Why I regret quitting football – Totti

AS Roma legend, Francesco Totti, admits he misses being on the football pitch and revealed why he rejected the advances of European giants to become the iconic ‘King of Rome’.

Totti, 41, retired at the end of last season after 25 seasons, 785 appearances and 307 goals in the first-team with the Giallorossi and has since taken over a director role at the Serie A club.

While the 2006 World Cup winner concedes he is grateful for his new role, he reflected on his most memorable moments and what he misses most since hanging up his boots.

“I never left Rome and Serie A because ever since I was young I wanted to wear only one shirt. My career was fantastic, the best moment was when I won the Scudetto,” he told the Serie A official website.

“The thing I miss most about the pitch is pulling on my boots, but I’m lucky to live in another way as though I were a player.

“I’m in the dressing room, on the pitch, I talk to the Coach and I go to pre-season training. The only drawback is that I don’t get changed and pull on my boots.

“I knew as soon as I joined the first team that football would be my life, then as I went along I realised it had become a job. When they called me the King of Rome it was an indescribable emotion.”