AS Roma
the Giallorossi Elite.

AS Roma First-Team Squad

Gian Piero Gasperini’s Roma return to the Champions League after a third-placed Serie A finish, driven by the magic of Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé and anchored by the outstanding form of goalkeeper Mile Svilar. Captain Bryan Cristante marshals a well-balanced Giallorossi squad.

Squad correct as of the summer 2026 window, which runs until 1 September — numbers and personnel may change. Follow every Roma fixture and prediction at AI Pro Prediction and our Champions League predictions hub.

AS Roma: A Complete Guide to the Giallorossi

Origins and Identity

Associazione Sportiva Roma was founded in the summer of 1927, created through the merger of three existing Roman clubs — Roman FC, SS Alba-Audace and Fortitudo-Pro Roma — with the express aim of establishing a single major club capable of challenging the powers of northern Italy on behalf of the capital. From its very inception, Roma were conceived as the club of the Eternal City, carrying the pride and identity of Rome itself, and that profound connection to the city remains at the heart of everything the club represents.

Playing in their distinctive deep red and golden-yellow colours — the traditional colours of the city of Rome — the club is known as I Giallorossi (the yellow and reds) and I Lupi (the Wolves), a reference to the she-wolf of Roman legend that suckled the city’s mythical founders Romulus and Remus, and which features on the club’s crest. Roma play their home matches at the historic Stadio Olimpico, which they share with city rivals Lazio, and which becomes a cauldron of colour and noise on matchdays, driven by the club’s famously passionate ultras in the Curva Sud.

A Proud History

Roma have long been one of the most significant and best-supported clubs in Italian football, even if their trophy haul has not always matched the scale of their ambition and following. The club won its first Serie A title in 1941–42, a landmark moment for football in the capital. It would be more than three decades before further league glory arrived, but Roma remained a consistent presence near the top of Italian football and a club of genuine stature.

The club’s greatest domestic era came in the early 1980s. Inspired by legendary Brazilian playmaker Falcão, the Italian captain Agostino Di Bartolomei and manager Nils Liedholm, Roma won the Serie A title in 1982–83, sparking euphoric celebrations across the capital. That same golden side reached the final of the European Cup in 1984, held at their own Stadio Olimpico, only to suffer heartbreak in a penalty shootout defeat to Liverpool — one of the most agonising nights in the club’s history, and a near-miss that still resonates with the Roma faithful. Falcão, nicknamed the “Eighth King of Rome” by the adoring supporters, remains one of the most revered foreign players ever to represent an Italian club, and that early-1980s side is still spoken of with reverence in the capital as one of the finest teams Roma have ever produced.

The Totti Era and Modern History

Roma’s third and most recent Serie A title arrived in 2000–01, under coach Fabio Capello and inspired by a squad featuring the young talisman Francesco Totti, the prolific striker Gabriel Batistuta and midfield general Emerson. That championship-winning side is fondly remembered as one of the finest in the club’s history, and the title sparked joyous scenes in a city desperate for success.

The decades that followed were defined above all by Francesco Totti, the greatest player in the club’s history and one of the most beloved one-club men in the history of the sport. A Roman by birth, Totti spent his entire 25-year career at the club, scoring more than 300 goals and becoming an eternal symbol of loyalty, devotion and Giallorossi pride. Alongside him, Daniele De Rossi embodied the same values, and together the pair became the heartbeat of Roma across a generation, revered figures whose connection to the club and city was absolute.

The Mourinho Years and European Silverware

A significant modern chapter in Roma’s history was written under the charismatic management of José Mourinho, who arrived in 2021 and immediately connected with the club’s passionate support. In his first season, Mourinho delivered the club’s first-ever major European trophy, guiding Roma to victory in the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League in 2022, defeating Feyenoord in the final in Tirana. The triumph ended a 14-year wait for silverware and sent the city of Rome into raptures.

Mourinho followed that success by leading Roma to the final of the Europa League the following season, only to lose an agonising penalty shootout to Sevilla. Though his tenure ultimately ended, the ‘Special One’ forged a deep and emotional bond with the Roma faithful, and the Conference League triumph remains a cherished landmark — the club’s long-awaited first star of European glory and a source of enormous pride for supporters who had waited so long for continental success.

Full Honours and Achievements

Roma’s trophy cabinet reflects a proud and historic club:

• Serie A: Three-time Italian champions (1941–42, 1982–83, 2000–01).
• Coppa Italia: Nine Italian Cup triumphs, making Roma one of the most successful clubs in the competition’s history.
• Supercoppa Italiana: Multiple Italian Super Cup wins.
• UEFA Europa Conference League: Winners of the inaugural edition in 2021–22, the club’s first-ever European trophy.
• Inter-Cities Fairs Cup: Winners in 1960–61, an early European honour.

The Conference League triumph of 2022 holds special significance as Roma’s first major European trophy, secured under the management of José Mourinho in the competition’s first-ever final. The victory sparked enormous celebrations in the capital and ended a long wait for continental silverware, giving the passionate Roma support a night they will never forget and adding a cherished chapter to the club’s history. It was, for many supporters, the realisation of a dream that had endured across decades of near-misses and heartbreak.

Legendary Players Through the Ages

Roma’s history is illuminated by some truly iconic figures. Francesco Totti stands above all others — ‘Er Pupone’, the golden boy of Rome, whose genius, longevity and unbreakable loyalty made him a living legend and one of the most revered players in the history of Italian football. Daniele De Rossi, another one-club servant, embodied the same passion and commitment across a long and distinguished career for the Giallorossi.

The club has been graced by many other greats, from the Brazilian magician Falcão and the prolific Gabriel Batistuta to more recent stars. Today, the squad features the Argentine World Cup winner Paulo Dybala, a player of exquisite technical brilliance and creativity whose flair and goals have made him a firm favourite among the Roma faithful. Around him, the current side blends experienced internationals with emerging talent under the guidance of one of Italy’s most respected coaches.

The Legacy of Il Capitano

The story of Francesco Totti transcends football and speaks to the very soul of AS Roma. Born and raised in Rome, Totti rejected countless offers from Europe’s biggest clubs throughout his career, choosing instead to dedicate his entire life to the club he loved. Over 25 seasons, he became Roma’s all-time top scorer and appearance maker, a World Cup winner with Italy in 2006, and an enduring symbol of loyalty in an era when such devotion had become increasingly rare in the modern game.

Totti’s emotional farewell in 2017 moved the footballing world, and his legacy continues to define what it means to play for Roma. He represents an ideal — the local boy who becomes a legend by giving everything to his city’s club — that resonates deeply with supporters. The values he embodied, of passion, loyalty and Giallorossi pride, remain the benchmark against which every Roma player is measured, and his influence on the identity and culture of the club is immeasurable and everlasting.

Developing Talent for the Future

Roma also possess a proud youth academy, based at the club’s Trigoria training complex, which has produced a stream of talented players over the years, including Totti and De Rossi themselves. The club places genuine value on developing home-grown talent that understands and embodies the identity of Roma, complementing its recruitment of established stars. This tradition of nurturing local players adds an important dimension to the club’s character and its bond with the city.

Rivalries and the Derby della Capitale

Roma’s fiercest rivalry is with city neighbours Lazio, contested in the Derby della Capitale — the Rome derby — one of the most intense, passionate and emotionally charged fixtures in all of world football. As both clubs share the Stadio Olimpico, the derby divides families, workplaces and the entire city of Rome, and the atmosphere generated by the two sets of ultras, with their spectacular choreographed displays, is among the most spectacular sights in the sport.

The derby is far more than a football match; it is a clash of identities and a matter of profound civic pride, capable of defining an entire season for supporters of both clubs regardless of league position. Roma also contest significant rivalries with the powers of northern Italy, particularly Juventus, matches that carry the historic weight of the capital challenging the traditional establishment of the Italian game.

The Stadio Olimpico and Ownership

The Stadio Olimpico, built for the 1960 Olympic Games and a host venue for World Cup and European Championship finals, is Roma’s grand home. With a capacity of over 70,000, it provides a spectacular stage for the club’s biggest matches, and the famous Curva Sud, home to Roma’s most devoted ultras, creates an atmosphere of extraordinary colour, noise and passion. For years the club has harboured ambitions of building a new, modern, club-owned stadium to secure its financial future and provide a dedicated home for the Giallorossi.

Since 2020, Roma have been owned by the American businessman Dan Friedkin and his family, whose investment and ambition have signalled a new era for the club. The Friedkin ownership brought stability, significant financial backing and high-profile appointments — including Mourinho and now Gasperini — as part of a clear commitment to restoring Roma to the summit of Italian and European football and ending the club’s long wait for further league and continental glory.

A Fanbase Like No Other

Roma command one of the most passionate and devoted fanbases in world football. The connection between the club and the city of Rome is profound and unconditional, passed down through generations as an essential part of Roman identity. Roma supporters are renowned for their unwavering loyalty, following the team in enormous numbers home and away, and for the spectacular tifo displays that make the Stadio Olimpico one of the great theatres of the game.

This extraordinary support has sustained the club through periods of triumph and disappointment alike, and the emotional intensity of the Roma faithful is central to the club’s identity. To support Roma is to embrace a way of life defined by passion, pride and an eternal love for the Giallorossi, a devotion that makes the club one of the most beloved and compelling institutions in Italian football.

Playing Style and the Gasperini Era

For 2025–26 and beyond, Roma are led by Gian Piero Gasperini, one of the most innovative and respected coaches in Italian football. Gasperini earned enormous acclaim for his transformative work at Atalanta, where he built a side renowned for its fearless, high-intensity, attacking football and its remarkable ability to overachieve, culminating in a Europa League triumph. His appointment at Roma represented a statement of ambition, bringing a distinctive and exciting tactical philosophy to the capital.

Gasperini’s teams are characterised by aggressive man-to-man pressing, dynamic attacking play and a commitment to dominating opponents, a style that has energised the Roma squad and support. His arrival brought a new tactical identity and a renewed sense of belief to the club, and the early results of his tenure — a strong third-placed finish and a return to the Champions League — vindicated the decision to entrust him with the Giallorossi project.

The 2025–26 Season and Champions League Return

The 2025–26 season was a triumphant one for Roma under Gian Piero Gasperini. The Giallorossi finished third in Serie A with 73 points, sealing qualification for the 2026–27 UEFA Champions League with a 2–0 victory over Verona on the final day of the season. The result confirmed Roma’s return to Europe’s premier club competition and marked a highly successful first campaign under their new coach, restoring the club to the upper echelons of Italian football.

The third-placed finish, achieved with a blend of tactical discipline and attacking verve, demonstrated the immediate impact of Gasperini’s methods and the quality within the squad, spearheaded by the creativity of Paulo Dybala. With continuity and stability under an admired coach, Roma head into the new season as one of the leading contenders to challenge the established order. For all the latest Roma match previews, team news and score forecasts, follow our Champions League match predictions throughout the season.

Champions League Ambitions

Roma’s return to the Champions League for 2026–27 represents a major milestone in the club’s revival under the Friedkin ownership. The Giallorossi have not featured regularly among Europe’s elite in recent seasons, and qualification for the premier competition offers both prestige and significant financial reward, as well as the platform to test themselves against the best clubs on the continent. For a club and fanbase of Roma’s size and history, competing in the Champions League is where they believe they belong.

Gian Piero Gasperini’s proven ability to organise teams that punch above their weight in Europe — demonstrated so memorably during his time at Atalanta, whom he led to a European trophy and regular Champions League football — gives Roma genuine hope of making an impact. His fearless, attacking approach is well suited to the European stage, and the Roma faithful will dream of the kind of famous continental nights at the Stadio Olimpico that Mourinho’s Conference League run delivered. The combination of Gasperini’s tactical acumen and the quality of players such as Paulo Dybala makes Roma a side few opponents will relish facing.

Looking Ahead

As AS Roma enter the 2026–27 season, the ambitions are clear: to establish themselves firmly among the top four in Serie A, to make a genuine impact in the Champions League, and to build on the strong foundations laid in Gian Piero Gasperini’s first season. With one of the most exciting tactical philosophies in Italian football, the brilliance of Paulo Dybala and the unrivalled passion of the Roma support behind them, the Giallorossi have every reason for optimism. For a club that carries the pride of the Eternal City and boasts one of the most fervent fanbases in world football, a sustained challenge for major honours and success on the European stage would represent the fulfilment of the ambition that has driven Roma since their founding, and would give the devoted Curva Sud the glory they crave. After a promising first season under Gasperini that restored the club to the Champions League, the belief in Rome is that the Giallorossi are once again on an upward trajectory, and that this proud institution, with its glorious history and its incomparable support, is ready to write the next great chapter in its story and to compete for the biggest prizes both in Italy and across Europe.