Check out our profile of Gabriel Omar Batistuta, whose arrival in the summer of 2000 proved to be a fundamental step towards the Giallorossi’s third-ever Scudetto triumph.
PLAYER BIO
Born: February 1, 1969 in Reconquista, Argentina
Position: Center forward
Year inducted into the Hall of Fame: 2015, Attackers category
Career in AS Roma first team: 2000-2003
Debut: September 28, 2000, Roma 7-0 Nova Gorica, UEFA Cup first round second leg. Batistuta scored the seventh Giallorossi goal. Vincenzo Montella struck a hat-trick, Francesco Totti a brace and Marco Delvecchio scored one.
Last competitive appearance: January 12, 2003, Roma 0-1 Chievo, Serie A Week 16. Olivier Dacourt made his debut for the Giallorossi.
Total appearances and goals scored: 87, 33 (0.379 goals-per-game)
Appearances and goals scored in league: 63, 30 (0.476)
Appearances and goals scored in European competition: 21, 2
Appearances and goals scored in Coppa Italia: 2, 1
Appearances and goals scored in Italian Super Cup: 1, 0
Every supporter and coach’s dream. Gabriel Omar Batistuta was devastating with both feet, in the air and brilliant at losing his marker. The Argentine possessed a thumping shot, a good footballing brain, exceptional determination and was a huge presence on the pitch.
President Franco Sensi’s comments perfectly encapsulate the player’s ability after he struck a double at Lecce on October 15, 2000: “He’s world class, in a league of his own. The angle from which he scored one of his two goals and the power he generated was something I’d never seen before.”
His time in Italy produced a Coppa Italia win with Fiorentina (1995-96), two domestic Super Cups (Fiorentina 1996 and Roma 2001) and a Scudetto (Roma 2001). He also finished as Serie’s top scorer with the Viola in 1994-95. Internationally, he won the Copa America twice (1991 and 1993) and the Confederations Cup (1992) with Argentina.
His finest hour for Roma was arguably the game at Parma on February 4, 2001 when he equalized with a volley on the run from Walter Samuel’s chipped ball forward, before striking the winner with another volley (this time from Aldair’s service), before sliding to his knees to a massive ovation from 8,000 delighted Roma fans.
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