – Totti. The first from the captain was a real gem; a left-footed volley that beat Turci under his crossbar. Then the second came from a penalty kick to close out the match.

Thus began the story of Totti as Roma’s captain. A story that has gone more than 16 years, and has yet to reach a conclusion.

The match
October, 31.1998 - Stadio Olimpico
Roma 4-0 Udinese (HT: 1-0)

SCORERS: Di Francesco 45, Totti 53, Paulo Sergio 61, Totti 70 (pen).

ROMA (4-3-3): Chimenti, Aldair, Petruzzi, Zago (Candela 72), Wome, Tommasi, Di Biagio (Alenitchev 72), Di Francesco, Paulo Sergio (Frau 88), Delvecchio, Totti.
Unused subs: Campagnolo, Dal Moro, Gautieri, Bartelt.
Coach: Zeman.

UDINESE (3-4-3): Turci, Bertotto, Calori, Pierini, Navas (Bachini 46), Giannichedda, Walem (Appiah 58), Pineda, Amoroso (Sosa 58), Locatelli, Poggi.
Unused subs: Wapenaar, Bisgaard, Gargo, Zanchi.
Coach: Guidolin.

REFEREE: Messina (Bergamo).

Booked: Pineda, Giannichedda, Navas.
Corners: Roma 12, Udinese 5.