Thomas R. DiBenedetto is the head of DiBenedetto AS Roma LLC, an American group poised to finalize the purchase of Associazione Sportiva Roma, SpA. AS Roma was formed in 1927 and has won the Scudetto three times in 1941/42, 1982/83 and 2000/01.

Alessandro Catapano of the Milan-based La Gazzetta dello Sport, traveled to Boston, Massachusetts, last week to speak with Mr. DiBenedetto for an exclusive interview. Mr. DiBenedetto's group will become the first North American management team to control an Italian Serie A side.

During this interview, Mr. DiBenedetto discussed the following topics:

* Why he selected AS Roma?
* The business and sports management background of his partners.
* What his first decisions will be as team president.
* His thoughts on the current team and manager.
* His initial impressions of the Olympic Stadium atmosphere.
* The current state of Italian football and how to improve it.
* His knowledge of the team's history.
* His plans to make AS Roma a global brand.

Alessandro Catapano: Mr. DiBenedetto, why was it AS Roma? How did you come to have them in mind?
Thomas DiBenedetto: I never thought about other clubs. My rapport with the city of Rome was due to the fact of the university where I studied. Trinity College, of which I'm still a member of the board, has organized a campus in Rome for over 25 years. It's a marvelous city. To be able to represent it in the world with a business vehicle and passion such as Italian football is so important for me. It will be a great opportunity.

Alessandro Catapano: You will be the President but not the only subject involved in the operation. Can you tell us a little more about your partners? How will they be involved?
Thomas DiBenedetto: They are my friends. All are business owners or successful managers with the necessary economic resources for this operation. All are fascinated by this project. James Pallotta, one of the owners of the Boston Celtics, will put into play his sporting competencies. He has already closely evaluated the potential of the team. Michael Ruane boasts a successful career with investment funds and in the real estate sector. He'll be involved above all in the new stadium project. Richard D'Amore is an expert in new media and will act to develop that sector.

Alessandro Catapano: Do you already have a precise organizational chart in mind regarding financial, technical and sporting themes?
Thomas DiBenedetto: In the following days, we'll be closing the deal with UniCredit (the bank holding company). I believe it is premature to speak of new organizational charts. We have the utmost respect for the persons who are working now at Roma. We'll speak with them. But we also have our ideas and we will work to create the best team possible. On the field and off of it. We'll put together capable people to scope out talent and to make the team competitive. It is in our interest. Winning will be the only way to obtain a return on our investment. I repeat: The objective is to make Roma one of the top clubs in the world. A team which the city can always be proud, but obviously, it will take time.

Alessandro Catapano; What will be your first decision when you become the team President?
Thomas DiBenedetto: To balance the books and to bring back the organization into the parameters imposed by Financial Fair Play. Seeing that presently, we are outside of them. This, on the other hand, doesn't exclude that you can put together a good team right away.

Alessandro Catapano; By the way, what do you think of the actual team? You have already seen a few games this year.
Thomas DiBenedetto: All of us hope to be able to qualify for the Champions League. Surely, up to now, the expectations haven't been met, the frustration in which Claudio Ranieri abandoned his appointment, are testimony of this. Recently, the team has rebounded but still lacks continuity. I trust in the goals of Francesco Totti and the performances of Mirko Vucinic.

Alessandro Catapano: Do you like Vincenzo Montella? (the current AS Roma manager)
Thomas DiBenedetto: He was a great center forward. He has brought enthusiasm and new energies to the team. From what I have seen, he is doing well.

Alessandro Catapano: Is there someone from your management team who is already working on the AS Roma project for next season?
Thomas DiBenedetto: My team is comprised of persons who know international football very well. When the time is right, we will speak with the actual team management, who are working very well, and we'll make an evaluation. I believe that some players will be sold and others will arrive. At least five or six new signings.

Alessandro Catapano: Can you tell us the initial impact that the Olympic Stadium had on you? It was a game between AS Roma vs. Internazionale Milano, right?
Thomas DiBenedetto: Yes, and we won with a great goal by Vucinic. That night the passion of the Roma fans swept me away. There is nothing comparable in the United States. Perhaps in American football where some college games are held in front of 100,000 people. It's a pity; however, for all who support AS Roma, that there isn't a stadium structure adapted for them. The Olympic Stadium doesn't do justice at all to the passion of the Roma fans. The fan-seating sections are too far from the pitch. You lose the noise from the distance. Also for this reason, a new and different stadium will be needed. An English model that has positive effects on the players. A modern version of the Testatccio Field (the original historical ground of AS Roma.)

Alessandro Catapano: Do you know a little about the history of AS Roma?
Thomas DiBenedetto: Surely, it's a glorious history even if they didn't always win. I remember the last splendid Scudetto (Italian championship in 2000/2001) and the great Roma teams of the 1980s with Bruno Conti and Falcao (a famous Brazilian player). We respect the tradition of this club; therefore, we'll look to always honor it. I say that 'Our future is our past.'

Alessandro Catapano: Are you aware that Italian football is not experiencing a time of splendor?
Thomas DiBenedetto: I'm already aware. It's humiliating and worrying that Italian teams have lost a Champions League slot (in 2012/2013). I believe that the principal problem is the lack of stadiums being owned by teams, being comfortable, accessible and capable of developing other types of business. Italian football is so important for the economy and culture of Italy and always reflects the image of the entire country. It's time that government and institutions do something concrete to allow football clubs to build new stadiums. It will be the only way to return to winning in Europe. To reinvent itself to attract the best players.

Alessandro Catapano: Aren't there other ways to become competitive?
Thomas DiBenedetto: Above all, new technologies. That's why we speak of AS Roma as a 'media company.' A club that knows how to take advantage of new ways of communicating and social media. It will be fundamental for us to reach every part of the world. It will allow us to better sell our merchandising and in this way, to augment revenues and buy the strongest players.

Alessandro Catapano: Allow us a little bit of provincialism at the end. What do you know about Lazio?
Thomas DiBenedetto: Let me tell you a story. Last year, I participated in the anniversary of the college campus (Trinity College) of which we spoke of before. I went there with an AS Roma scarf. I met with former students and discovered that they were all Roma fans. Only the campus registrar was a Lazio supporter. I said to him: 'Let's hope in the future to have two strong teams in Rome. That is, one strong and the other very strong.'

Alessandro Catapano: 'Fair play and passion, welcome Mr. DiBenedetto.'

Italian source courtesy of: La Gazzetta dello Sport; "La mia Roma all'americana"; Alessandro Catapano; 28 March 2011

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Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, book reviewer and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the publisher of World Football Commentaries and The Soccer Translator. You can follow Steve @worldfootballcm on Twitter.

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