Soccer-De Rossi buys fourth-tier Ostiamare, where his career began


FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Serie A - Atalanta v AS Roma - Stadio Atleti Azzurri, Bergamo, Italy - May 12, 2024 AS Roma coach Daniele De Rossi reacts REUTERS/Daniele Mascolo/File photo

(Reuters) - Former AS Roma and Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi has bought Ostiamare, the lowly semi-professional club where he began his career, promising to strengthen the community of the coastal Rome suburb where the team are based.

Ostiamare, founded in 1945, play in the fourth tier of the Italian league system.

"My goal will be to work to build a solid, transparent and innovative club, a means to unite people, to promote community values and to bring families closer to their area, with the pride of representing Ostia on and off the pitch," De Rossi wrote on Instagram.

De Rossi, who was sacked as Roma's coach in September after a faltering start to the season, was a lynchpin of the Serie A side as a player for almost two decades before leaving in 2019.

He also played 117 times for Italy, winning the World Cup with the Azzurri in 2006.

It all began at Ostiamare, where De Rossi played for the youth team between 1997 and 2000.

(Reporting by Gavin Jones, editing by Ed Osmond)

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Football

Soccer-City survive wonder goal to advance, Ipswich and Bournemouth through
Soccer-No confidence issues for Atalanta, says Gasperini
Soccer-Leverkusen stumble to goalless draw at Wolfsburg, Alonso equals league record
Soccer-Dortmund suffer 2-1 home loss to VfB Stuttgart on coach Kovac's debut
Soccer-Atalanta thrash Verona 5-0 with four from Retegui
Selangor continues fantastic run in Super League
Soccer-Barca keeper Ter Stegen's recovery is on track after knee injury
Soccer-Manchester City survive huge Cup scare to beat Leyton Orient in FA Cup
Soccer-Guardiola denies Man City's January spending due to transfer embargo fears
Soccer-PSG boss Luis Enrique hoping to make history after signing contract extension

Others Also Read