This is a story of how even footballers are forced to acknowledge that, sometimes, there are matters of life and death more important than the "beautiful game".
At AS Roma's luxurious training ground of Trigoria, near Rome, last Friday afternoon, there was a lot of movement. In the courtyard alongside the clubhouse-cum-restaurant, team captain Francesco Totti stood by the swimming pool for a photo-shoot that will feature him wearing this season's new strip.
Ten yards away, former Roma star and 1982 World Cup winner Bruno Conti, now in charge of the Roma youth programme, stood patiently as VIP fans asked to have their picture taken with him. In another area, players' wives, girlfriends and relatives sat around café tables enjoying a cool drink.
Only one person looked just slightly out of place in what was otherwise a normal day at the Roma office. He is Rudi Voeller, the man who ended a four-year spell as German national team coach when his side bombed out of the first round of Euro 2004 in Portugal this summer.
Voeller finds himself at Roma as a result of a very special set of circumstances. Two weeks ago, Roma coach Cesare Prandelli resigned his job not for any of the usual football-related reasons but because he wants to be with his wife as she battles cancer.
Already this summer, during Roma's pre-season tour of North America, Prandelli had opted to be with his wife rather than travel with the team.
On the eve of the season, Prandelli decided enough was enough and that some things are more important than football. Notwithstanding that he had only taken over at Roma this summer following the departure of Fabio Capello, Prandelli resigned his job to help his wife.
Prandelli's laudable gesture inevitably left Roma with a problem. With the curtain just about to go up on the season, they badly needed to find an experienced top level coach who was (a) immediately available for work, (b) familiar with Italy and Serie A football and (c) willing to accept a one-year contract so that the door might be left open for the return of Prandelli. This was a tough call.
Fortunately for Roma, somebody thought of Voeller. He not only met all three basic requirements but he also brought with him the plus-factor of being a popular former Roma player. In the space of three days, Voeller and Roma had agreed a one-year deal worth €1.9 million.
As he sat down to talk, Voeller (44), still seemed slightly bemused by it all.
"It all happened very quickly. I had only a couple of days to decide. My plans at the time were to take things easy. After four years in charge of the German national team, I needed a break and therefore I had made an agreement to help out with my old club Bayer Leverkusen, but in a minor role. Then came the call from Roma and, you know, I have strong ties to the club and to the city and I wanted to help out, so here I am."
And there he was on Sunday, back at the Olimpico, guiding Roma to a 1-0 win over Fiorentina on the opening weekend of the new Serie A season.
Given Totti is far from his best, that enfant terrible Antonio Cassano got himself sent off and defenders such as Matteo Ferrari and Romanian Christian Chivu were ruled out through injury and suspension, a win represented an excellent start.
Even better when you consider the club's financial problems prompted the sale this summer of two of its best players - Brazilian Emerson (€26 million to Juventus) and Argentinian Walter Samuel (€25 million to Real Madrid).
Tomorrow night, at home to Dinamo Kiev in their opening Champions League tie, Roma will face arguably much tougher opposition than Fiorentina.
Win, lose or draw there, however, Voeller and the Roma squad can count themselves lucky they do not have the sort of problems currently being faced by coach Prandelli. As we said, sometimes there are issues more important than football.
