Alberto De Rossi, who spent over 30 years in Roma's youth academy system, has revealed he declined an offer to become the club's head coach in February 2011 to avoid the conflict of managing his son Daniele as a professional. De Rossi stepped down from his role at Trigoria after more than three decades to take the presidency of Ostiamare, the Serie C club where both he and Daniele grew up. He told Corriere dello Sport: "After more than thirty years a human and professional journey has come to an end, one that gave me experiences, satisfaction and relationships I will always carry with me. But returning to one's roots represents something equally profound. I was and remain a fan."
The principle of not coaching his son directly guided De Rossi's entire tenure overseeing Roma's youth groups, a safeguard of emotional and professional protection that reached its defining moment when Claudio Ranieri stepped down from the first-team bench. Roma's leadership approached De Rossi with the Serie A position, but he rejected it rather than face the prospect of managing his son among professionals, clearing the way for Vincenzo Montella's appointment. De Rossi's work at Trigoria began in 2005 with the class of 1984 led by Alberto Aquilani and produced dozens of professionals who advanced into the game, including recent prospect Riccardo Calafiori.
At Ostiamare, De Rossi holds both presidential and coaching duties. "Alberto, but also mister. I am a man of the field," he said. The club secured its first Serie C victory at Pesaro and played its home opener at Stella Polare stadium with support from Roma Capitale and NEA Rugby, the facility's current concessionaire, who mobilised resources to complete the project in record time. De Rossi works alongside Roberto Menichelli on youth development and stresses the club's social function: "We want to form citizens, not just footballers. We have our social function clearly in mind." He has implemented strict boundaries on parental interference: "On this we are inflexible. Here everyone is equal." De Rossi also advocates for expanded pathways into Serie A coaching for those without elite playing careers and criticises the gap between coaches with high-level playing experience and those without.
The Anco Marzio stadium project is progressing, with work expected to begin in early 2027. De Rossi intends to position Ostiamare as a natural continuation of youth development for local families.
Testo Originale / Source Text
“Dopo oltre trent’anni trascorsi all’interno del settore giovanile della Roma, Alberto De Rossi ha iniziato una nuova tappa della propria carriera professionale assumendo la presidenza dell’Ostiamare. In una lunga intervista concessa a Chiara Zucchelli sulle pagine de Il Corriere dello Sport, lo…”
Read the full article in Italian at Roma News.
