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Franco Sensi was an accomplished Roman property developer when he bought Roma in 1993. At that time the club was in an open and irresistible decline, with the books in the red and players preferring other destinations.
Unable to compete economically with the northern sides, such as Milan and Juventus, and with their position as the biggest club of central Italy threatened by the emerging Parma and Sergio Cragnotti’s Lazio, Sensi had a lot of work to do to restore Roma to the role and position they deserved.
Ebullient, outspoken, fiery and proud, Sensi was one of the last padre-padroni, owners who are like father figures to their players. This attitude worked well in the passionate Roman environment, especially with captain Francesco Totti, who Sensi worked long and hard [and paid profusely] to keep from succumbing to sirens from other clubs.
It was Sensi who hired Fabio Capello after his first stint at Real Madrid. Under Capello and Franco Baldini’s guidance, Sensi bankrolled the squad that won the 2000-01 Scudetto, signing players such as Emerson, Gabriel Batistuta, Marcos Cafu and Jonathan Zebina, a side which pipped Juventus to the title by just two points.
Sensi likewise continued and deepened Roma’s policy of investing in young players, creating the talent in-house that other clubs would have to spend millions of pounds elsewhere to find, players such as Daniele De Rossi and Alberto Aquilani.
Sensi’s time as Roma’s President wasn’t always successful. In 2005, Roma ended a season that had seen them hire three different Coaches and struggle to avoid relegation. Unscathed by Calciopoli, Sensi’s Roma subsequently carved a place for themselves in the last few years as Inter’s main contenders for Italian domestic silverware.
Under Sensi’s guidance, Roma won a Scudetto, two Coppa Italias, four second places and consolidated their position as one of Serie A’s giants. His daughter Rosella, who has been the acting President for the last few years due to Sensi’s poor health, has proven her mettle and is expected to continue in the large footsteps he has left.
But Roma and her supporters will always hold dear the memory of the man who can legitimately be called Rome’s Last Emperor.
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