Renato Sacerdoti, the president of Roma's rise

Renato Sacerdoti passed away on 13 October 1971, just seven days before his 80th birthday on 20 October.

He was one of the most important presidents in the club’s history, particularly because he made such a key contribution to the founding of the club.

A financial obstacle emerged during the frantic negotiations that took place between all the stakeholders involved in the merger of Alba-Audace, Fortitudo-Pro Roma and FC Roman that saw the founding of Associazione Sportiva Roma on 7 June 1927.

In order to guarantee the operation, the so-called 'Banchiere di Testaccio' ('The Banker of Testaccio'), Renato Sacerdoti, provided a financial contribution of 500,000 lire, only a few years before Italy sang 'Se potessi avere mille lire al mese' ('If I could have 1,000 lire per month').

Sacerdoti’s intervention was timely. The first Roma president, Italo Foschi, chose him as his vice and then handed the club over to him a few months later, with Sacerdoti’s first presidency beginning on 29 March 1928.

The new president laid the foundations for the first great Roma side by signing Fulvio Bernardini from Inter, Rodolfo Volk from Fiumana and Guido Masetti from Verona.

He also completed work on Campo Testaccio, with the stadium inauguration taking place on 3 November 1929.

Roma competed for the Scudetto in 1930-31, with Sacerdoti’s initial tenure lasting until 1935. The president’s work was key in the team’s title bid the following campaign which proved agonisingly unsuccessful when the Argentine trio of Enrique Guaita, Alessandro Scopelli and Andrea Stagnaro were made to believe that they had been enlisted in the war in Ethiopia.

It turned out to be that era’s version of fake news, which unfortunately deprived the Giallorossi of three top players.

The introduction of the Italian racial laws in 1938 saw Sacerdoti, who was Jewish, forced to flee Rome and remain distant from club affairs.

Sacerdoti was offered a new role by popular demand after the club’s only relegation in its history. After initially returning as the president of football on 6 July 1951, his second term as general president began two years later on 31 May 1953.

The president quickly began rebuilding the team and signed world-beaters such as Istvan Nyers, Dino Da Costa and a young Giacomo Losi.

The most pivotal deal, however, was arguably bringing in Alcides Ghiggia.

The Uruguayan winger scored the winning goal in a shock 2-1 win over favourites and hosts Brazil in the key final group game to determine the winners of the 1950 World Cup.

His move to Roma was announced by Sacerdoti during a famous event on 31 May 1953.

Sacerdoti’s presidency came to an end five years later in March 1958 due to a serious eye problem.

While his second tenure was over, his unwavering passion for Roma remained intact until his death 49 years ago.