{{short description|Italian footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Flavio Roma | fullname = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1974|6|21}} | birth_place = Rome, Italy | height = 1.91 m | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = | youthyears1 = 1991–1993 | youthclubs1 = Lazio | years1 = 1993–1999 | clubs1 = Lazio | caps1 = 0 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 1993–1994 | clubs2 = → Mantova (loan) | caps2 = 3 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 1995–1996 | clubs3 = → Venezia (loan) | caps3 = 7 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 1996–1997 | clubs4 = → Fiorenzuola (loan) | caps4 = 19 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 1997–1998 | clubs5 = → Foggia (loan) | caps5 = 36 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 1998–1999 | clubs6 = → Chievo (loan) | caps6 = 30 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 1999–2001 | clubs7 = Piacenza | caps7 = 70 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2001–2009 | clubs8 = Monaco | caps8 = 205 | goals8 = 0 | years9 = 2009–2012 | clubs9 = Milan | caps9 = 2 | goals9 = 0 | years10 = 2012–2014 | clubs10 = Monaco | caps10 = 2 | goals10 = 0 | totalcaps = 374 | totalgoals = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2005 | nationalteam1 = Italy | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0 }}
'''Flavio Roma''' ({{IPA|it|ˈflaːvjo ˈroːma}}; born 21 June 1974) is an Italian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.
==Playing career== Roma started his career in the youth teams of Lazio. He was the third goalkeeper behind Luca Marchegiani and Fernando Orsi before leaving the club to play for clubs in Serie B and Serie C1. In 1999, he was signed by the Serie A side Piacenza as part of Simone Inzaghi's deal, replacing Valerio Fiori as the first choice in his role. Still, the team was relegated at the end of the season.
===Monaco=== In 2001, he was signed by Monaco, then coached by Didier Deschamps, where he was the first-choice goalkeeper ahead of Tony Sylva and Stéphane Porato until the 2008–09 season, when he lost his place to Stéphane Ruffier. He was also in the squad that played the 2004 UEFA Champions League final. During his stay at Monaco, he only missed three months in the 2005–06 season due to injuries,<ref name="therapy">{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/news/kind=1/newsid=337502.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051018094207/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UEFACup/news/Kind=1/newsId=337502.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 October 2005|title=More Roma therapy for Monaco|date=9 September 2005|access-date=13 August 2009|publisher=UEFA}}</ref> and a shoulder injury ruled him out of the second half of the 2001–02 season in February 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=16840.html|title=Monaco wait on Roma results|date=4 February 2002|access-date=13 August 2009|publisher=UEFA}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
During his career at Monaco, Roma rejected an opportunity to join English side Arsenal in order to sign a new contract with the club.<ref>{{cite news|title=Roma snubs Arsenal confirms Biancheri|url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11670/2268967/roma-snubs-arsenal-confirms-biancheri|publisher=Sky Sports|accessdate=22 March 2014}}</ref>
===Milan=== On 12 August 2009, Roma signed a one-year contract with Milan to replace Zeljko Kalac, who was released from the club by mutual consent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=872413.html|title=Roma boosts Milan options|date=13 August 2009|access-date=18 September 2019|publisher=UEFA|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917133135/http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl/news/kind=1/newsid=872413.html|archive-date=17 September 2009}}</ref> Upon joining Milan, Roma cited joining the club as a dream come true,<ref>{{cite news|title=Flavio Roma: Milan Move Was A Dream Come True|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/italy/2009/08/14/1440659/flavio-roma-milan-move-was-a-dream-come-true|publisher=Goal.com|date=14 August 2009|accessdate=22 March 2014}}</ref> and Roma was expected to compete for the starting position with Marco Storari while Christian Abbiati and Dida were recovering from injury. However, Milan manager Leonardo preferred Storari and, after his return from injury, Dida. In January 2010, Storari left for Sampdoria, and Abbiati recovered from injury, making Roma the third-choice goalkeeper. At the end of the season, his contract was extended to an undisclosed length.
In 2011, Roma started in goal in two matches in the Coppa Italia against Bari and Sampdoria, earning a clean sheet against Bari and conceding only one goal away against Sampdoria.<ref>{{cite news|title=Line-ups: Cassano has first Milan start|url=http://www.football-italia.net/node/2219|publisher=Football Italia|date=20 January 2011|accessdate=22 March 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Coppa: Cassano's Milan see off Bari|url=http://www.football-italia.net/node/2221|publisher=Football Italia|date=20 January 2011|accessdate=22 March 2014}}</ref> On 17 May 2011, Milan announced Roma extended his contract for an additional year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.acmilan.com/it/news/breaking_news_show/10367|title=A.C. MILAN COMUNICATO UFFICIALE|date=17 May 2011|accessdate=18 May 2011|work=AC Milan|language=Italian}}</ref>
On 13 May 2012, Roma announced he had played his last match for Milan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Galliani, cheers and tears. Inzaghi: "It's hard to give up"|trans-title=Galliani, applausi e lacrime. Inzaghi: "È dura mollare"|url=http://www.corrieredellosport.it/Calcio/2012/05/13-239178/Galliani,+applausi+e+lacrime.+Inzaghi%3A+%C2%AB%C3%88+dura+mollare%C2%BB|publisher=Corriere Dello Sport|language=Italian|date=13 May 2012|accessdate=22 March 2014}}</ref>
===Return to Monaco=== On 2 August 2012, Roma signed for Monaco on a one-year deal on a free transfer.<ref>{{cite news|title=OFFICIAL: Flavio Roma to Monaco|trans-title=UFFICIALE: Flavio Roma al Monaco|url=http://www.milannews.it/gli-ex/ufficiale-flavio-roma-al-monaco-87300|publisher=Milan News|language=Italian|date=2 August 2012|accessdate=22 March 2014}}</ref> Following Monaco's promotion to Ligue 1, Roma made his first appearance in his second spell, where he came on as a substitute for Martin Sourzac in the second half, as Monaco won 2–1 against Tours.<ref>{{cite news|title=AS Monaco capped off Tours (1-2)|trans-title=L'AS Monaco termine en beauté à Tours (1-2)|url=http://www.monacomatin.mc/as-monaco/las-monaco-termine-en-beaute-a-tours-1-2.1268727.html|publisher=Monaco Matin|language=French|date=24 May 2013|accessdate=22 March 2014|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20140322164439/http://www.monacomatin.mc/as-monaco/las-monaco-termine-en-beaute-a-tours-1-2.1268727.html|archivedate=22 March 2014}}</ref> After making one appearance, Roma signed a contract extension.<ref>{{cite news|title=Monaco, renews the former AC Milan Flavio Roma|trans-title=Monaco, rinnova l'ex rossonero Flavio Roma|url=http://www.milannews.it/gli-ex/monaco-rinnova-l-ex-rossonero-flavio-roma-113492|publisher=Milan News|language=Italian|date=2 June 2013|accessdate=22 March 2014}}</ref> At the end of the season, he announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite news|title=Flavio Roma annonce sa retraite |url=https://fr.sports.yahoo.com/news/flavio-roma-annonce-retraite-124900855--sow.html |publisher=yahoo.com |language=French |date=15 May 2014 |accessdate=1 July 2014}}</ref>
==International career== Roma received his first call-up for Italy ahead of Italy's friendly match against Finland, in Messina, on 17 November 2004,<ref name="figc-Roma"/> as manager Marcello Lippi was trying to identify a back-up goalkeeper for Gianluigi Buffon for the 2006 World Cup qualifying cycle;<ref name="numeri 12">{{cite news |title=Da Nista a Gigio, tutti i numeri 12 di Buffon |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/serie-a/2018/05/17/gigi-buffon-numeri-12-club-nazionale#12 |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=sport.sky.it |date=20 September 2023 |language=it}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Gioia Peruzzi: «Ma il titolare resta Buffon» |url=https://www.ilgiornale.it/news/gioia-peruzzi-titolare-resta-buffon.html |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=Il Giornale |date=31 August 2005 |language=it}}</ref> Roma did not appear in the match, however, which ended in a 1–0 victory to the Italians.<ref>{{cite news |title=Corriere della Sera - L'Italia dei debuttanti batte la Finlandia 1-0 |url=https://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Sport/2004/11_Novembre/17/finlandia.shtml |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=www.corriere.it |date=17 November 2004}}</ref> Roma made his debut on 30 March 2005 in a 0–0 friendly draw with Iceland after replacing Morgan De Sanctis at half-time.<ref>{{cite news |title=Mondiali - Zero a zero l'amichevole Italia-Islanda |url=https://www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it/news/sport/31536/mondiali-zero-a-zero-l-amichevole-italia-islanda.html |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=www.lagazzettadelmezzogiorno.it |date=30 March 2005 |language=it}}</ref> That same year, he played his first full match as a starter on 11 June, in a friendly against Ecuador in the United states, which ended in a 1–1 draw.<ref>{{cite news |title=L’Ultima Italia che giocò in Usa? È irriconoscibile |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/nazionale/2024/03/19/italia-ecuador-amichevole-usa-giocatori |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=sport.sky.it |date=19 March 2024 |language=it}}</ref> Later that year, he also appeared in Italy's 2–1 friendly defeat to Ireland in Dublin, on 17 August.<ref>{{cite news |title=Republic of Ireland 1-2 Italy |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4161104.stm |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=BBC Sport |date=17 August 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Gazzetta dello Sport Amichevole, Irlanda-Italia 1-2 |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/Primo_Piano/2005/08_Agosto/17/amichitalia.shtml |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=www.gazzetta.it |date=17 August 2005 |language=it}}</ref> Due to Roma's injury struggles throughout the 2005–06 season,<ref name="therapy"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Quand reviendra Roma? |url=https://fr.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01b1-0e6d5cd81243-372d4ec6f07d-1000--quand-reviendra-roma/ |publisher=UEFA.com |access-date=10 May 2026 |language=fr |date=25 January 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Il Basilea contro Monaco e tradizione |url=https://it.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01b2-0e6d6278d263-182ff1abd49e-1000--il-basilea-contro-monaco-e-tradizione/ |publisher=UEFA.com |access-date=10 May 2026 |language=it |date=14 February 2006}}</ref> he was not called up for Italy's warm-up friendlies ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup,<ref>{{cite news |title=Nazionale: i convocati per l'amichevole |url=https://www.corriere.it/Primo_Piano/Sport/2006/02_Febbraio/26/nazionale.shtml |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=www.corriere.it |date=2 February 2006}}</ref> and was not included in the final squad for the tournament, with Buffon, Angelo Peruzzi, and Marco Amelia being selected as the team's three goalkeepers, and De Sanctis as a reserve.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nazionale, tra i 23 c'è anche Buffon - Gazzetta dello Sport |url=https://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/Primo_Piano/2006/05_Maggio/15/convocati.shtml |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=www.gazzetta.it |date=15 May 2006 |language=it}}</ref> Roma received his last senior international call-up in August 2006 under new manager Roberto Donadoni, ahead of Italy's first match after their 2006 World Cup victory, with Amelia starting ahead of him in the 2–0 friendly defeat to Croatia in Livorno, on 16 August.<ref>{{cite news |title=Experimental Italy lose to Croatia - Aug 16, 2006 |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2006/SPORT/football/08/16/italy.friendly/ |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=CNN |date=16 August 2006}}</ref> Roma did not make anymore appearances for his country;<ref>{{cite news |title=Donadoni "sposa" la linea verde |url=https://www.tgcom24.mediaset.it/sport/articoli/322966/donadoni-sposa-la-linea-verde.shtml |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=www.tgcom24.mediaset.it |date=12 August 2006 |language=it-IT}}</ref> in total, he received three caps for Italy, all in 2005.<ref name="figc-Roma"/><ref name="numeri 12"/>
==Style of play== Roma was known for his reflexes and shot-stopping ability as a goalkeeper.<ref>{{cite news |title=Valiant Chelsea fail to bridge the gap |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/valiant-chelsea-fail-to-bridge-the-gap-20040507-gdivnj.html |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=7 May 2004 |language=en}}</ref> According to former Milan and Italy goalkeeper Giovanni Galli, Roma had excellent physical and mental attributes, as well as good goalkeeping technique, and a strong, dedicated, serious, and hard-working character. He likened Roma's style to that of his compatriot Francesco Toldo, even describing him as a potential successor for Toldo at Fiorentina. He highlighted Roma's ability to get to ground quickly, in spite of his large stature, as one of his main qualities, while he cited Roma's consistency and concentration as areas in need of improvement his youth.<ref>{{cite news |title='Roma, tecnica e carattere è il degno erede di Toldo' - la Repubblica.it |url=https://ricerca.repubblica.it/repubblica/archivio/repubblica/2001/06/05/roma-tecnica-carattere-il-degno-erede-di.html |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=la Repubblica |date=5 June 2001 |language=it}}</ref>
==Coaching career== After retirement, Roma was hired by his former club AS Monaco as a goalkeeping coach for the youth teams, a role he filled in between 2017 and 2020. In 2022, Roma was named new goalkeeping coach of AC Milan, replacing Dida.<ref>{{cite web |language=it |url=https://www.calciostyle.it/notizie/milan-flavio-roma-preparatore-dei-portieri-sullo-sfondodida |publisher=Calciostyle.it |title=Milan, Flavio Roma preparatore dei portieri: sullo sfondo…Dida |date=10 July 2022 |accessdate=10 July 2023 }}</ref> He left AC Milan after just a year, as the club opted not to extend his contract.<ref>{{cite web |language=it |url=https://www.milannews24.com/flavio-roma-addio-milan-preparatore-portieri-dettagli-ultime/ |publisher=MilanNews24.com |title=Flavio Roma lascia il Milan: non sarà più il preparatore dei portieri |date=2 July 2023 |accessdate=10 July 2023 }}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{Soccerway|id=1948}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=F. Roma|url=https://www.besoccer.com/player/career-path/f-roma-2957|publisher=Besoccer|accessdate=28 September 2025}}</ref> |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Europe !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Lazio |1991–92 |Serie A |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |1992–93 |Serie A |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |1994–95 |Serie A |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !0!!0!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!0!!0 |- |Mantova (loan) |1993–94 |Serie C1 |4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0||5||0 |- |Venezia (loan) |1995–96 |Serie B |7||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||8||0 |- |Fiorenzuola (loan) |1996–97 |Serie C1 |19||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||19||0 |- |Foggia (loan) |1997–98 |Serie B |36||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||40||0 |- |Chievo (loan) |1998–99 |Serie B |30||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||34||0 |- |rowspan="3"|Piacenza |1999–2000 |Serie A |32||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||36||0 |- |2000–01 |Serie B |38||0||7||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||45||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !70!!0!!11!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!81!!0 |- |rowspan="10"|Monaco |2001–02 |Ligue 1 |21||0||1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||24||0 |- |2002–03 |Ligue 1 |28||0||0||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||0 |- |2003–04 |Ligue 1 |34||0||3||0||0||0||12||0||colspan="2"|—||49||0 |- |2004–05 |Ligue 1 |34||0||4||0||1||0||10||0||colspan="2"|—||49||0 |- |2005–06 |Ligue 1 |15||0||0||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||17||0 |- |2006–07 |Ligue 1 |38||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||40||0 |- |2007–08 |Ligue 1 |29||0||0||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||31||0 |- |2008–09 |Ligue 1 |4||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||5||0 |- |2009–10 |Ligue 1 |0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !203!!0!!8!!0!!12!!0!!24!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!247!!0 |- |rowspan="4"|AC Milan |2009–10 |Serie A |0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0 |- |2010–11 |Serie A |1||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||colspan="2"|—||3||0 |- |2011–12 |Serie A |1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !2!!0!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!0!!0!!0!!0!!4!!0 |- |rowspan="3"|Monaco |2012–13 |Ligue 2 |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- |2013–14 |Ligue 1 |1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!colspan="2"|—!!2!!0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !373!!0!!30!!0!!12!!0!!24!!0!!1!!0!!440!!0 |}
===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="figc-Roma">{{cite news |title=Roma, Flavio – Convocazioni e presenze in campo |url=https://www.figc.it/it/nazionali/nazionali-in-cifre/dettaglio-convocato?calciatoreId=44559&squadraId=12 |access-date=10 May 2026 |work=www.figc.it |language=it}}</ref> |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="1"|Italy |2005||3||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!3!!0 |}
==Honours== '''Monaco''' * Coupe de la Ligue: 2002–03 * Ligue 2: 2012–13 * UEFA Champions League: runner-up 2003–04
'''Milan''' * Serie A: 2010–11 * Supercoppa Italiana: 2011
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{UEFA|72545}} *{{LFP|id=roma-flavio}} *{{NFT player|id=9708}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roma, Flavio}} Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Rome Category:Italian men's footballers Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Italian expatriate men's footballers Category:Italy men's international footballers Category:Mantova 1911 players Category:Venezia FC players Category:US Fiorenzuola 1922 SS players Category:Calcio Foggia 1920 players Category:AC ChievoVerona players Category:Piacenza Calcio 1919 players Category:AS Monaco FC players Category:AC Milan players Category:Serie A players Category:Serie B players Category:Ligue 1 players Category:Ligue 2 players Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Monaco Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in France Category:Italian expatriate sportspeople in Monaco