Daniele De Rossi facts for kids
De Rossi with Italy in 2012
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Daniele De Rossi | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 24 July 1983 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Rome, Italy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1997–2000 | Ostiamare | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | Roma | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001–2019 | Roma | 459 | (43) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | Boca Juniors | 5 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 464 | (43) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Italy U19 | 3 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002 | Italy U20 | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | Italy U21 | 16 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2017 | Italy | 117 | (21) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2023 | SPAL | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Roma | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Daniele De Rossi (born 24 July 1983) is a famous Italian football manager and former player. He is well-known for playing most of his career with his hometown club, Roma. He also helped Italy win the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
De Rossi started his professional career with Roma in the 2001–02 season. He quickly became a key player. With Roma, he won the Coppa Italia twice in 2007 and 2008. He also won the 2007 Supercoppa Italiana. He was named the best young player in Serie A in 2006 and the best Italian player in Serie A in 2009.
He became the captain of Roma in the 2017–18 season after Francesco Totti retired. De Rossi helped Roma reach the UEFA Champions League semi-finals for the first time in the Champions League era. He left Roma in 2019 after 18 seasons. He played 616 games for Roma, which is the second-most in the club's history, only behind Totti. After Roma, he played briefly for Boca Juniors in Argentina before retiring in January 2020.
De Rossi also played for Italy's national teams at different age levels. He won the 2004 European Under-21 Football Championship. He also won a bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics. For the senior national team, he played 117 games between 2004 and 2017. This makes him Italy's fourth-most capped player and most capped midfielder ever. He scored 21 goals for Italy, making him the highest-scoring midfielder for Italy since World War II. He was part of the team that won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He also played in several other major tournaments like Euro 2012, where Italy finished second.
Contents
Playing Career with Clubs
Roma: Early Years and Success
Starting Out (2001–2006)
Daniele De Rossi joined the Roma youth team in 2000. He used to play as a striker before becoming a midfielder. He played his first game for Roma on 30 October 2001 in a UEFA Champions League match. In his first season, he also played three times in the Coppa Italia.
He made his Serie A debut on 25 January 2003. Later that season, he scored his first league goal on 10 May 2003 against Torino. He quickly became a regular player in the midfield. He helped Roma finish second in Serie A in the 2003–04 season. Roma also reached the Coppa Italia finals in 2005 and 2006.
On 15 March 2006, De Rossi wore the captain's armband for Roma for the first time. This was in a UEFA Cup match. He was known for being a tough player. However, in March 2006, he showed great sportsmanship. He scored a goal with his hand, but the referee didn't see it. De Rossi immediately told the referee what happened, and the goal was disallowed. Roma still won the game 2–1. At the end of the season, he was named the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year.
Winning Trophies (2006–2011)
In the 2006–07 season, De Rossi continued to be a key player. He scored a great goal from 40 yards against Fiorentina in November 2006. He also scored in Roma's Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United. On 9 May 2007, De Rossi scored in Roma's 6–2 win over Internazionale in the 2007 Coppa Italia final. Roma went on to win the trophy.
The next season, Roma won the Supercoppa Italiana against Inter. De Rossi scored the winning goal from a penalty. Roma also won the Coppa Italia again, beating Inter 2–1 in the final. In 2009, De Rossi was named the Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year.
During the 2009–10 season, De Rossi played his 200th Serie A game. He scored an important goal against Inter in March 2010. Roma had a 24-game unbeaten run that season. They just missed out on winning the league title to Inter. Roma also reached the 2010 Coppa Italia final, but lost to Inter again. In February 2011, De Rossi was named the best Italian Athlete of the Year.
Later Years and Captaincy (2011–2019)
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In February 2012, De Rossi signed a new five-year contract with Roma. He became the highest-paid Italian footballer in Serie A at that time. In the 2012–13 season, he played less often. However, he started playing more regularly after a new manager arrived.
In the 2013–14 season, Roma started by winning their first 10 Serie A games. De Rossi scored the first goal of the season for Roma. He also captained the team when Francesco Totti was injured. On 10 November 2013, De Rossi played his 400th game for Roma. He said he was close to joining Manchester United that summer, but the move didn't happen.
On 17 October 2015, De Rossi scored in his 500th game for Roma. This was a 3–1 home win over Empoli. On 20 October, he scored two goals in a Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen.
On 28 May 2017, De Rossi scored in a 3–2 win against Genoa. This helped Roma finish second in Serie A and get a spot in the Champions League. On 31 May, he signed a new two-year contract with Roma.
After Francesco Totti retired, De Rossi became Roma's captain for the 2017–18 season. On 10 April 2018, he scored a penalty in a 3–0 Champions League win over Barcelona. This helped Roma make a huge comeback and reach the semi-finals for the first time in the Champions League era. On 26 September 2018, De Rossi played his 600th game for Roma. He was only the second player after Totti to reach this milestone.
On 14 May 2019, Roma announced that De Rossi would leave the club after 18 seasons. He played his last game for Roma on 26 May 2019. He ended his time with 616 appearances, making him the club's second-most capped player.
Boca Juniors and Retirement
De Rossi had always admired the Argentine club Boca Juniors. After leaving Roma, he joined Boca Juniors on 26 July 2019. On 13 August 2019, he made his debut for Boca Juniors and scored his first goal for the club. He also played in the Primera División and the Copa Libertadores.
On 6 January 2020, De Rossi announced his retirement from professional football. He said he made the decision for family reasons. Boca Juniors went on to win the Primera División title that season.
Playing for Italy
De Rossi is one of Italy's top goal-scoring midfielders. He scored 21 goals in 117 international games. He is Italy's second-highest scoring midfielder ever. He is also the joint fifth-most capped player for the Italian national team.
Youth and Early Senior Career
De Rossi played 16 games for the Italy national under-21 football team. He helped them win the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship. He scored the first goal in Italy's 3–0 win in the final. In the same year, he won a bronze medal with Italy at the 2004 Summer Olympics.
He made his debut for the senior Italy team on 4 September 2004. He scored a goal in his first game, helping Italy win 2–1 against Norway. He was 21 years old. He wore Italy's captain's armband for the first time in a friendly game in March 2005.
2006 FIFA World Cup Victory
De Rossi was part of Italy's squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In the second group match against the United States, he received a red card for elbowing an opponent. He was banned for four matches because of this.
After his ban, De Rossi returned for the World Cup final against France. He came on as a substitute. The game ended 1–1 after extra time, so it went to a penalty shootout. De Rossi scored Italy's third penalty, helping his team win the shootout and their fourth World Cup title. At 22, he was the youngest player in Italy's World Cup squad.
Euro 2008 and Confederations Cup 2009
De Rossi played in all of Italy's Euro 2008 qualifying games. He scored a goal against Georgia. After Francesco Totti retired from international football, De Rossi was given the number 10 shirt. He also captained the team on three occasions.
At UEFA Euro 2008, he scored a goal against France, helping Italy win 2–0 and move to the quarter-finals. He was named Man of the Match. In the quarter-final, Italy lost to Spain in a penalty shootout.
De Rossi was also in Italy's squad for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. He scored against the United States in Italy's opening game, which Italy won 3–1. Italy, however, was eliminated in the first round of the tournament.
2010 FIFA World Cup
De Rossi scored Italy's first goal of the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Paraguay. The game ended in a 1–1 draw. In the next match against New Zealand, he earned a penalty that led to Italy's equalizing goal. Italy drew 1–1 again. The defending champions lost their final group match against Slovakia 3–2 and were eliminated from the tournament.
Euro 2012 and 2013 Confederations Cup
In Italy's first game under new manager Cesare Prandelli, De Rossi was named captain. On 7 September 2010, he scored his tenth goal for Italy. This made him Roma's highest goalscorer for the national team, passing Totti.
At UEFA Euro 2012, De Rossi played as a central defender in some games. He received praise for his performances. He later returned to his regular midfield role. Italy reached the final but lost 4–0 to Spain. De Rossi was included in the Team of the Tournament for his great play.
In June 2013, De Rossi played in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil. He scored in a 4–3 win over Japan. Italy finished third in the tournament after beating Uruguay in a penalty shootout.
2014 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2016
De Rossi was part of Italy's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. In Italy's 2–1 win against England, De Rossi played a strong game in midfield. Italy, however, lost their other two group matches and were eliminated in the first round.
On 16 November 2014, De Rossi earned his 100th cap for Italy in a Euro 2016 qualifying match. On 6 September 2015, he scored a penalty against Bulgaria but was later sent off. This was his second red card with Italy, making him Italy's most red-carded player ever. He was part of Italy's squad for UEFA Euro 2016. He got injured in the Round of 16 match against Spain and missed the quarter-final against Germany, which Italy lost in a penalty shootout.
2018 World Cup Qualifiers and Retirement
On 24 March 2017, De Rossi scored his 20th goal for Italy in a 2–0 win over Albania. On 28 March, he played his 112th game for Italy, equaling Dino Zoff's record.
On 10 November 2017, he played his 117th and final international game against Sweden in a World Cup play-off match. Italy lost 1–0. After a 0–0 draw in the second leg, Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. This was a big disappointment. Immediately after the match, De Rossi announced his retirement from the national team.
How Daniele De Rossi Played
De Rossi was known as a "complete midfielder" during his best years. He was good at tackling, seeing the field, passing, and scoring goals. He was quick, strong, and worked very hard. He had good ball skills, stamina, and could head the ball well. He was also good at taking penalty kicks and set-pieces. Sometimes, he was criticized for being too aggressive and getting too many yellow cards.
He was compared to other great midfielders like Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard. De Rossi admired Gerrard and Roy Keane. He was a smart and flexible player who could play in many midfield roles. He could play defensively, in attack, or as a central midfielder. Sometimes, he even played as a central defender. Because of his leadership and dedication, Roma fans called him capitan futuro ("future captain").
Coaching Career
Early Coaching Steps
After retiring as a player, De Rossi wanted to become a coach. In December 2020, he started his UEFA A coaching course. On 18 March 2021, he became an assistant coach for the Italy national team under Roberto Mancini. On 11 July 2021, Italy won UEFA Euro 2020 by beating England in the final.
He later left the national team to finish his coaching courses. In September 2022, he was accepted into the UEFA Pro coaching course.
SPAL and Roma Manager
On 11 October 2022, De Rossi was named the new manager of Serie B team SPAL. However, he was dismissed on 14 February 2023, with SPAL in eighteenth place in the league.
On 16 January 2024, De Rossi was appointed head coach of Roma until the end of the season. This happened after José Mourinho was dismissed. His first game was a 2–1 win over Hellas Verona. De Rossi led Roma to the semi-finals of the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League, where they lost to Bayer Leverkusen. In June 2024, Roma extended De Rossi's contract until 2027.
However, on 18 September 2024, Roma announced that De Rossi was dismissed from his coaching duties. This happened after the team failed to win any of their first four games of the season.
Managerial Career (Other)
On 24 January 2025, De Rossi became the owner and chairman of Serie D club Ostiamare. This was the first team he played for as a youth player.
Personal Life
Daniele De Rossi was born in Rome. His father, Alberto De Rossi, was a coach for Roma's youth team. Daniele married Tamara Pisnoli in 2006, and they had a daughter named Gaia. They separated in 2009. In December 2006, he was named Italian athlete of the year.
De Rossi first wore the number 27 shirt for Roma. He then switched to number 4. After his daughter was born in 2005, he changed to number 16. This was the same number worn by one of his idols, Roy Keane.
He was a spokesperson for Pringles for Euro 2008. He also appeared in an Adidas commercial. De Rossi was featured on the cover of the Italian edition of the FIFA 09 video game. He has a tattoo on his leg of a "hazard" sign showing a tackle, which reflects his tough playing style.
On 26 December 2015, De Rossi married actress and model Sarah Felberbaum in the Maldives. They had been together since 2011. They have a daughter, Olivia Rose, born in 2014, and a son, Noah, born in 2016.
In March 2016, he placed his World Cup winner's medal in the coffin of Pietro Lombardi. Lombardi was the kitman for the Italy national team during the 2006 World Cup.
In April 2021, De Rossi was hospitalized in Rome due to COVID-19 symptoms. He was discharged a few days later and recovered by the end of April.
Images for kids
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De Rossi (left) challenging Álvaro Arbeloa of Spain in the UEFA Euro 2012 final
See also
In Spanish: Daniele De Rossi para niños
