It’s always lively when Daniele De Rossi is around. This season alone the Roma captain has been caught by the VAR slapping Genoa striker Gianluca Lapadula, embodied the mood of the nation by yelling passionately at a coach during a World Cup qualifier and scored a spectacular own goal in Barcelona.
He’s never been dull. At the 2006 World Cup in Germany he staged his own ‘zero to hero’ story. The midfielder was sent off in a group match against the USA for elbowing Brian McBride in the face, before returning from his ban to score a penalty in the final and becoming a world champion.
That taste for drama and ability from the spot hasn’t deserted the Roman. In this season’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Barca, his 58th-minute effort from 12 yards gave Roma a 2-0 lead and made their unlikely comeback a possibility. It was also redemption for blasting the ball into the wrong net in the 4-1 defeat in Catalonia.
Daniele De Rossi will aim to irritate his Liverpool counterparts in the Champions League
De Rossi and his Roma team-mates travelled to Liverpool on Monday ahead of semi-final tie
There is never a dull moment with the Roma midfielder… he always entertains on the pitch
Despite occasionally losing his head, like when he gave Lapadula a cuff around the chops in November, De Rossi is a vital part of the Giallorossi. His experience and passion are invaluable to Roma coach Eusebio di Francesco.
De Rossi is a real team man. When one of Italy coach Giampiero Ventura’s staff asked the 34-year-old substitute to warm up in the second half of the Azzurri’s World Cup play-off second leg against Sweden in November, De Rossi didn’t hold back. The veteran shouted ‘why the hell would I come on? We need to win, not draw,’ before suggesting in-form winger Lorenzo Insigne was the better option to turn the match. Most people agreed with the gruff midfielder.
De Rossi’s father Alberto was a Serie C player, and for the last 25 years has worked as a youth coach at Roma. Football, but more significantly the Giallorossi, is in Daniele’s blood. Indeed, some local reporters believe his sporadic losses of temper or moments of excess are because he cares so much. He is a fan first and captain second.
He has a life outside the game includes a passion for British rock, particularly The Rolling Stones. The Euro 2012 runner-up plans to travel around the world with his English-born actress wife Sarah Felberbaum and their young children when his playing days are over.
His experience and passion are invaluable to Roma and played an influential role vs Barcelona
He was sent off in the World Cup in 2006 against USA for elbowing Brian McBride in the face
Former USA international McBride bleeds after De Rossi elbowed him in the face
De Rossi doesn’t seek attention or go out of his way to offend, but has strong opinions. Talking to magazine Undici last year the elder statesman of Serie A admitted: ‘The world has changed. Not just football. When younger players film live stories on Instagram in the dressing room before a match I want to hit them in the mouth with a baseball bat.’
That fire and drive has underpinned a remarkable career. De Rossi rose from ball-boy, to Champions League debutant aged 18 in 2001, to pillar of the team. His heroes were German ex-Roma striker Rudi Voller and Manchester United legend Roy Keane. The No 16 he wears to this day is his homage to Keane.
Fabio Capello gave him his Serie A and European bows, but the midfielder really shone in Luciano Spalletti’s innovative mid-2000s side. When injuries deprived Spalletti of an orthodox centre-forward, the Roma boss selected a 4-6-0 formation with Francesco Totti as a false nine.
De Rossi thrived at the base of midfield, adding bite and dynamism alongside the passing and rhythm of Chilean maestro David Pizarro. By the time of Euro 2008 and World Cup 2010 he was mainstay for club and country, and in 2014 he was Serie A’s highest-paid player.
As time marched on De Rossi’s forward runs and thunderous shots have become rarer, but he added defensive responsibility to his talents and at one stage played in the centre of a back three for Italy.
De Rossi questioned one of Italy’s coaches when they asked him to warm up against Sweden
Former Manchester United midfielder and tough man Roy Keane is one of De Rossi’s heroes
Now that Francesco Totti has retired, De Rossi is the leader and a focal point for team-mates and fans. He sits deep and reads the game, constructing moves, putting out fires and covering for the centre backs. De Rossi is also very strong in the air and his famous spikiness remains. He can still dish out a hefty tackle (or slap) when required.
Indeed, he wears his love for a crunching challenge on his sleeve. Well, his calf. De Rossi’s right leg sports a ‘Caution: Late Tackle’ tattoo. But there is a tender side to the ink-loving idol. His right bicep features a tattoo of yellow Teletubby Laa-Laa, supposedly a favourite of his daughter from his first marriage.
These days the 117-cap international, who retired from the Azzurri in November, is more of a thinking man than hard man. The enforcer has one year left on his contract and is expected to quit after that. But when he is asked about his future, he prefers to focus on the team and upcoming games.
As magnificent as Liverpool’s attack have been this season, De Rossi has played against, battled and thwarted many stellar teams since becoming a household name just over a decade ago.
Granted he needs the more youthful legs around him, but his know-how and spirit cannot be underestimated. You might think there are no gladiators in modern Rome. You’d be wrong.
The spirited Italian midfielder dons this tackle tattoo on the back of his right leg
The 34-year-old star also has a tattoo of yellow Teletubby Laa-Laa on his right bicep