Eusebio Di Francesco's Unforgettable Roma Masterpiece Against Barcelona

Few footballers have had the honor of winning a Scudetto with AS Roma, and even fewer of these Italian champions have gone on to manage the capital club. One such individual is Eusebio Di Francesco, who played 5 matches in the 2000/2001 season and then managed Roma from June 12, 2017, to March 7, 2019.

Di Francesco took the reins of Roma shortly after Francesco Totti's retirement from football. He impressed the club's management with his successful five-year spell at Sassuolo, which included a historic promotion to Serie A and qualification for the Europa League. During his first year in the capital, the Abruzzo-born coach lived up to the expectations set in Reggio Emilia, securing 3rd place in the league standings and, most notably, reaching the Champions League semi-finals.

This remarkable achievement was spearheaded by a memorable evening on April 10, 2018, when his Roma side defeated Messi's Barcelona 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico, overturning the 4-1 deficit from the first leg at the Camp Nou. This night of glory is also remembered for former president James Pallotta's celebratory dive into the fountain in Piazza del Popolo (an act for which he later paid a fine).

However, the following season proved more challenging for Di Francesco, and he struggled to replicate his previous success. The final chapter of his tenure was the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Porto, a match lost 3-1 after extra time, which saw the Giallorossi eliminated from the competition.

After his time at Roma, Di Francesco managed Sampdoria, Cagliari, Hellas Verona, Frosinone, and Venezia, experiencing less successful spells compared to his earlier achievements. Particularly poignant were his last two relegations with Frosinone and Venezia, both decided in the final 90 minutes of the season. He has now returned to Lecce, a club he previously managed in 2011, where he was sacked after 13 games with only 8 points. Last season, he managed to secure safety for the team, partially redeeming the disappointments of recent years.

As a player, Eusebio Di Francesco represented Roma in a total of 129 matches, scoring 16 goals. As a manager, he guided the Giallorossi for 87 matches overall, with a record of 46 wins, 18 draws, and 23 losses.

Eusebio Di Francesco turns 57 today, and our editorial team joins in wishing him a very happy birthday!