Daniele De Rossi will bring the curtain down on his 18-year Roma career at the end of the Serie A season.
The 35-year-old midfielder made his Giallorossi debut under manager Fabio Capello in October 2001 and has played 615 times for the club, scoring 63 goals.
During that time he rejected tempting offers to leave, including from Manchester City, and club president Jim Pallotta has heaped praise on the midfielder ahead of his departure.
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De Rossi is leaving Roma at the end of the season
He said: “For 18 years, Daniele has been the beating heart of Roma’s team,” club president Pallotta said.
“From his debut in 2001 to taking on the responsibility of the captain’s armband, he always represented the Roma fans on the pitch with pride as he established himself as one of the best midfielders in Europe.
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Ryan Giggs – Man United (963 appearances)
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Giggs made 963 appearances for United
Ryan Giggs made an astonishing 963 appearances for the Red Devils and won 13 Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and two Champions League’s in the process.
The Welshman became a mainstay on the wing under Sir Alex Ferguson and became one of his most loyal servants.
He has the most appearances in Man United‘s history – and his record doesn’t look like it’ll be beaten any time soon.
Paolo Maldini – AC Milan (902 appearances)
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Maldini won everything during his time at AC Milan
When you think of the great AC Milan teams, you think of Paolo Maldini and Franco Baresi.
The legendary defender was virtually unbeatable and he was still a beast of a player at 40 years old and in his 25th season with the Rossoneri.
Eventually he hung ip his boots at the age of 41 in 2009 after winning 26 trophies with the Serie A club, including five Champions League medals.
John Greig – Rangers (857 appearances)
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A statue of Greig stands outside Ibrox and his 857 appearances for Rangers is second only to Dougie Gray, who played 940 for the club between 1925 and 1947
He is Rangers’ greatest player, according to the fans who voted Grieg to the no.1 spot in a competition to find the best Ger in 1999. His devotion to the club was absolute –even if he did want to join Hearts as a kid – playing 857 games and scoring 120 goals between 1961 and 1978. During this time he captained Rangers to their first European trophy when Dynamo Moscow were beaten in the 1972 Cup Winners Cup final and he won three domestic trebles at Ibrox. He added two more Scottish Cups and League Cups when he managed Rangers.
Billy McNeill – Celtic (790 appearances)
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McNeill collects the 1967 European Cup as captain of the Celtic team that beat Inter
Known as ‘Cesar’, McNeill was a Celtic fan and later the captain who lifted the biggest prize in European club football when Celtic beat the great Inter side in the 1967 European Cup final. In addition, he won nine league titles, seven Scottish Cups and six League Cups then added more league and cup success when he was manager. He played 790 times for Celtic between 1957 and 1975 and in 2015 the club honoured him with a statue outside Celtic Park. He died in 2019 at the age of 79 and thousands turned up at Celtic Park to pay their respects.
Jamie Carragher (737 appearances)
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Carragher won everything at Liverpool apart from the Champions League
Carragher was a rock at the heart of the Liverpool defence and although he was somewhat overshadowed by Steven Gerrard he was still absolutely pivotal to the club.
He put in a heroic display in the miraculous Champions League triumph over AC Milan in 2005.
Unfortunately, the only trophy to evade him was the Premier League.
Paul Scholes (718 appearances)
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Scholes made 718 appearances for Man United
Zinidine Zidane was once asked what it was like to be the best player in the world and he replied, “Ask Paul Scholes”, going to show just how pivotal Scholes was to United.
The unassuming midfielder made it look easy in the middle of the park, dictating play with his passing and occasionally scoring absolute world class goals.
He won all there is to win at United too, making 718 appearances for the club before his full retirement in 2013.
Francesco Totti (707 appearances)
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Totti is a Roma legend
The Italian marksman racked up a sensational 290 goals and 181 assists in his 707 appearances in the Italian capital between 1992 and 2017, meaning he was involved in roughly a goal every other game.
He is hailed by many as the greatest Roma player ever and was given the nickname ‘Il Gladiatore’ for his leadership and ferocity on the pitch.
Carles Puyol (682 appearances)
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Puyol made 682 appearances for Barca
The Spaniard was widely considered to be one of the best defenders in world football during his peak years at Barcelona.
He played 682 times for the Catalan giants over 16 years and won a stunning 21 titles in his time before retiring in 2014.
Tony Adams (672 appearances)
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Adams is a Gunners legend
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He made 672 appearances for the Gunners in 18 seasons in north London.
He is such a legend to the club that he even has a statue in his honour outside The Emirates Stadium.
Eddie Gray (577 appearances for Leeds)
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Gray joined Leeds as a schoolboy and made a goal scoring debut for the club
Glasgow-born Gray broke into the Leeds team at just 17 years old and scored twice on his debut in 1966. The trickster dazzled on the wing and left many defenders’ heads spinning, while he also scored two of the club’s finest goals, both against Burnley in 1970. On top of the skill and goals that delighted the Elland Road faithful, Gray won two league titles, an FA Cup, the Fairs Cup and a League Cup in 577 games for the Whites. He later served as manager. Leeds’ legendary manager Don Revie once said about Gray: “When he plays on snow he doesn’t leave any footprints.”
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