Iconic team captains seem to be something the Giallorossi do quite well. Before current legend Francesco Totti, they had the mercurial Giuseppe Giannini, but before Giannini they had the magnificent Agostino Di Bartolomei, a man who on this day in 1994, tragically committed suicide at the age of 39.
Doted with superb technical and physical qualities, trademark accurate passing as well as a rocket of a shot, Di Bartolomei was destined for a great future at Roma.
The elegant but quiet midfielder, a product of the Roma youth system, made his debut in 1973 at the age of 18 and went on to make make 22 more appearances over the next three years, before a loan move to Vicenza was arranged to complete his footballing education.
After a successful season, he returned to the capital and became a regular in the side, slotting into the centre of the field, just in front of his back-four, but with the attributes and adaptability to play at central defender if necessary.
In fact, coach Niels Liedholm played ‘Ago’ as a sweeper alongside a young Pietro Vierchowod throughout much of their Scudetto winning season in 1982-83, with great success.
Famed and highly respected Italian journalist Gianni Mura said of Di Bartolomei:
“A midfielder who had a second career as a defender. Something that only creative players with a great sense of team work can achieve. I’d put him alongside [Gaetano] Scirea and [Franz] Beckenbauer, for his straightforward and fair outlook on football.”
As well as that Championship success, which had come 41 years after Roma’s first title win, Di Bartolomei expertly guided Roma to three Coppa Italia victories and their one and only European Cup final appearance.
Unfortunately for the Roma tifosi, the match played on home soil at the Stadio Olimpico ended in defeat for the Italians, against English champions Liverpool after a dramatic penalty shootout.
Di Bartolomei expertly tucked away his spot kick, taking no more than a one step run-up, smashing his shot just under the crossbar. But the opportunity for European glory ended high in the skies, along with penalties by Bruno Conti and Francesco Graziani.
He went on to play 308 times for his club, captaining the side on 146 occasions, but his moment at Roma was up after 11 years when Swedish tactician Sven-Goran Eriksson was hired in the summer of 1984.
The modern Eriksson wanted a faster-paced and more dynamic style of football, which did not suit Di Bartolomei, steeped in old-school Italian patience and methodical build-up play.
His final game for the Giallorossi was the Coppa Italia match at the end of the 1983-84 season, which his side won, beating Hellas Verona to claim the trophy. With news of him leaving already public knowledge, the Roma fans displayed a most incredible sign of affection with a banner at the game which read:
“They may have taken Roma away from you, but they won’t take us — Thank you Agostino”
He followed coach Liedholm to AC Milan, playing for three seasons at the Stadio Meazza. The Rossoneri failed to win a trophy in this time and the player was moved on once again in 1988, having reached 32 years of age and no longer part of a new-look AC Milan side which was to be coached by the ground-breaking Arrigo Sacchi.
A final year in Serie A with Cesena beckoned, helping the Seashorses avoid releagtion before ending his career in Serie C with Salernitana. He successfully guided the minnows into Serie B for the first time in 23 years, appearing 52 times and scoring 16 goals in just two seasons.
Criminally unrecognised by the Azzurri set-up, he failed to earn a single cap for Italy, only ever having featured at Under-21 level for his country.
After football, he worked for RAI Television as a pundit as well as opening up a football school in Salerno where he lived with his family. His unassuming and respectful character was summed up when he said of his school:
“I want children to grow up loving football and not taking example from some of my petulant colleagues.”
But that fateful May 30, in 1994, where he found himself alone with his pistol exactly 10 years after the European Cup final defeat, would become one of Italian football’s saddest days.
Rumours of financial problems, clinical depression and a lack of support from the sport that he so loved are all thought to have potentially contributed to a short note he left behind which simply read:
“I feel trapped in a hole.”
Agostino Di Bartolomei, gone but never to be forgotten. A tragic end to the life of a man of few words but many achievements.
