A love letter to Roma: Bruno Conti’s heartfelt farewell

On June 30, 2026 Bruno Conti officially ended his long association with AS Roma, a club where he served as player, coach and executive. He marked the departure with an emotional Instagram letter that reflected on his debut, his final match and the people who shaped his career.

Conti’s tenure at the capital club spanned more than four decades, beginning as a teenager on the pitch and later moving into coaching and directorial duties. His official exit on June 30, 2026 closed a chapter that began with his Serie A debut.

He wrote, “The first photo is from my Serie A debut, Roma‑Torino on February 10, 1974. On that day, along with my joy, there was above all that of my father, a great Roma fan.” He added gratitude to his mother and the sacrifices made raising seven children.

The final image he posted shows the May 23, 1991 match where he said goodbye to football, recalling “more than eighty thousand people at the stadium and finding myself kneeling under the Curva Sud.” That moment, he said, will stay in his heart forever.

Conti extended thanks to everyone from the concierge to the warehouse workers, drivers, boarding school staff, technical staff, secretariat and scouts. He also apologized for not being able to say goodbye personally, noting, “I’ve always been a bit of a weepy person,” and thanked his great captain Agostino Di Bartolomei for welcoming him from day one.

He thanked presidents Dino Viola, Gaetano Anzalone, Franco Sensi, Rosella Sensi, James Pallotta and Dan Friedkin for their trust, and recalled mentor Nils Liedholm, with whom he “shared unforgettable moments, winning a Scudetto and reaching the European Cup final.” Closing the letter, Conti declared, “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done for the love of Roma,” and said he now looks forward to enjoying his family while continuing to cheer at the stadium.