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Team
Overview
Stadium:
Stadio
Olimpico
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Honours:
European
CWC: 1961
League Winners: 1942,
1983, 2001
Italian Cup:
1964,
1969, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986, 1991
Italian
Super Cup: 2001
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Founded
in 1927 - following the amalgamation of local
teams Alba, Fortitudo and Roman - Associazione
Sportiva Roma were initially coached by William
Garbutt, an Englishman who led them to almost
instant success when they won the CONI Cup, the
predecessor of the Coppa Italia in 1928.
Their history has been a roller-coaster ride of
success punctuated by periods in the wilderness.
Up one decade, down the next. The club enjoyed
triumphs in the 1920s, 1940s, 1960s and 1980s
but were stuck in the doldrums in the 1930s, 1950s,
1970s and 1990s. So far the first decade of the
new century has seen the team on the up again.
Early success for the "Giallorossi" soon meant
their ground, the "Campo Testaccio" become a symbol
of the team's character and strength and in 1929
Roma showed they meant business in the Italian
capital by winning both of the first two local
derbies against S.S. Lazio. Roma claimed their
first Italian championship in 1942 but that was
followed by nearly 20 years of under-achievement
before they once again secured a trophy. It came
on the European stage when they won the Inter-Cities
Fairs Cup in 1961, beating Birmingham City FC
in the final.
The 1960's also saw them win two Coppa Italias
- in 1964 and 1969. However, although that latter
success ensured they reached semi-final of the
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup the following season, the
1970s was another barren period.
But the 1980s signalled the next golden era in
the club's history with four more victories in
the Coppa Italia in seven seasons. Better still,
in 1983 Roma's top-class side finally won the
Serie A title and it looked like they were poised
to repeat this triumph on the highest European
stage, though a year later -in their own stadium
- they disappointingly lost the European Champion
Clubs' Cup final against Liverpool FC on penalties.
Apart from winning their seventh Coppa Italia
in 1991 the next decade was another frustrating
period but as the 21st century got under way the
team scaled the heights to take their third Italian
championship in 2001. This highlight was thanks
largely to the formidable strike trio of Gabriel
Batistuta, Vincenzo Montella and Francesco Totti
under the guidance of former player, Fabio Capello.
The 2001-02 season was not quite as impressive
as Roma were pipped for the Serie A title on the
last day of the season by Juventus FC. The have
once again underachived since winning the title
and are currently mid-table in Serie A.
QUICK
FACT
The
Stadio Olimpico is the first choice stadium
for the Italian national team. |
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