No.2: My all-time Roma 5-a-side team

Goalkeeper: Guido Masetti

While the popular choice will be Franco Tancredi, Guido Masetti represents the consistency and guarantees that all good teams need at the back. While many may not know of Masetti’s career, the former Roma shot-stopper and manager played 13 seasons in the capital, making 364 appearances and winning 1 Scudetto in 1941-1942.

After his decorated career as a player, Masetti would go on to manage the Giallorossi three different time throughout his post-playing tenure.

Defender: Aldair

Is there any other choice? The Brazilian is probably the most talented defender Roma has ever had in their history. Aldair spent 13 seasons in the capital, made over 436 appearances, won a Scudetto, and was a pivotal figure in the Brazilian national team for nearly a decade.

Aldair wasn’t the most physically imposing of defenders, but what he lacked in physique he made up for with superb positioning and technical ability. The only other choice for this position would probably be Walter Samuel, but he didn't have as long a Giallorossi career as the Brazilian.

Midfielder: Agostino Di Bartolomei

There are several options to for Roma’s midfielder, however, if you’re looking for pure playmaking ability, look no further than Di Bartlomei. The playmaker appeared in 310 matches for Roma and scored 69 goals. While playing alongside Bruno Conti and Falcão in Roma’s Scudetto winning side of 1983, Di Bartlomei possessed an unheralded technical ability that many lack in modern-day football. “Ago” as he was known to fans, chalked up 4 trophies during his time at the club but was never called up to represent Gli Azzurri, one of the greatest travesties in Italian football.

Striker: Gabriel Omar Batistuta

The Argentine’s career speaks for itself. There are few things I could say that haven’t already been said about “Batigol”: he’s one of the greatest attackers of all-time. Batistuta helped break Roma’s Scudetto drought in 2001 while playing in arguably Roma’s most talented attack alongside Francesco Totti, Vincenzo Montella, and Marco DelVecchio. While Batistuta’s tenure with Roma was rather short, he still had a phenomenal scoring record having scored 33 goals in 87 appearances.

Striker: Francesco Totti

There should be no “All-Time ___” footballers list that doesn’t include Francesco Totti. He is a once-in-a-lifetime player and when his career ends, he will go down as Roma’s greatest player to ever wear the giallorosso: no one else has made a bigger impact on the club.

To highlight all of his incredible assists and goals would take us days. Totti’s career, which spans throughout three different decades, is such a rarity in modern day football. Il Re di Roma is an icon of Rome, Romans, and all Roma fans and has been a focal point for the team ever since he made his debut in 1993 at the age of 16. There is nothing I could ever say that would do justice for Francesco Totti: the man is simply a legend and possibly the greatest ever Italian footballer.

Manager: Nils Liedholm

There are several options that could fill this slot: Alfréd Schaffer, Ottavio Bianchi, Fabio Capello but it’s Il Barone who has the most storied managerial career at Roma. Liedholm managed the Giallorossi four different times and won a laundry list of trophies for the club including three Coppa Italia, a Scudetto, and was the runner’s up in the 1983-1984 European Cup.

Aside from guiding Roma to huge success on the field, Liedholm also helped launch the careers of several Roma protagonists including Bruno Conti, Falcão, and Carlo Ancelotti. Liedholm is the gold standard and is the clear choice for the managerial role in my All-Time 5.

If you would like to submit your all-time personal Roma five-a-side team, please email your team - including a coach - and your reasons for each of your selections, in the same format as above, to content@asroma.it. Please include 'Five-a-side' in the subject header. The best entries submitted - with detailed explanations for each selection - will be considered for publication.