Roma new director of football Monchi has announced that veteran striker Francesco Totti will retire from playing at the end of the season.

The 40-year-old, who is third on the all-time Serie A appearance list, has netted a total of 307 goals and assisted a further 123 in 783 appearances in all competitions during his 25-year stay at Stadio Olimpico.

He has also led the Roma side to a Serie A title in 2000, back-to-back Coppa Italia trophies (2006-07 and 2007-08) and two Supercoppa Italiana’s in 2001 and 2007 respectively.

Monchi has confirmed that Totti will not have his contract renewed in the summer and will take on a new non-playing role at the club.

‘As for Francesco, I’ll say that I’ve been here for a week and I knew there was already an agreement between him and the club for one final year as a player that would lead into a role as Roma director starting from next season,’ Monchi told the Roma website.

‘Now I want to look forward and I ask that Francesco is right by my side so I can understand what Roma are about, because he is Roma.

‘I ask him to stay close to me if he wants to and if I get to understand even 1% of what he knows about Roma, I’ll consider myself lucky.’

On an international level, Totti netted nine goals from 59 appearances since making his debut in October 1998 under the guidance of then coach Dino Zoff.

The Italian international called time on international football in 2006, after winning the World Cup with the Italy national team.

Totti’s final game for Roma is set to be on Sunday, 28 May, when they take on Genoa at the Stadio Olimpico.

Image: Roma website