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"Footballing deity... is looking forward to a new challenge"
(A "Not Your Usual Scouting Locales" side story)
There must have been an outbreak of heart-attacks in Rome when it was announced. Barren von Richtofen, or BvR, as everyone in Europe knows him, had requested a transfer from Roma.
While it might have been a shock, those in the know, journalists, close followers of the club, certain readers of online bulletin boards, would have certainly known that BvR had grown frustrated with his manager Alberto Zaccheroni. The rift in the relationship had begun several years before when the sensational striker had been praised by the media only for his manager to say that the player "had a lot to learn".
Even in the years that followed, BvR captained the club with angry side-looks at Zaccheroni, even as he led the team to European and league glory with the flurry of goals he scored. It was BvR who carried the team through into last year's Champions Cup victory, setting a new record for goals in the competitions with an unbelivable 21 goals in 21 games. BvR scored all three of his clubs in their 3-1 win over Arsenal.
But the Faroe Island superstar had always had his detractors, and when he was overlooked by FIFA in Player of the Year awards, it certainly could have put salt in the wounds of his ego.
With a 15 Million Pound plus value, and a 100,000 pound a week salary, it was only ever going to be the top sides in Europe that would come calling, and when Arsenal was first at the door, Roma fans were at least optimistic that BvR would be shifting to another league.
But Arsenal never made a bid... and when Juventus knocked on the door, BvR listened.
The Roma-for-life player, who as a youth had been brought to the club and scored the extra-time goal just a few years later to give them one of their many Champions Cup victories during his time with the club, would be moving to Turin, and Roma's archrivals.
To make matters more convoluted, BvR and the two clubs could only arrange a midseason transfer. BvR would have half-a-season to give to his fans at Roma before leaving them.
Newly signed from Milan, defensive midfield star Maximo Janz at this to say about the move:
"I can't say I'm happy about it. One of the reasons I wanted to come here to Roma was the chance to play with BvR. But on the other hand, I'm in a unique position to understand what it means to need a new challenge... as to the timing, I can't say it's the best situation for anyone, but I'm sure BvR will give his best. He'll do what he has always done. Score goals."
01-09-2006, 10:09 PM
"Footballing deity... is looking forward to a new challenge" Post #2
Nickname: BvR
Position: Striker
Birthdate: 14.1.85
Nationality: Faroe Islands (85 caps/49 goals)
Current Club: Roma (since 8.7.01)
Previous clubs: None
Career highlights:
19.8.2001: Picked up his first medal without playing a minute. Roma won the Italian Super Cup.
12.12.2001: Made his debut in Roma's 1:2 loss to Bologna in the Italian Cup Quarter Final 1st leg.
23.8.2002: First European medal. European Super-Cup Runner-up.
31.8.2002: First International Cap vs Ireland. Age 17.
4.9.2002: First International Goal vs Turkey.
15.5.2005: First Italian Serie A Championship. In his first full season as a member of the first team, BvR partners with Montella and Batistuta and knocks in 27 goals in 37 appearances in all competitions, including 10 in continental competitions.
01-09-2006, 10:24 PM
"Footballing deity... is looking forward to a new challenge" Post #3
For those unaware of the legendary 2005 Champions League Final between Roma and Barcelona, we must say that it is widely regarded as one of the most exciting games of high-level cup competition of all time, and one of the very few to finish on the golden goal rule.
In other words, you should track down a copy and watch it again to remember how fantastic it was.
Naturally, the files of Mattimosi Janz have several different items of this momentous game, so we share a few here:
- a photo of the two squads lined up for the pre-game ceremonies. Barren von Richtofen is the young looking player between Montella and Emerson.
- a printed minute by-minute text description from the BBC for the match (an exerpt): "8th Minute. This is going to be a yellow here for von Richtofen. That's just his nerves coming through in this important match."
- a photo of Cafu being consoled by members of the Roma squad after his 15th minute own goal
- an article desribing the brilliant tactical decisions and subsitutions by the Roma manager (Ricken, on in the 66th, scored in the 86th; Tommasi, on in the 54th, scored in the 58th)
- video clips of all goals, including the Rivaldo goal in the 62nd (under-rated) and Cannavaro's apparent winning goal in the 76th that gave Barcelona a 3-2 lead
- Various cut-out headlines of Rome newspapers: "Golden!", "No Penalties!", "Roma wins!", etc...
- pamphlet form the Faroe government describing that a day in June 2005 would be 'von Richtofen' day
- various photos of the Roma celebration including, Totti lifting von Richtofen into the air, Emerson lifting the cup, etc...
while most should be well familiar with the goal that appears on an infinite number of highlight tapes, we include the televised game commentary for completeness:
"...
As we close in on the 120 minute I think we will be seeing penalties today, right John?
No doubt David, I think this game has been shut down by Barcelona in this second half of extra time, only Rivaldo's poor attempt from a free-kick even looked like a chance, and a poor one at that..
Last moments of the game now, and here is Emerson on the ball trying to force one last chance for Roma.
My pick for man-of-the-match today, really spectacular game today
A long cross into the box looking for von Richtofen. Cannavaro's done well covering him today and he's gotten to that one first as well, cleared out on a header...
Totti's picked it up, last gasp here as the referee has the whistle in his mouth...
Into the area.... can von... no! no!.
YES!
It's gone in.... They've done it!... Roma win the Champions Cup! Barren von Richtofen scored! His header beat the keeper and ends the game!
Fantastic last gasp from Roma there, and I may need to double check this but I believe that's von Richtofen's 35th goal of the season!
What a season for him, John.
no doubt, David, really top drawer finish there
He's being mobbed by his teammates...
..."
The win put a cap on an incredible season for the youthful striker. 35 goals in all, 24 in league and 10 in continental.
6.6.2006: Named Serie A Player of the Year. Serie A Top goalscorer. Serie A Foreign Player of the Year. Named in Serie A Team of the Year. Finished 3rd in World Footballer of the Year (Javier Saviola 1st).
16.6.2006: Runner-up in European Striker of the Year (Darko Kovacevic 1st). Third place in European Footballer of the Year (Darko Kovacevic 1st).
19.6.2006: First ever Supporters Player of the Year award.
01-09-2006, 11:27 PM
"Footballing deity... is looking forward to a new challenge" Post #4
6.6.2007: Italian Serie A Top goalscorer runner-up. Serie A Foreign Player of the Year.
19.6.2007: Supporters player of the YEar
12.8.2007: FIFA Club World Championship.
20.4.2008: Serie A champions.
6.6.2008: World Footballer of the Year. Serie A Young Player of the Year. Serie A Top Goalscorer. Foreign Player of the Year.
18.6.2008: Supporters Player of the Year. (Has won this every year since as well.)
20.5.2009: European Champions Cup Winner.
6.6.2009: Foreign Player of the Year Runner-up (Hernan Crespo 1st).
26.5.2010: European Champions Cup Winner. (BvR scores winning pk in shoot-out over Kaiserslautern)
6.6.2010: Italian Serie A Top Goalscorer runner-up. Foreign Player of the Year Runner-up (Saviola 1st). European Striker of the Year Runner-up (Amanuele Calaio 1st). European Player of the Year 3rd placed (teammate Francesco Totti 1st).
6.6.2011: 3rd place in World Footballer, Serie A Player of the Year, Serie A Foreign Player. Named in Serie A Team of the Year.
22.4.2012: Serie A Champions.
6.6.2012: World, Serie A, Top Goalscorer, Foreign Player of the Year awards.
22.5.2013: Serie A Champions.
6.6.2013: World, Serie A, Top Goalscorer, Foreign Player of the Year awards.
14.5.2014: UEFA Cup Winner. BvR scores twice.
6.6.2014: Serie A Player of the Year 3rd place. Top Goalscorer, Foreign Player of the Year awards.
6.6.2015: Serie A Player of the Year runner-up. Top Goalscorer, Forign Player of the year award.
25.5.2016: Champions Cup winners. Italian Serie A Champions. BvR scores 3 in the Champions cup Final for a 3-1 win over Arsenal
6.6.2016: World, Serie A, Top Goalscorer, Foreign Player of the Year awards. Runner-up in European Footballer & Striker awards.
Season 2016/2017:
Team: Roma
Opponent: Napoli
Competition: Italian Super Cup
Result: 1-1 (Roma win on pks 7-6)
BvR opened the season showing that he was still going to be the key man for Roma until he leaves. He turned in a cross in the 20th minute for the lead and had several chances, but Napoli scored late to tie. Despite Herman Toothrot missing the first pk, the rest of Roma's players scored and Zanin and Nanni missed for Napoli.
---
Team: Roma
Opponent: FC Koln
Competition: European Super Cup
Result: 0-1
BvR played well and hit the crossbar in the 35th with a blistering long shot, but ultimately it wasn't his day or Roma's.
---
01-09-2006, 11:40 PM
"Footballing deity... is looking forward to a new challenge" Post #6
Legend striker BvR begins his final stretch with Roma tomorrow away at Verona. A group of fans who literally grew up with BvR at their club have sworn to follow the striker through his last games as a farewell tour. A spokesman for the fan's club stated:
"BvR has done amazing things for this club and we plan to show him how much he's meant to us over the years. I've taken a leave of absence from my job to follow the club full-time until he goes away."
Asked how the fans would treat BvR once he joins Juventus:
"Well, I think most of us agree that it is Roma first... BvR second. So we wish him the best success, except against us."
Asked if he thought BvR might not give his best effort in the remaining games for Roma:
"No, I think he'll still be great. He's the greatest striker of our generation, he can't not score goals."
01-10-2006, 04:45 PM
"Footballing deity... is looking forward to a new challenge" Post #7
The two squads both came out in determined attacking style, but it was always Roma who looked more threatening. Veteran Buffon was called on early and often to prevent the scorelin from being worse.
In the early going it was Argentine Orlando Bustos who was dominating the play, and his ball into the area in the 11th minute found his captain BvR who nodded home his first league goal of the season.
Maximo Janz was preventing Verona from really being able to build any play, and after the defensive midfielder picked up a yellow, BvR tried to repay the hard-working midfielder by setting him up in the 22nd, but Buffon was able to save.
BvR forced a stellar save from Buffon in the 28th, and then set up his strike partner Gallina in the 31st only to see him hit the post with a low shot.
Bustos set up a Di Pasquale goal in the 42nd, and seconds later a BvR volley forced another amazing save from Buffon.
The second half was more of the same, and when Janz found BvR with a through-ball in the 68th, it was no doubt the captain who tuck home his second of the day.
Gallina wasn't so lucky, hitting the post again, and coming close several times.
A late trip by Santini on Di Pasquale gave a pk to Roma, and Gautier scored easily to finish the scoring.
BvR Stat Line:
Pas Cmp Key Tck Won Key Hea Won Key Ast Sho On Int Run Off Fou Fld Con Rating
48 35 3 1 1 0 15 7 4 0 8 4 0 1 1 1 1 79 10
2 Goals
01-10-2006, 04:47 PM
"Footballing deity... is looking forward to a new challenge" Post #8
The 4-0 result for Roma against Verona this weekend certainly should have put paid to any doubt that the striker would be giving his all for his club until his December move to Juventus. A 2-goal, Man-of-the-Match performance in a typically stellar 90 minutes....
01-10-2006, 04:58 PM
"Footballing deity... is looking forward to a new challenge" Post #9
Some of Roma's regular first team was rested for this narrow win. BvR scored the lone goal in the 11th minute, as his striking partner for the day Di Pasquale intercepted a Torino goal-kick and nodded the ball forward for BvR who drove it home.
BvR went on to miss with an overhead kick in the 25th while under heavy pressure, and forced a good save from Squizzato in the 36th. In the second half BvR hit the bar with a freekick in the 52nd, and forced the best save of the day in teh 29th as Squizzato just got his fingertips to the ball to turn it away for a corner.
In the 76th, it looked as if BvR had his second on the day, but Di Pasquale had been offside for his knock-down. (BvR's shot had gone in off the post.)
Just before the whistle BvR whipped a banana shot on target that Squizzato had to react quickly to parry away.
Di Pasquale was given MOM for his 10 tackle day.
BvR Stat Line:
Pas Cmp Key Tck Won Key Hea Won Key Ast Sho On Int Run Off Fou Fld Con Rating
31 20 0 1 1 0 7 2 1 0 8 5 3 0 1 0 1 81 8
1 Goal
01-10-2006, 05:41 PM
"Footballing deity... is looking forward to a new challenge" Post #10
Team: Roma
Opponent: Atletico Madrid, in Madrid
Competition: Champions Cup 1st Group Stage
Result: 3-1
BvR picked up an early yellow and then Atletico struck first behind a Fernando Torres strike. After that, BvR took over the game.
In the 36th minute, BvR half-volleyed a Borriello cross into the net from an impossible angle. In the 49th, BvR hit a hard shot that Alvarez Garcia could only palm away. The ball fell for Di Pasquale to poke home for Roma to take the lead. In the 64th, BvR was taken down by Alvarez Garcia in the area, and Gautier scored the pk. A vintage European performance, and a Man-of-the-Match award.
BvR Stat Line:
Pas Cmp Key Tck Won Key Hea Won Key Ast Sho On Int Run Off Fou Fld Con Rating
31 21 0 6 3 2 5 1 0 1 4 3 2 0 0 1 1 78 9
1 Goal
"Footballing deity... is looking forward to a new challenge" 
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