Roma World No. 30: Moscow

Name: Daniele Gori
Age: 33
City: Moscow
Country: Russia

Where did you grow up?

“I grew up in Rome.”

Why did you choose Roma?

“It was a natural process, given that I was born into a family of Giallorossi fans.”

What is your first memory of Roma?

“The first match I can remember is Roma against Ilves Tampere, the Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final second leg in November 1991. We’d drawn 1-1 over in Finland in the away leg, but we won through 5-2 back at the Olimpico."

Who was your first Roma hero and why?

“I grew up with the likes of Giuseppe Giannini, Rudi Voller and Aldair. That Roma side had so much heart and I’m sure those players loved the club just as much as I did."

Who has been your favorite Roma manager and why?

“The romantic in me says Carletto Mazzone. He represented the essence of Roma: heart, grit, sweat. On a purely footballing level, the first Spalletti era was a lot of fun. I hope Spalletti’s current tenure can bring us just as much enjoyment.”

What has been your lowest point supporting Roma?

“One of the worst nights was the away match against Manchester United in the Champions League. I was there supporting the team, as I always am. There were loads of us Roma fans there but nobody was expecting the match to go the way it did. That said, we kept the Old Trafford away end rocking until the very last minute.”

What was your memory of your first game?

“I was a season-ticket holder in the Curva Sud for 15 years from the age of 12, but my very first match was Roma v Ilves Tampere with my father and brother in the Curva Nord. I remember that we arrived after the match had kicked off… there was a huge roar as we approached the stadium and another as we were climbing the steps. The stadium was already packed out and I didn’t really get what was going on… it was incredibly exciting.

"I remember when I finally made it to my seat and saw the green pitch and all these people united by their love of the shirt. And it’s just as intense and exciting today as it was back then."

Where were you when Roma last won the Scudetto?

“I was still living in Rome at that point. I was in my seat that day alongside my friends, hoping our dream we come true. We did our usual match-day rituals – we were pretty superstitious. We spent the next few nights celebrating in Testaccio, Garbatella and Circo Massimo.”

Do Roma have a passionate fan base in the city you live?

“I founded Roma Club Moscow Vecchie Maniere here a few years ago, together with some friends I’d met through Roma. I’ve made some friends for life through the club – Lorenzo, Fausto, Daniele, Francesco, Emanuel, Massimo (who’s actually from Brescia but as Roman as they come). I’ve met some Russian fans too, like Vladimir, Roman, Alina and Olga. We’ve had some unforgettable moments together – some of them positive, some less so – but we always have a great time at the Liga Pap in the centre of Moscow. It’s a bar that’s become our meeting point – we call it ‘the wolf’s lair’.”

Which team do you most enjoy seeing Roma beat?

“Juventus. Next question.”

What makes Roma so special to you?

“For me, Roma has always been synonymous with unity and brotherhood. I’ve made countless friends having spent so many years supporting the team at the Stadio Olimpico and on the road. My friend Luca and I sat next to each other in the Sud for years, while I used to go on away days up and down Italy and all over Europe with another mate, Daniele.

"I’ve also met people here in Moscow and around the world, such as the president of our club here Lorenzo, or Andrea and Stefano from Roma Club Florida, Mirko from Roma Club Buenos Aires, who I met up with when I visited Argentine, and all the guys from Roma Club Amsterdam. I wouldn’t have met any of them without Roma. Thanks to Roma, I’ve made friendships that will last forever. That’s what makes the club so special.”

What does Totti mean to you?

“After Giannini, Totti is my captain. He reminds me of so many great moments and is a symbol for generations past, present and future. Quite simply, Totti is football.”

Who is your favourite current player and why?

“Kevin Strootman and Radja Nainggolan are the type of players that I love. They give everything they have on the pitch and never give up.”

If you could meet anyone connected to Roma - past or present - who would it be and why?

“I would meet Ago Di Bartolomei, the captain no longer with us. The captain I never got the chance to get to know properly. Ciao, Ago.”

What makes you most proud to be a Roma supporter?

“Our fans, our travelling support, our spirit even in the darkest moments. Most of all, what makes me proud is that no matter where I go in the world, I know I’ll always have a family I can count on.”

Finally, what would be your perfect day as a Roma fan?

“Celebrating a Champions League win wouldn’t be a bad day at all.”