Loving Football - The other side of the game by antonio predotti

PASSIONE Text / FRANCO ESPOSITO Direttore di Telecolore Salerno

come le mie tasche. Durante la settimana mi allenavo sulla pista di atletica. Rimanevo lì per ore. Spesso, però, abbandonavo le corsie per un’escursione sul prato. Sentivo l’odore del l’erba, scrutavo la profondità del campo di gioco.

serie A del 1947, del Grande Torino, di Margiotta, e poi di Tom Rosati, di Pierino Prati. Io ero lì, dentro il Tempio della storia granata. Dentro quegli spogliatoi, sotto quel tunnel che portava al campo. Era molto diverso da quello di oggi il calcio del 1990. Seguivo le partite a bordo campo, dietro la porta, accovacciato a terra, col mio operatore a fianco.

Quello stadio lo conoscevo soprattutto per questo. Da qualche anno, infatti, Telecolore mi aveva dato l’opportunità di seguire la Salernitana, la squadra che fin da ragazzo seguivo sugli spalti. Non mi sembrava vero: la mia passione mi aveva portato dentro quello stadio in tutti i modi. La passione per il calcio, la passione per il giornalismo, la passione per la Salernitana, la passione per l’atletica. Trascorrevo ore ed ore al Vestuti ed ascoltavo i racconti degli anziani, che mi parlavano del passato, della

Alla fine del primo tempo correvo accanto ai calciatori per intervistarli. Battara, Ferrara, Della Pietra, Di Sarno, Di Battista, Lucchetti, Della Monica, Pecoraro, Carruezzo. Li ricordo tutti. Ricordo Agostino Di Bartolomei, col quale avevo condiviso un’esperienza entusiasmante: realizzare una serie di videocassette sulla tecnica calcistica. Era un professionista esemplare Agostino, che trascinò la squadra allenata da Giancarlo Ansaloni. A tenere unito il gruppo ci pensava

vevo venticinque anni. Quello stadio lo conoscevo

Bruno Carmando. Ma il grande condottiero era Peppino Soglia. La mia passione tracimava, andava bene oltre la cronaca, non si tratteneva. Ed io non volevo trattenerla. Perché avevo capito che proprio la passione avrebbe potuto e dovuto ispirare i miei commenti, le mie domande. E fu così che si arrivò a quel tre giugno del millenovecentonovanta. Alla Salernitana bastava un punto per centrare la B dopo ventiquattro anni. Telecolore mi spedì a bordo campo, lì dove volevo stare. Indossavo una giacca di jeans, che non mi piaceva. La indossai perché speravo che poi la passione mi avrebbe portato dentro lo spogliatoio granata. Così fu. La gioia fu immensa, le secchiate d’acqua non mancarono. <<Non l’avevo mai vista la serie B>>. E fu così che gridai a tutti la mia passione.

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LOVING FOOTBALL | Gods Of Football

Pelé is widely regarded as the greatest football player of all time. Pelé has also been known for connecting the phrase “The Beautiful Game” with football. In 1999, he was voted World Player of the Century

Pelé began playing for Santos at age 15 and the Brazil national football team at 16. During his international career, he won three FIFA World Cups: 1958, 1962 and 1970, being the only player ever to do so. Pelé is the all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil with 77 goals in 92 games. At club level he is also the record goalscorer for Santos, and led

them to the 1962 and 1963 Copa Libertadores. Pelé began playing for Santos at age 15 and the Brazil national football team at 16. During his international career, he won three FIFA World Cups: 1958, 1962 and 1970, being the only player ever to do so. Pelé is the all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil with 77 goals in 92 games. At club level he is also the record goalscorer

for Santos, and led them to the 1962 and 1963 Copa Libertadores. Pelé’s “electrifying play and penchant for spectacular goals” made him a star around the world. Since retiring in 1977, Pelé has been a worldwide ambassador for football and in 2010, he was named the Honorary President of the New York Cosmos.

PELE DOESNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T DIE. PELE WILL NEVER DIE. PELE IS GOING TO GO ON FOR EVER.

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LOVING FOOTBALL | Gods Of Football

Maradona arrived in Naples and was presented to the world media as a Napoli player on 5 July 1984, the fans were convinced that the saviour had arrived

A classic number 10, Maradona was renowned for his dribbling ability, vision, close ball control, passing and creativity, and is considered one of the most skillful players ever.

Maradona played in four FIFA World Cups, including the 1986 World Cup in Mexico where he captained Argentina and led them to victory over West Germany in the final.

known as the “Hand of God”, while the second goal followed a 60 m (66 yd) dribble past five England players, voted “The Goal of the Century” by FIFA.com voters in 2002.

He had a compact physique, and with his strong legs and low center of gravity he could withstand physical pressure well while running with the ball.

In the 1986 World Cup quarter final, he scored both goals in a 2–1 victory over England that entered football history for two different reasons. The first goal was an unpenalized handling foul

At the 1994 World Cup in the U.S, Maradona played in only two games, scoring one goal against Greece, before being sent home after failing a drug test for ephedrine doping.

I AM MARADONA, WHO MAKES GOALS, WHO MAKES MISTAKES. I CAN TAKE IT ALL, I HAVE SHOULDERS BIG ENOUGH TO FIGHT WITH EVERYBODY.

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LOVING FOOTBALL | Gods Of Football

Marco Van Basten is a Dutch football manager and former football player, who played for Ajax and Milan, as well as the Netherlands national team, in the 1980s and early ‘90s as a forward.

Regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time, Van Basten was renowned for his attacking intelligence and clinical finishing, with a penchant for scoring acrobatic goals. His height and strength allowed him to excel in the air, and his technical ability and agility saw him execute spectacular strikes, such as volleys and bicycle kicks, throughout his career.

A fast and opportunistic striker with quick reactions, he often took advantage of loose balls in the penalty area. Possessing a powerful and accurate shot, he was capable of scoring goals with both feet from inside or outside the penalty area, as well as with his head. In addition to his goalscoring ability, Van Basten possessed

excellent vision and distribution, which enabled him to play in deeper positions and provide assists to his teammates, the most notable of which was his assist to Frank Rijkaard for Milan’s winning goal in the 1990 European Cup final. Van Basten’s career was severely affected by many grave injuries, which forced him to retire from football prematurely at the age of 28

WE TRAIN ALWAYS ON THE KNIFE EDGE WITH A LOT OF EMOTION, BUT I EXPLAINED TO RUUD THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTROL OUR EMOTIONS AND TREAT TEAM MATES WITH RESPECT.

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LOVING FOOTBALL | Gods Of Football

A technically gifted, creative playmaker and a set piece specialist renowned for his curling free kicks and goalscoring, Baggio is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.

Robero Baggio is considered one of the best players of his generation and one of Italy’s greatest players; he is regarded by many as the best Italian player of all time. Italian journalist Gianni Brera, stated that Baggio was the best Italian player he had ever seen. A world class playmaker with an eye for goal, he was renowned for his vision, creativity, and passing ability

but usually played as a second forward throughout his career, as he was known for scoring goals as well as creating them. This led Michel Platini to describe him as a “9 and a half”, as he was not a true number 9 striker, due to his creative ability, but he scored more than a number 10 playmaker.He also stated that Baggio’s playing style

coincided with the re-emergence of the attacking midfielder in Italy during the early 2000s. Baggio is known as Il Divin Codino (The Divine Ponytail), for the hairstyle he wore for most of his career, for his talent, and for his Buddhist beliefs.

IT IS BETTER TO HAVE TEN DISORGANIZED PLAYERS,T HEN TEN ORGANIZED RUNNERS

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LOVING FOOTBALL | Gods Of Football

Popularly dubbed The Phenomenon, a three-time FIFA World Player of the Year and two-time Ballon dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Or recipient, Ronaldo, in his 1990s prime, was known for his dribbling at speed, feints and clinical finishing

He is a Brazilian retired professional footballer who played as a striker. Popularly dubbed Il FenĂ´meno,he is widely considered to be one of the greatest football players of all time. At his physical peak in the 1990s, Ronaldo starred at club level for Cruzeiro, PSV, Barcelona and Internazionale. His moves to Spain and Italy made him only the second player, after

Diego Maradona, to break the world transfer record twice, all before his 21st birthday. At age 23, he had scored over 200 goals for club and country. After almost three years of inactivity due to serious knee injuries and recuperation, Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2002.

Having suffered further injuries, Ronaldo retired from professional football in 2011. Post-retirement, he has continued his work as a United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador, a position to which he was appointed in 2000. He served as an ambassador for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

IN BRAZIL EVERY KID STARTS PLAYING STREET FOOTBALL VERY EARLY. ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S IN OUR BLOOD. AS A PROFESSIONAL I STARTED AT SAO CRISTOVAO IN THE CITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO. OF COURSE I ALSO PLAYED IN THE BEACH SOCCER LEAGUE.

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LOVING FOOTBALL | Gods Of Football

Zinedine Zidane was French footballer and current manager of Real Madrid. He played as an attacking midfielder for the France national team, Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus and Real Madrid.

At club level, Zidane won the La Liga title and the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, two Serie A league championships with Juventus and an Intercontinental Cup and a UEFA Super Cup each with both aforementioned teams. His 2001 transfer from Juventus to Real Madrid set a world record fee of an equivalent €75 million. His left-foot volleyed winner in the

2002 UEFA Champions League Final is considered to be one of the greatest goals in the competition’s history. On the international stage with France, Zidane won the 1998 FIFA World Cup, scoring twice in the final, and UEFA Euro 2000 where he was named Player of the Tournament. The World Cup triumph made him a national hero in France, and received the Légion d’honneur in 1998.

After retirement, Zidane became assistant coach at Real Madrid under Carlo Ancelotti for the 2013–14 season. In his first two seasons as manager for Real Madrid, Zidane won the UEFA Champions League title twice, as well as a La Liga title.

I DON’T KNOW IF WE ARE THE BEST TEAM IN THE WORLD. I AM LUCKY TO BE PLAYING ALONGSIDE SOME OF THE BEST PLAYERS AROUND. IT’S A DREAM.

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LOVING FOOTBALL | Gods Of Football

Lionel Messi is an Argentine professional footballer who plays as a forward for FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team.

Born and raised in central Argentina, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency as a child. At age 13, he relocated to Spain to join Barcelona, who agreed to pay for his medical treatment. After a fast progression through Barcelona’s youth academy, Messi made his competitive debut aged 17 in October 2004. Despite being

injury-prone during his early career, he established himself as an integral player for the club within the next three years, finishing 2007 as a finalist for both the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award, a feat he repeated the following year. His first uninterrupted campaign came in the 2008–09 season, during which he helped Barcelona achieve

the first treble in Spanish football. At 22 years old, Messi won the Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player of the Year award by record voting margins. Three successful seasons followed, with Messi winning three consecutive FIFA Ballons d’Or, including an unprecedented fourth. scorer in official competitions in March 2012.

I MADE SACRIFICES BY LEAVING ARGENTINA, LEAVING MY FAMILY TO START A NEW LIFE. I CHANGED MY FRIENDS, MY PEOPLE. EVERYTHING. BUT EVERYTHING I DID, I DID FOR FOOTBALL, TO ACHIEVE MY DREAM.

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LOVING FOOTBALL | Gods Of Football

Cristiano Ronaldo is considered the best player in the world and regarded by many as the greatest of all time, he has four FIFA Ballon d’Or awards, and four European Golden Shoes.

A Portuguese international, Ronaldo was named the best Portuguese player of all time by the Portuguese Football Federation in 2015. Ronaldo made his senior international debut in August 2003, at the age of 18. He is Portugal’s most capped player of all time with over 130 caps, and has participated in seven major tournaments.

He is Portugal’s all-time top goalscorer. He scored his first international goal at Euro 2004 and helped Portugal reach the final. In Spain, Ronaldo has won two La Liga titles, two Copas del Rey, three Champions League titles, and two FIFA Club World Cups. He took over full captaincy in July

2008, leading Portugal to their firstever triumph in a major tournament by winning Euro 2016, and received the Silver Boot. One of the most marketable sportsmen, he was ranked the world’s highest-paid athlete by Forbes in 2016 and 2017, as well as the world’s most famous athlete by ESPN in 2016 and 2017.

I’M PROUD TO PLAY FOR REAL MADRID BECAUSE I HAVE FUN; WHEN YOU NO LONGER HAVE FUN IT’S A SIGN THAT IT’S TIME TO LEAVE. FOR NOW THOUGH, I’M HAPPY HERE AT THE GREATEST CLUB IN THE WORLD.

THE GREATEST 5 FOOTBALL MATCHES OF ALL TIME We have teamed up to find out what you think were the greatest matches of all time. Loving Football have compiled a list of the Top 5 of the greatest football matches of all time.

HUNGARY 4 URUGUAY 2 WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL, 1954 The 1954 World Cup final between Hungary and West Germany has been dubbed the Miracle of Berne and is a milestone in the history of post-war Germany. But the semi-final between Hungary, the best team in the world at that time, and defending champions Uruguay was the most exciting game of the tournament. And this despite both teams being without a key player â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ferenc Puskas for Hungary, Obdulio Varela for Uruguay.

WEST GERMANY 3 FRANCE 3 (5-4 ON PENS), WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL 1982 West Germany recovered from 3-1 down to prevail in a shoot-out. With the score 1-1, the outrushing Schumacher flung himself at Battiston, knocking him unconscious and dislodging two of his teeth. France recovered from the injustice to take a 3-1 lead in extra-time but Karl-Heinz Rummenigge replied and a spectacular overhead kick from Klaus Fischer took the game to penalties, when Schumacher made the decisive save from Bossis.

WEST GERMANY 3 FRANCE 3 (5-4 ON PENS), WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL 1982 Real Madrid, inspired by the great Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas, won a fifth successive European Cup Final with a dazzling display of football at Hampden Park. Frankfurt took an early lead but that spurred Madrid into action with Di Stefano hitting a hat-trick and Puskas helping himself to four. Frankfurtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other two goals were mere consolations in the latter stages.

LIVERPOOL 3 AC MILAN 3 (3-2 ON PENS), CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL 2005 Liverpoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fifth European title came after a dramatic recovery from a 3-0 half-time deficit in Istanbul. Three quickfire goals in an exhilarating five-minute spell from Steven Gerrard, Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso took the match to extra-time and the Reds prevailed in a penalty shoot-out as Jerzy Dudek made two saves.

ITALY 4 WEST GERMANY 3, WORLD CUP SEMI-FINAL 1970 A seemingly run-of-the-mill semi-final suddenly exploded into life after Karl-Heinz Schnellinger struck an injury-time equaliser to send the game into extra-time. Gerd Muller then put the Germans ahead, forcing the hitherto cautious Italy to respond. Goals from Tarcisio Burgnich and Gigi Riva put them back in charge but they needed a late winner from Rivera after Muller made it 3-3.

53’ 63’

ITALY LINE UP

SUBSTITUTIONS Gianni Rivera Fabrizio Poletti

MANAGER Fer. Valcareggi

COPA RIMET

The Jules Rimet Trophy was the original prize for winning the Football World Cup.

2200 M.A.S.L

The match was played the 17th June 1970, at 4pm at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, at 2200 MASL.

The attandance at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, the 17th June 1970

13 GERD MÜLLER

12 WOLFGANG OVERATH

15 BERND PATZKE

10 SIGFRIED HELD

14 STAN LIBUDA

17 HANNES LÖHR

14 GIANNI RIVERA

15 SANDRO MAZZOLA

8 ROBERTO ROSATO

20 ROBERTO BONINSEGNA

MATCH R

RESUME 14 GIANNI RIVERA

13 GERD MÜLLER

11 LUIGI RIVA

2 TARCISIO BURGNICH

8 ROBERTO ROSATO

4 FABRIZIO POLETTI

EXTRA TIME

3 KARL H.SCHNELLINGER

1 ENRICO ALBERTOSI

13 GERD MÜLLER

1-2 2-2 3-2 3-3 4-3

1-1

GERMANY LINE UP

SUBSTITUTIONS MANAGER Helmut Schön

+ 6 HOURS

Cause the diffrence of 6 hours,it was 1 a.m. when in Italy and in Germany the match was finshed.

MATCH BALL Telstar was the official match ball of the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico made by Adidas

REFEREE

Arturo Yamasaki Maldonado from Peru was the referee of this famous match.

REAL MADRID? THEY HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RECRUIT ME SINCE I WAS 14

I CAME BACK TO CARRINGTON AND IT WAS LIKE I JUST CAME BACK HOME.

I CHOSE CHELSEA BECAUSE I SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER HERE AND WHEN I DID THAT, I FELT THE CAPACITY OF THE MANAGER AND THAT IS WHY I MADE MY DECISION

LIONEL MESSI AND CRISTIANO RONALDO WOULD NOT SCORE 80 GOALS A SEASON IF THEY PLAYED IN SERIE A

REAL MADRID: THE WORLD'S MOST VALUABLE FOOTBALL TEAM 2017 Florentino Perez will stay on as Real Madrid president until 2021 after no other candidates presented a bid to rival the incumbent before Sundayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s deadline.

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LOVING FOOTBALL | Real Madrid

ounded in 1902 as Madrid Football Club, the club has traditionally worn a white home kit since inception. The word Real is Spanish for Royal and was bestowed to the club by King Alfonso XIII in 1920 together with the royal crown in the emblem. The team has played its home matches in the 81,044-capacity Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in downtown Madrid since 1947. Unlike most European sporting entities, Real Madrid’s members have owned and operated the club throughout its history. The club was estimated to be worth €3.24 billion in 2015, and in the 2014–15 season it was the world’s highest-earning football club, with an annual revenue of €577 million. The club is one of the most widely supported teams in the world.Real Madrid is one of three founding members of the Primera División that have never been relegated from the top division, along with Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona. The club holds many long-standing rivalries, most notably El Clásico with Barcelona and

El Derbi with Atlético. Real Madrid established itself as a major force in both Spanish and European football during the 1950s, winning five consecutive European Cups and reaching the final seven times. This success was replicated in the league, where the club won five times in the space of seven years. This team, which consisted of players such as Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás, Francisco Gento and Raymond Kopa, is considered by some in the sport to be the greatest team of all time In domestic football, the club has won 63 major trophies; a record 33 La Liga titles, 19 Copa del Rey, 9 Supercopa de España, a Copa Eva Duarte, and a Copa de la Liga. In European and Worldwide competitions, the club has won a record 22 major trophies; a record 12 European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles, two UEFA Cups and three UEFA Super Cups. Whilst in international football, they are the only Spanish club to have won both international titles, a joint record three Intercontinental Cups, and two FIFA Club World Cups. Real Madrid were recognised as the FIFA Club of the 20th Century on 11

December 2000, and received the FIFA Centennial Order of Merit on 20 May 2004. The club was also awarded Best European Club of the 20th Century by the IFFHS on 11 May 2010. In June 2017 the team succeeded in becoming the first club to win back to back Champions Leagues, extending their lead atop the UEFA club rankings. It was under Florentino Pérez’s first presidency (2000–2006) that

THE CLUB WAS ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH €3.24 BILLION ($3.65 BILLION) IN 2015, AND IN THE 2014–15 SEASON IT WAS THE WORLD’S HIGHESTEARNING FOOTBALL CLUB, WITH AN ANNUAL REVENUE OF €577 MILLION.

REAL MADRID WERE RECOGNISED AS THE FIFA CLUB OF THE 20TH CENTURY DECEMBER 2000, AND RECEIVED THE FIFA CENTENNIAL ORDER OF MERIT ON 20 MAY 2004. Real Madrid started its ambition of becoming the world’s richest professional football club. The club ceded part of its training grounds to the city of Madrid in 2001, and sold the rest to four corporations: Repsol YPF, Mutua Automovilística de Madrid, Sacyr Vallehermoso and OHL. The sale eradicated the club’s debts, paving the way for it to buy the world’s most expensive players, such as Zinedine Zidane, Luís Figo, Ronaldo and David Beckham. The city had previously rezoned the training grounds for development, a move which in turn increased their value, and then bought the site.

The European Commission started an investigation into whether the city overpaid for the property, to be considered a form of state subsidy. The sale of the training ground for office buildings cleared Real Madrid’s debts of €270 million and enabled the club to embark upon an unprecedented spending spree which brought big-name players to the club. In addition, profit from the sale was spent on a state-of-the-art training complex on the city’s outskirts. Although Pérez’s policy resulted in increased financial success from the exploitation of the club’s high marketing potential around the world, especially in Asia, it came

under increasing criticism for being too focused on marketing the Real Madrid brand and not enough on the performances of the team. By September 2007, Real Madrid was considered the most valuable football brand in Europe by BBDO. In 2008, it was ranked the secondmost valuable club in football, with a value of €951 million (£640 million / $1.285 billion), only beaten by Manchester United, which was valued at €1.333 billion (£900 million). In 2010, Real Madrid had the highest turnover in football worldwide. In September 2009, Real Madrid’s management announced plans to

LOVING FOOTBALL | Real Madrid

open its own dedicated theme park by 2013. A study at Harvard University concluded that Real Madrid “is one of the 20 most important brand names and the only one in which its executives, the players, are wellknown. We have some spectacular figures in regard to worldwide support of the club. There are an estimated 287 million people worldwide who follow Real Madrid.” In 2010, Forbes evaluated Real Madrid’s worth to be around €992 million (US$1.323 billion), ranking them second after Manchester United, based on figures from the 2008–09 season. According to Deloitte, Real Madrid had a recorded revenue of €401 million in the same period, ranking first. Along with Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna, Real Madrid is organised as a registered association. This means that Real Madrid is owned

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by its supporters who elect the club president. The club president cannot invest his own money into the club and the club can only spend what it earns, which is mainly derived through merchandise sales, television rights and ticket sales. Unlike a limited company, it is not possible to purchase shares in the club, but only membership. The members of Real Madrid, called socios, form an assembly of delegates which is the highest governing body of the club.

ALONG WITH BARCELONA, ATHLETIC BILBAO AND OSASUNA, REAL MADRID IS ORGANISED AS A REGISTERED ASSOCIATION

As of 2010, the club has 60,000 socios. At the end of the 2009–10 season, the club’s board of directors stated that Real Madrid had a net debt of €244.6 million, €82.1 million lower than the previous fiscal year. Real Madrid announced that it had a net debt of €170 million after the 2010–11 season. From 2007 to 2011, the club made a net profit of €190 million. The club has the highest number of shirt sales a season, around 1.5 million. For the 2010–11 season its wage bill totalled €169 million, which was second-highest in Europe behind Barcelona.However, its wage bill to turnover ratio was the best in Europe at 43 percent, ahead of Manchester United and Arsenal at 46 percent and 50 percent, respectively. In 2013, Forbes listed the club as the world’s most valuable sports team, worth $3.3 billion.

FRANCESCO T0TTI

L’ultima bandiera s’è ammainata in una domenica di fine maggio. Il tramonto più triste su Roma. Sotto il cielo della Capitale, Francesco Totti ha detto «basta».

LOVING FOOTBALL | Francesco Totti

a Roma aveva appena battuto il Genoa, segnando al 90esimo e assicurandosi il secondo posto alle spalle della Juventus campione d’Italia, piazzamento che vale la qualificazione diretta, dalla porta principale, ai gironi di Champions League, senza passare per l’insidia del preliminare d’agosto. Un sospirone. Aveva avuto paura di non farcela, la squadra di Spalletti, però alla fine è riuscita a rintuzzare l’ultimo attacco del meraviglioso Napoli targato Sarri. Eppure, in quella domenica che consacrava il club capitolino nel gotha d’Europa, il traguardo raggiunto è diventato mero dettaglio, cui non ha fatto caso quasi nessuno. Sì, perché nel calcio a volte i gol, le vittorie e le classifiche non sono tutto, al cospetto di storie più grandi. Quella di Francesco Totti, all’alba dei 41 anni all’anagrafe di cui 25 spesi in serie A con il logo della Lupa cucito sul petto, era tutta raccontata dalle lacrime d’emozione e commozione d’80mila o giù di lì tifosi sugli spalti, più svariati altri milioni incollati davanti alla tv.

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Un pianto collettivo, autentico e non patetico. No, «non era un funerale», come qualcuno ha ironizzato, sbeffeggiando chi avrebbe preso quel momento troppo sul serio. Era semplicemente l’ultima pagina del capitolo finale d’uno splendido romanzo che mescola il calcio alla vita popolare. Con un tema che prevale su tutti: l’appartenenza. È in questa parola

UN PIANTO COLLETTIVO, AUTENTICO E NON PATETICO. ERA SEMPLICEMENTE L’ULTIMA PAGINA DEL CAPITOLO FINALE D’UNO SPLENDIDO ROMANZO CHE MESCOLA IL CALCIO ALLA VITA POPOLARE.

che si riassume la favola di Totti, rendendo il ritiro d’un calciatore qualcosa di più d’un affare privato, ed estendendolo ben oltre gli applausi scroscianti tributati dai romani e romanisti come lui. La grande forza del “Pupone”, oltre l’indiscusso e straordinario valore tecnico, è stata proprio la capacità di rappresentare, agli occhi di tutti, in ogni angolo d’Italia e del Mondo, l’immagine del capitano che ognuno vorrebbe avere per la propria squadra del cuore. L’uomo che sceglie la maglia di cui è sempre stato tifoso, e ne fa una seconda pelle, anzi forse persino la prima. Era il marzo del 1993 quando “sor” Carletto Mazzone lo fece esordire in serie A. Da poco il giovanissimo Totti era stato aggregato alla prima squadra, pescato per caso durante un allenamento. Aure sacrali delle leggende metropolitane a parte, il talento di Francesco colpì subito i veri intenditori di calcio. «È un fenomeno», disse chi ci vedeva lungo già agli albori della sua carriera. E non ci volle molto per scoprire ch’era proprio così.

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LOVING FOOTBALL | Francesco Totti

HA AVUTO PIÙ D’UNA VOLTA LA POSSIBILITÀ D’ANDAR VIA DALLA CAPITALE, TOTTI. PERCHÉ I TOP-CLUB INTERNAZIONALI L’HANNO CERCATO, VOLUTO E SEDOTTO. PERÒ LUI NON S’È MAI LASCIATO CONVINCERE, NON HA CEDUTO ALLE TENTAZIONI. Da allora questo “ragazzo della Curva Sud” dell’Olimpico, che s’era sfilato dai gradoni per esser protagonista sul campo, non s’è più fermato. Un’escalation strepitosa, sempre e solo a tinte giallorosse. L’azzurro della Nazionale italiana, con cui è stato campione del Mondo a Germania 2006 e medaglia d’argento agli Europei del 2000 nei Paesi Bassi, è stata l’unica (giustificata e da lui stesso “giustificabile”) variabile

cromatica della sua vita calcistica, vissuta tra gol fantastici e genialità senza pari (il “cucchiaio” sul rigore segnato contro l’Olanda, proprio nella semifinale di Euro2000, chi se lo scorda!). Uno dei numeri 10 d’Italia più forte di sempre, ma soprattutto un capitano dal carisma riconosciuto. Dote che non era solo figlia della maturità raggiunta negli anni, ma proprio di

quel senso d’appartenenza che gli faceva avvertire la Roma, la “sua” Roma, come qualcosa di più d’una squadra cui donare il massimo impegno professionale. Ha avuto più d’una volta la possibilità d’andar via dalla Capitale, Totti. Perché i top-club internazionali l’hanno cercato, voluto e sedotto. Però lui non s’è mai lasciato convincere, non ha ceduto alle tentazioni. Sia chiaro, a Roma non ha

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LOVING FOOTBALL | Francesco Totti

OGNI FRASE UN APPLAUSO. OGNI PAROLA UN BATTITO PIÙ FORTE DEL CUORE. E IN OGNI DOVE IN CUI ARDE LA PASSIONE CALCISTICA, LA CONSAPEVOLEZZA D’AVER PERSO L’ULTIMA BANDIERA. guadagnato “spiccioli” (anzi, i suoi erano pur sempre contratti milionari), ma è innegabile verità storica che quella sua scelta di cuore, di non cambiare mai casacca, gli sia costata la rinuncia a ingaggi assai più alti e probabilmente obiettivi ancor più ambiziosi. In carriera, infatti, il “Pupone” ha vinto “solo” uno Scudetto. E se l’è fatto bastare. Perché forse, o senza forse, quel tricolore vinto

SONO CRESCIUTO NELLA ROMA E MORIRÒ NELLA ROMA, PERCHÉ SONO SEMPRE STATO TIFOSO DELLA ROMA!

nella sua città, davanti alla sua gente, segnando il gol che ha di fatto trasformato l’Olimpico nello stadio dei campioni d’Italia, per lui valeva di più d’una raffica di trofei collezionati altrove. È tutto qui il motivo di tante lacrime, nella domenica dell’addio alla sua Roma. Un popolo intero ai suoi piedi. O meglio, tutti, anche chi il pallone non lo ama o addirittura lo detesta,

incantati ad ascoltare quella lettera di commiato, scritta da lui ch’è sempre stato famoso per le “barzellette” e le doti comunicative molto spontanee ma di sicuro non eccelse né ricercate. Ogni frase un applauso. Ogni parola un battito più forte del cuore. E in ogni dove in cui arde la passione calcistica, la consapevolezza d’aver perso l’ultima bandiera.

ECCO IL TESTO INTEGRALE DELLA LETTERA D’ADDIO AL CALCIO DI FRANCESCO TOTTI, LETTA AL PUBBLICO DELLO STADIO OLIMPICO DI ROMA. «Ci siamo, è arrivato il momento. Purtroppo è arrivato un momento che speravo non arrivasse mai. In questi giorni ho letto tantissime cose su di me. Belle, bellissime, ho pianto sempre tutti i giorni, da solo come un matto perché 25 anni non si dimenticano così con voi dietro le spalle che mi avete spinto nel bene e nel male, nei momenti belli ma soprattutto in quelli brutti. E per questo vi ringrazio tutti anche se non è facile. Lo sapete che non sono di tante parole, però le penso. In questi giorni con mia moglie ci siamo messi a tavolino e gli ho raccontato un po’ di cose, a cominciare dagli anni vissuti con questa maglia, con questa unica maglia. Anche io ho scritto una lettera per voi, non so se riuscirò a leggerla ma ci provo e se non finisco, lo farà mia famiglia. Leggo perché sennò si fa tardi, io starei qua altri 25 anni ma so che è ora di cena e avete fame. Grazie Roma, grazie mamma e papà, grazie fratello mio, grazie ai miei amici, grazie a mia moglie e ai miei figli. Ho voluto iniziare dai saluti perché non so se saprò leggere queste righe prima di scoppiare in lacrime. E’ impossibile raccontare 28 anni di storia in poche righe. Io non sono capace di scrivere o esprimermi se non con i miei piedi con i quali mi viene tutto più semplice. A proposito, sapete qual è il mio compagno preferito? Il pallone e lo è ancora. Ma a un certo punto della vita arriva e ti dice che sei diventato grande, i l tempo l’ha deciso. Maledetto tempo: è lo stesso tempo che il 17 giugno 2001 avremmo voluto passasse in fretta. non vedevamo l’ora si sentire l’arbitro fischiare per tre volte per poter festeggiare tutti insieme lo scudetto. Mi viene ancora la pelle d’oca. Oggi questo tempo mi ha detto che devo crescere e non potevo più sentire l’erba sugli scarpini,

l’adrenalina. la gioia per le vittorie. Mi sono chiesto in questi mesi perché mi sto svegliando da questo sogno. Avete presente quando siete bambini e state sognando qualcosa di bello e vostra madre vi sveglia perché dovete andare a scuola? Stavolta non era un sogno ma realtà. Io voglio dedicare questa lettera a tutti voi, ai bambini di ieri che sono cresciuti e magari sono diventati padri e a quelli di oggi che gridano “Totti gol”. Mi piace pensare che la mia carriera sia per voi una favola da raccontare. Ora è finita veramente. Mi levo la maglia per l’ultima volta. La piego per bene anche se non sono pronto a dire basta e forse non lo sarò mai. Scusate se in questo periodo non ho rilasciato interviste ma spegnere la luce non è facile. Adesso ho paura, non è la stessa cosa di quando devi segnare un rigore, stavolta non posso vedere cosa ci sarà dopo. Concedetemi un po’ di paura e stavolta sono io che ho bisogno del vostro aiuto e del vostro calore. Quello che mi avete sempre dimostrato. Con il vostro affetto riuscirò a voltare pagina e a cominciare una nuova avventura. Ora ringrazio i miei compagni, i tecnici e i presidenti, tutti quelli che hanno lavorato accanto a me in questi anni. Poi i miei tifosi, la curva Sud, un riferimento per noi romani e romanisti. Nascere romani e romanisti è un privilegio, fare il capitano di questa squadra è stato un onore. Siete e sarete sempre nella mia vita. Smetterò di emozionare con i piedi ma il mio cuore sarà sempre lì con voi. Sono orgoglioso e felice di avervi dato 28 anni d’amore. Vi amo».

This serie of collage, try to show with a creative and funny way, the passion for woman by the football players. How, sometimes, woman, can be very strong and very important for

the players, when they have to make a decision about their future team.

city, just because they like more that city than another one.

Most of the time, woman are the person that has more power.

For example, they can prefer Milano to Manchester, just beacuse in Milano is more fashion.

It is possible that a player choses a

aying for Santos at age azil national football

ernational career, he A World Cups: 1958, , being the only player

time leading goalscorer h 77 goals in 92 games. he is also the record r Santos, and led