Totti becomes AS Roma Director from 2017-2018 season

AS Roma's new sporting director Monchi announced yesterday (May 3) that Francesco Totti will take up a position as a director of the club immediately after hanging up his boots at the end of this season.

"Totti and Roma have agreed that this will be his last season," said sporting director Monchi. "After hanging up his boots, Totti will remain with the club but in a directorial role."

"Totti is Roma, I want to be as close to him as possible. It's great that I can learn something from him about this team," the new manager from Spain added, affirming the influence of the AS Roma legend.

Totti's retirement and his position as Roma's director is part of the club's restructuring plan outlined by new sporting director Monchi. Photo: Reuters.

Having served AS Roma for 25 years as a player, Totti, at the age of 40, holds the record for the number of matches played and goals scored for the Italian capital club.

Totti's future has been a controversial topic in Roma for many years. Despite his age and being on the other side of his career for quite some time, the 2006 World Cup winner has no intention of stopping. Totti once argued with coach Spalletti and said he deserved more "respect" than sitting on the bench.

The striker born in 1976 has only won the Serie A championship once with AS Roma in the 2000-01 season. Compared to other legends in the same tournament such as Paolo Maldini (AC Milan), Del Piero (Juventus), Zanetti (Inter), Totti's achievements are far behind. He has also only played 58 times for the Italian national team, one-third of Juventus' Buffon, even less than his junior De Rossi.

Signing a six-year contract with AS Roma from the 2017-18 season, Sporting Director Monchi is determined to reform everything, including getting rid of useless players like Totti.

Monchi was introduced to Roma on April 25 and pledged to make drastic changes to revive the team.

After the 1-3 defeat in the capital derby against Lazio on April 30, General Director Mauro Baldissoni told the press that Totti had accepted to become a member of the club's board of directors from next season. However, Totti said: "Someone can say that, but not me."

The Roma legend has yet to confirm his appointment as club director, although he has been told by Monchi that he will not be signing a new contract at the end of the season.

According to VNE