Scudetto teammates on Di Francesco: It's no surprise he's become a top coach

On Tuesday the Giallorossi confirmed Eusebio Di Francesco as the club's new head coach.

Di Francesco is certainly no stranger to Roma - or Trigoria - having represented the club for four years during his playing days, and subsequently returning for the 2005-06 season as the team's operations manager prior to beginning his coaching career.

A member of Roma's 2000-01 Scudetto-winning squad, we spoke to three former Giallorossi teammates to discover why they think he will be a great appointment for the club.

Click here to read the story announcing Di Francesco's appointment.

ABEL BALBO
Played alongside Di Francesco in 1997-98 and 2000-01

“As a player Eusebio was very intelligent and very generous. He really put himself at the service of the team. He was a very good player – very useful for the coaches that had him in their squad. As a team-mate he was excellent because he is a guy with strong values and he’s a serious professional.

“You could see that he was a very intelligent guy. He was a brilliant person and you knew that whatever objective he set himself at the end of his playing career, he would have achieved it – just as he is doing now in coaching at the highest level.

“He started from the bottom and served his apprenticeship. He had success too because he got Pescara promoted from Lega Pro to Serie B. Then he got the chance at Sassuolo, where over the past few years he’s shown that he can bring organisation to a team, stick to a style of play and achieve consistency in terms of results. He’s had a great career as a coach so far and now he deserves this next stage at Roma.”

DAMIANO TOMMASI
Played alongside Di Francesco from 1997 to 2001

“We were together during the [Zdenek] Zeman era and people used to call us the midfield twins. Twenty years later, we still call each other ‘twin’ when we speak on the phone. We have a strong relationship – we’re close.

“He was quite a unique player in the dressing room, in the sense that you could feel his presence regardless of whether he was a starter or not. When we won the Scudetto under [Fabio] Capello in the 2000-01 season, I don’t think enough was made of the contribution that players like Di Francesco, who was injured and didn’t play much, made to the team spirit we had. He always helped to raise the standard in training and therefore on the pitch.

"Roma is a test for him, because the objectives are higher – but that’s good for a coach on the up, like him. The expectations at Roma are obviously different from the club, the city and the fans, and Eusebio will have to measure up to that. But I think he’s paid his dues and this is the right time for him to take the step up.”

CAFU
Played alongside Di Francesco from 1997 to 2001

“He was a fantastic pro both on and off the pitch. He was an exceptional player and always did things properly – he worked very hard on the pitch and expected 100% from his team-mates. I think that’s why he’s become the coach he is today. He’s also a wonderful person and a super dad. I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with his family at his home in Abruzzo – he has strong values both in life and in football and that’s why he can get the best out of a team.

“He was always really interested in tactics and had the ability to read a game even when he wasn’t playing. I’m not surprised that he’s become a top coach.

"Obviously the working conditions and squad at Sassuolo are completely different to what he can expect at Roma. It won’t be easy but I believe he’ll do very well at Roma and be able to get his ideas across.

“Being a coach is very different to being a player – the roles have completely different responsibilities. Commanding and being commanded are two opposing points of view. Eusebio is in charge of the dressing room now, but – being a very intelligent man – I’m sure he’ll be able to manage the team convey his ideas well.”

Click here to read the story announcing Di Francesco's appointment.