Club mourns the passing of Ennio Morricone

Oscar-winning composer and renowned Roma fan Ennio Morricone passed away on Monday. He was 91.

Morricone will forever have a key place in film history, with his soundtracks for so many masterpieces – from ‘The Good, The Bad and The Ugly’ to ‘A Fistful of Dollars’ and ‘Cinema Paradiso’ – proving inextricably linked with their success, along with their enduring place in popular culture.

In 2016 he belatedly became an Oscar winner, as the Academy Awards named his score for Quentin Tarantino’s ‘The Hateful Eight’ as the Best Original Score that year.

But nine years earlier he had been given an honorary Academy Award, in acknowledgement of his vast contribution to the industry.

“Roma has always been a team with an international dimension but a character built in its boroughs. It's a team for its people, but it has a global appeal. And for that, it leaves so much room for us to dream."

- Ennio Morricone

But Morricone will also forever hold a place in Roma history. A fan from childhood, in 2012 he was a member of the committee that helped select the first 11 members of the club’s newly-inaugurated Hall of Fame.

He also contributed one of his compositions, ‘Estasi dell’Oro’, to the video that accompanied the announcement.

“Choosing just 11 players was incredibly difficult,” he said.

“We have had some incredibly strong sides and, even when we didn’t, we were still blessed with some incredible individuals who showed their talent and class.

“For example, for me to leave out a player like Vincent Candela was truly horrible. I also really liked Antonio Caros Zago – even if at times he was a bit infuriating.

"That pain is especially true for Giacomo Losi, instead of whom I picked Pietro Vierchowod for the season he had when we won the title. Actually, can I still make a change? Can I put Losi up front?!”

Born in 1928, Morricone’s first experience with the Giallorossi was from the stands at Campo Testaccio – an experience he often shared with Sergio Leone, the classmate and friend who would go on to become a Morricone collaborator and one of Hollywood’s finest directors.

“When I went to the stadium with Sergio I can always remember the excitement, the parking, the passion both around the ground and waiting in line,” Morricone said.

“I have a very clear memory of my first trip. I went to Testaccio with my father, I was very small. We had a standing spot behind the goal, I was only a few metres away from Guido Masetti – yes, he was in goal that day I think.”

Morricone also cited wins over Juventus in 1938 and 1993 among those he savoured above all.

“That 2-1 win in 1993; that was the game where Roberto Baggio and another striker [Gianluca Vialli] both missed penalties,” he noted.

“We won in the end. I loved that one, it was unforgettable.”

Rest in peace, Ennio.