Eusebio Di Francesco

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Di Francesco's playing style was defined by his leadership, versatility, and stamina. A midfielder capable of playing centrally or on the wing, he was known for his runs up and down the flank. His international career began while at Piacenza, when Cesare Maldini called him up for the 1997 Tournoi de France, though Di Francesco turned down the offer to help Piacenza defeat Cagliari 3-1 in a relegation play-off. He made his official debut on 5 September 1998 under Dino Zoff in a Euro 2000 qualifier against Wales. In an unofficial friendly against FIFA World Stars on 16 December 1998, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Italian Football Federation, he scored his only international goal in a 6-2 victory.

In Their Own Story

The 2017-18 Champions League quarter-final second leg at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma had lost the first leg 4-1 to Barcelona. Di Francesco, in his first season as Roma head coach, had already guided the team past a group containing Chelsea and Atlético Madrid. Now, his side needed three goals without reply. They scored three. Roma overturned the deficit, advancing to the semi-finals where they eventually lost 7-6 on aggregate to Liverpool. It was the defining moment of his coaching career, a night that showcased the resilience and tactical organization he had instilled.

Reader's Guide

Di Francesco's coaching career began after retiring as a player, first serving as team manager for Roma, then as sporting director for Val di Sangro in 2007. His first head coach role came at Virtus Lanciano in 2008, but he was sacked in January 2009 due to poor results. He then led Pescara to an impressive 2010-11 Serie B season before leaving by mutual consent to hold talks with Lecce. He was removed from Lecce on 4 December 2011 after achieving only eight points in thirteen games. His breakthrough came at Sassuolo, appointed on 19 June 2012. He guided them to the Serie B championship and promotion in 2012-13. Sacked on 28 January 2014 after a poor run, he was re-appointed on 3 March 2014 and successfully saved the club from relegation with 13 points in the final seven games. He led Sassuolo to a sixth-place finish in 2015-16, securing a Europa League spot, and advanced to the group stage the following season. After Roma, he managed Sampdoria (leaving by mutual consent with six losses in seven games), Cagliari (sacked 22 February 2021), Hellas Verona (sacked 14 September 2021 after three defeats in three games), Frosinone (relegated on the final matchday), and Venezia (relegated in 2024-25). He was reappointed head coach of Lecce on 26 June 2025.

Did You Know?

• Eusebio Di Francesco was named after the Portuguese football legend Eusébio.
• He turned down his first Italy call-up under Cesare Maldini for the 1997 Tournoi de France to help Piacenza win a relegation play-off against Cagliari.
• He scored his only international goal in an unofficial friendly against FIFA World Stars on 16 December 1998, a match celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Italian Football Federation.
• As Roma head coach, he famously overturned a 4-1 first-leg deficit against Barcelona in the 2017-18 Champions League quarter-finals.
• His son, Federico Di Francesco, born in 1994, also became a professional footballer and made his Serie A debut in March 2013.