Stephan El Shaarawy first joined AS Roma in January 2016. That feels like ages ago; it was a completely different world then. Roma participated in the Champions League, Rudi Garcia had just been fired, and Spalletti was back as coach. James Pallotta was the President. Back then, Carpi and Palermo were in Serie A, and TikTok didn’t even exist yet.
And boy, take a look at that squad: Maicon, Rudiger, Radja, Pjanic, Strootman, Digne, Perotti, Dzeko, Totti, DDR, Keita, Manola, and, of course, the standard
‘What the hell? That guy played for Roma? Names like Vainqueur, Falque, Zukanovic, and Ucan.
Between September 2015 and January 2016, Stephan was loaned from AC Milan to AS Monaco. El Shaarawy played 24 matches for the French club before his playing time was capped to avoid activating the mandatory purchase option. Not great, Monaco. But imagine if they had made that move permanent — we might never have seen El Shaarawy in the giallo e rosso. Crazy, right?
SES was arguably one of Roma’s best winter signings, alongside players like Toni, Radja, and Malen. In just five months, SES scored 8 goals in 16 Serie A matches, prompting Roma to purchase him from Milan for only €13m; a modest sum compared to the exorbitant transfer fees of today.
Stephan made over 340 appearances for the club during ten seasons, aside from a brief stint in China in 2019 (which I forgive him for—nobody’s perfect). His stats include 65 goals and 60 assists, along with a Conference League trophy. Despite being a Milan youth product and prodigy, he will first and foremost be remembered as a Roman legend.
Not only do his stats stand out, but also the quality he showed on the field: SES was technically skilled and scored some incredible goals for Roma. Check out highlights on YouTube; some are truly amazing, like his debut goal against Frosinone with a scorpion kick, or his spectacular rocket shot versus Chelsea in the CL. Other memorable goals include a screamer against Empoli, a volley against Bologna, and a lob over Sampdoria—there are too many great moments to list.
SES was highly versatile, playing as a striker, winger, midfielder, and even wingback. He took on these diverse roles without complaints or drama, always diligently doing his job with a smile. I was fortunate to see him play live twice: in 2016 against Chievo and in 2024 against Lecce. Unfortunately, he didn’t score in either match.
A calm, friendly, and serene presence at the club, often seen in team photos, parties, or city charity work. SES contributed far more to this club than just playing football. He genuinely embraced the Roman atmosphere and culture, and for that, we will always be grateful to the Pharaoh. Grazie mille, Stephan.
Oh and once again, thanks Monaco, we couldn’t have done this without you.
