Football legend Francesco Totti confirms retirement but Roma idol will continue to work with boyhood club as director

FOOTBALL legend Francesco Totti has confirmed his retirement from the game and announced he will become a director at Roma.

The 40-year had spent his entire 25-year playing career with the team of his heart, having made his debut for the Giallorossi at the age of 16 in 1993.

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And the fairytale will continue beyond as a passionate Totti told the club’s website he hopes to serve them as well off it as he did on it.

He said: "The first part of my life, as a player, has ended.

"But now I'm heading into an equally important part, hoping to do as well as I did on the field."

Totti made the last of his 786 appearances for the club in the final match of the season, against Genoa, and admitted he had hoped his career would have gone on forever.

The World Cup-winner opted to stay with the team of his heart — rejecting the likes of Real Madrid —despite only winning Serie A once.

He added: "I never wanted that game to end, that day to end.

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"Now I'll try to make myself available — from the youth team to the president.

“It might take six months, a year, two years.

“I don't know how long it will take to find the role I prefer."

Totti is Roma's record goal scorer with 307 in all competitions.

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