When a player dedicates most of their career to the club they love, there is a special bond between them and the fans.
Roma have been lucky enough to have had many examples throughout their history. But as all good things must come to an end, have consequently had their fair share of emotional goodbyes.
The farewells of Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi spring to mind from recent memory. But a generation before them, there was a monumental event to thank another Rome-born Roma legend. Bruno Conti.
An excellent winger who was part of the Italy squad that won the 1982 World Cup, Conti came through the youth ranks at Roma. His senior debut arrived in 1973, but he had to wait to establish himself. Two separate loan spells with Genoa helped, and after his return in 1979, no-one could prise him away.
Conti became an integral player for Roma in the Nils Liedholm era. He won the Coppa Italia in his first year back in the capital and helped the team retain the trophy the year after. The most glorious achievement came in 1982-83, when the Giallorossi won the Scudetto.
Conti was involved in three more Coppa Italia triumphs, the latter coming in 1991. It made him the most decorated player in Roma’s history. To this day, no player can match the six trophies he won with the club.
But in truth, he was a peripheral figure by the time of that last piece of silverware. Ottavio Bianchi did not select him for either leg of the final – nor any other round of the competition or league game.
The one appearance Conti did make that season came in the UEFA Cup – a tournament Roma reached the final of. He played part of the first leg of the Round of 16, six months before two matches in two days that showed how much he meant to the club.
On May 22nd, 1991, Roma welcomed Inter to Stadio Olimpico for the second leg of the UEFA Cup final. They were trailing 2-0 on aggregate after the fixture at San Siro but still had a chance of silverware. Ultimately, they won 1-0 in front of their own supporters, but it wasn’t enough to overturn the deficit.
One day later, a farewell match took place for Conti, who was about to retire. More fans turned up for it than the number that had come to see their team in a European final.
It hammers home how important Conti was to Roma. Occasions such as a European final are very rare for the club, but paying tribute to someone who gave their life to these colours meant even more to many fans.
The game itself was an exhibition match between members of the Roma squad that won the 1983 Serie A title and a lineup of South American players, coached by Enzo Bearzot, the architect of the World Cup triumph with Italy the year before.
Conti reunited with legendary former teammates like Agostino Di Bartolomei, Paulo Roberto Falcao and Roberto Pruzzo for one last time.
The negative atmosphere that could have lingered after missing out on the UEFA Cup soon dissipated. Instead, Roma fans flocked to the stadium in their thousands to celebrate the extraordinary career of one of their best.
The Olimpico was packed and the entertainment that followed was fitting. It was a hugely emotional night and it was exactly the kind of send-off that Conti deserved.
One of the most popular Sons of Rome, Conti may have had a difficult last season with the club, but that night was a special way to bring the curtains down on his special career.
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