Quick Facts
Biography
Agostino Di Bartolomei (8 April 1955 in Rome – 30 May 1994 in San Marco di Castellabate) was an Italian football player, who played as a midfielder or as a defender, in a sweeper role. Famed for his elegance on the ball and playmaking skills, he is regarded as one of A.S. Roma's greatest players ever, and one of the greatest Italian players never to have been capped by the Italian national team.
Career
Di Bartolomei was born in a suburb of Rome. He started as a football player in the Garbatella and was recruited in the A.S. Roma junior team at fourteen. He was soon asked to play in the main team, making his debut in the Italian Serie A during the 1972–73 season.
In 1975, he went on loan to Lanerossi Vicenza in Serie B to 'build up his bones' (Bruno Conti another future Roma star, was dispatched to Genoa for the same reason), returning to Rome in 1976 as one of the leading and indispensable players of the team.
After Nils Liedholm's return as coach of A.S. Roma, Di Bartolomei became the team's undisputed leader, raising to the title of captain and becoming a fan favourite. When he played, it was common to hear the Roma fans sing Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Agostino, Ago, Ago, Ago, Agostino gol!!!
Despite his goalscoring prowess, Roma had two superb playmakers, in Di Bartolomei and the Brazilian Falcão. Thus, Liedholm decided to move Di Bartolomei in front of the defence for protection, knocking precise passes up the field, while Falcão would assume a more attacking role. During his time at Roma, he won the Coppa Italia three times, and a memorable scudetto in 1983. The following season, marked by the penalty shootout defeat in the final (held in Rome) of the European Cup against Liverpool F.C., was to be his last season with A.S. Roma.
After leaving Roma, he was transferred to A.C. Milan that was undergoing a rebuilding process after a disastrous period in which they were relegated to the Serie B twice. After three seasons he left Milan and his career fizzled out after playing for Cesena and Salernitana. He finally retired in 1990.
Style of play
A tactically intelligent and versatile team player, Di Bartolomei usually played as a central or defensive midfielder in front of the defensive line in a deep-lying playmaking role; he was also capable of playing in a more advanced role, or in the centre of his team's defensive line, where he usually functioned as a sweeper. A quick and hard-working midfielder, although he was not gifted with significant pace, he was known for his stamina and long stride, which enabled him to cover the pitch effectively. Famed for his elegance on the ball and playmaking skills, he was known for his excellent long-passing ability, vision, and ability to read the game, and possessed an eye for goal, due to his accurate and powerful shot from distance; he was also an accurate free-kick and penalty taker, and usually struck the ball without taking a run-up. In addition to his playing ability, he was also known for his outstanding leadership both on and off the pitch as Roma's captain, despite his introverted character. He was also regarded as a serious, composed, and correct player, who was known for his fair play, honesty, and discipline as a footballer.
Retirement and death
Di Bartolomei suffered from clinical depression in his later years, and committed suicide by shooting himself in his villa in San Marco di Castellabate, on May 30, 1994, ten years to the day after Roma had lost the European Cup final to Liverpool on penalties.
He is a member of the A.S. Roma Hall of Fame.
Honours
Club
- Serie A: 1982–83
- Coppa Italia: 1979–80, 1980–81, 1983–84
- European Cup Runner-up: 1983–1984
Individual
- A.S. Roma Hall of Fame