AS Roma celebrated its 99th birthday with a night-time parade that drew over five thousand fans through the streets of central Rome. The symbolic date, July 22 1927, marks the club’s official founding, marked on Tuesday evening with a procession to Via Uffici del Vicario where the club’s first order of business was issued. League standing: 3rd in Serie A, 73 pts, 23W-4D-11L from 38 games, recent form WWWWW.

What happened during the 99th birthday celebrations

The parade set off from Piazza San Silvestro, led by chants, yellow-and-red flags and smoke flares that lit the skies over the capital. The opening banner read “Lo stemma del popolo,” a tribute to the return of the historic “ASR” crest on the 2026/27 shirt, unveiled during the evening. Fans marched to Via Uffici del Vicario 35, the birthplace of the club, to count down to midnight.

Paulo Dybala’s midnight surprise

Moments after midnight, Paulo Dybala appeared at a window of the building, fresh off his contract renewal and wearing the new Roma shirt. The Argentine striker greeted the crowd, sparking a spontaneous ovation. He later stepped onto the balcony with club legends Vincent Candela and Ruggiero Rizzitelli to share the moment with the gathered fans. The number 21 shirt, the symbol of the new season, was the center of attention.

Why the ASR crest matters for Roma

The return of the “ASR” crest on the giallorossi shirts is more than a nod to tradition. Announced on the club’s 99th birthday, it ties the new season to a historic identity, strengthening the bond between the club and its supporters. The 2026/27 shirt carries the weight of a century-plus of history and the promise of a future still to be written. With 99 years behind it, Roma will take the field bearing a crest that speaks directly to the yellow-and-red faithful.

AS Roma closed the 2025/26 season with 59 goals scored and 31 conceded, a +28 goal difference, and now turns to Europe. Title race: 14 points behind leaders Inter. The last competitive fixture, on May 24 2026, saw Roma win 0-2 away at Hellas Verona. The team arrives on a five-game winning streak, the most recent against the Verona side, and eyes to keep the momentum ahead of the clash with Borussia Dortmund scheduled for August 15 2026.