Alberto and Daniele De Rossi on Roma 'love'

De Rossi is a name synonymous with AS Roma, and not just because of their bearded, home-grown midfielder. While Daniele has been a permanent fixture in the Giallorossi first team for over a decade, having risen through the ranks, his father Alberto has been associated with the Serie A club for even longer – 21 years in fact.

"It means everything to me; I have always had strong feelings for the team and the club," Alberto, coach of Roma's Under-21 and UEFA Youth League squads, told UEFA.com. "It is my place of work and it is also the work place of my son. It is just a very important part of my life."

What has kept the Rome-born De Rossis – and the capital outfit's talismanic No10 Francesco Totti – at the Stadio Olimpico for so long is, according to Alberto, their "passion" for the three-time Italian champions. "There is nothing else," he explained. "It's natural for us to play and coach at Roma. It's a sentimental choice, if you want to call it that, dictated by the heart but also by the head."

Daniele De Rossi is Roma to the core©AFP/Getty Images

Daniele, 31, has made over 350 Serie A appearances for Roma since his league debut in January 2003. He is a one-club man, a stalwart; something which the player himself says is an "exception" in the game today. "At certain times there was a slight possibility of [me] leaving, but deep down we share a love for this club and that's what keeps us going," said the Italian international.

Watch the video above to hear more from Alberto and Daniele De Rossi.