Mourning in the Giallorossi home. Giacomo Losi, historic captain of Roma, has died at the age of 88. The news was given by his nephew and former Rai director, Massimo Liofredi, who on behalf of the family recalled the exploits of his uncle, the third player with the most appearances in the first team after Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi. “Uncle Giacomo went to heaven tonight,” Liofredi announced. “He remained attached to the Giallorossi shirt until the end, for which he had an immense love and which he continued to follow on every occasion. For many years he was the most representative player of As Roma, beaten in a photo finish by the greats Francesco Totti and Daniele De Rossi”.
Losi leaves behind his wife Luciana Renzi and his son Roberto and grandchildren.
Who was Giacomo Losi
Born in 1935 in Soncino in the province of Cremona, Losi made his debut as a footballer at the age of 14 with the local Soncino team in the role of half forward. In 1951 it was purchased by Cremonese for 500 thousand lire. In Cremona he played two seasons, conquering Serie C and above all standing out in the role of full-back, so much so that in 1953 he was purchased by Roma for 8 million lire. He made his Serie A debut in Rome against Inter on 20 March 1955. Starting from the 1955-1956 season he became the team’s starter and remained so until the end of his career. He played for Roma until 1969, collecting 386 total appearances, of which 299 as captain, without ever suffering any disciplinary action (he was only warned in the last match played).
In the 1968-1969 season, with the arrival of Helenio Herrera on the Roma bench, he was put on the sidelines after the first 8 matchdays and for this reason he left Roma at the end of the season to play his last year as a footballer in the Tiber Roma, in Serie D With Roma he won two Italian Cups (in 1963-1964 and 1968-1969), and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1960-1961. His best championship finish was second place in 1954-1955.
On 20 September 2012 he was among the first 11 players to be included in the official Roma hall of fame. Losi also played for the national team (11 total appearances), making his debut on 13 March 1960 in the 3-1 friendly defeat against Spain in Barcelona.
As a coach he was a coach in Serie D for Tevere Roma (1970 – 1971). He was then coach at Avellino, Turris, Lecce Salernitana, Alessandria, Bari (with which he obtained promotion to Serie B in 1976-1977), Banco di Roma, Piacenza, Casarano, Nocerina and Juve Stabia. In Rome he was for a long time responsible for the Nuova Valle Aurelia football school (in the Valle Aurelia district) and also coached the national Attori team.
The memory of Valle Aurelia
“In addition to remembering Giacomo Losi for the champion he was”, stated the sports councilor of the XIII Municipality, Arianna Ugolini, “we want to remember Core de Rome for the important work carried out in the area, and in particular in the Valle district Aurelia, with the Nuova Valle Aurelia football club. Many kids took to the clay court in Via Ettore Stampini. Losi has given many young people important opportunities to play sports in a clean environment, as he has always been on the pitch and in life.”
The CONI trustee of the XIII Municipality of Rome Capital, Antonio Ranalli, also joins in the condolences for the passing of Losi. On behalf of the entire local sports movement, he remembers Losi for having been “for years an important point of reference for the XIII Municipality, having followed and directed the Nuova Valle Aurelia football school, where many local kids were trained and representing an important point of reference not only from a sporting but also a social point of view. A big hug to the whole family and to the many athletes and fans who are remembering him in these hours.”