Shop
On Saturday it was confirmed that De Rossi will continue as head coach of the club’s Primavera side – a post he has held for the past 18 years, as part of a 28-year (and counting) stint within the Giallorossi academy setup.
Since the start of the 2003-04 campaign, De Rossi has helped the club's Under-19 side win three national titles, two Coppa Italia crowns and two Italian Supercups. But it is developing players capable of making it at the professional level that has always been his focus.
“We are educators, first and foremost,” he told asroma.com.
“That’s our work, to mould men even before we mould football players.”
We spoke to the coach about his contract extension, and the targets that continue to motivate him as he looks to help more kids progress to the first team.
Mister, your adventure with the Primavera continues. What are your thoughts?
“I love my job, my enthusiasm for it never wanes. I do it for my hometown team, for the club I love – I have always felt a particular honour to be able to do this as my job. But it is a massive responsibility too.
"We have a duty to prepare as best we can those kids that could progress to the first team.”
‘Prepare’ is always a key word when it comes to working with young players…
“That’s the main goal in our line of work. The target has to be to help the boys along as best we can, bringing them up to the professional level.
"So it’s preparing them, both technically and by educating them. And both things involve so many elements – and so many different decisions as well. Because sometimes you might feel the need to choose a younger player, perhaps one who is less ready, in order to give them the chance to really learn something. That’s the sort of teaching you try to pass on. There are a lot of dynamics that might influence things.
"Everyone likes to win, that’s clear, but we have to get to the point – like at the end of this season – where a number of youngsters from the Primavera have reached the first team, and some have even played in important games in both Serie A and the Europa League.”
Roma obviously has a proud track record in that regard, and continues to invest in its academy setup. As a coach, how has the infrastructure and resources given to the youth team evolved in recent years?
“We are, to all intents and purposes, a first-team squad. In terms of the structures and the coaching methods we use, that's where we are.
"Trigoria has changed over the years too. We have cutting-edge technology available to us now. But that’s not the end of it – the human resources available are to us at the highest level too.
"The staff working with the players has evolved over time, to the point where those players have support and assistance 24 hours a day."
The internal structure has changed recently, however, with Vincenzo Vergine coming as the new head of the academy department...
“I’ve known Vincenzo for a number of years. He is an expert in the sector, with a lot of experience, and he’ll be a great benefit for us all. We wish him well with his role and welcome him into our family.”
There’s a new coach in charge of the first team too – have you had a chance to speak to José Mourinho?
“We still have not had a chance to meet. At the start of the season we all have different tasks to focus on. Nevertheless, we are all very happy that he has come to Roma. A world-class coach like Mourinho is not just a motivating factor for the players, but for all of us who work within football.”
What is the thing that motivates you at the start of each season, though?
“It’s the passion, and the fact that everything changes. I believe that, beyond the personal philosophies, beyond the desire to dedicate yourself to this line of work, the fact that the players change every year is always something that gives you new motivation. And it gives you the opportunity to change and evolve constantly.”
But always with the same objective, which is to help Roma’s future…
“Exactly. Unlike senior football, we have a bit more time, time that allows us to work with a little less pressure on us. If we lose a few games, nothing terrible happens.
"The key thing is to never lose sight of the primary objective – which is to develop players with the right values, who represent the Roma way and can also become a key part of what the club wants to become.”
Imperium Partners
Centurion Partners
