Lorenzo Amoruso
Encyclopedia
Lorenzo Pier Luigi Amoruso (born 28 June 1971) is a former Italian Assocation footballer who played for seven teams during his footballing career but is perhaps best known for his six-year spell with Glasgow
side Rangers
. In that six year spell, he managed to win nine major honours with the club including domestic trebles in seasons 1998–99 and 2002–03, representing them over 150 times in competitive football.
, Mantova, Pescara
, and Fiorentina
, where he won the Italian Cup in 1996, as well as reaching the 1997 UEFA Cup Winners Cup semi-finals, losing out to the eventual winners Barcelona
.
,Amoruso signed for Rangers
on 29 May 1997 for a fee of £4 million. Whilst with the club he won the Scottish Premier League
on three occasions, as well as the Scottish Cup three times and the Scottish League Cup three times. After missing most of his debut season with an achilles injury, he was installed as captain of Rangers by Dick Advocaat
in 1998. After returning to the team Amoruso was booed by Rangers fans after several poor displays and tactical errors. Amoruso also clashed with the manager several times, resulting in an eventually aborted move to Sunderland
. Advocaat began to sign defenders to replace Amoruso, Bert Konterman
for example and also Paul Ritchie, but the Italian
remained after his replacements failed. Ritchie did not make a single appearance while Konterman
was criticised – particularly by his own fans – for being an expensive signing with minimal returns.
In December 1999, Amoruso issued a public apology after directing racist comments at Borussia Dortmund
's Nigerian striker Victor Ikpeba
. Earlier that day Amoruso's denied the allegations and threatened legal action in an interview to Corriere dello Sport (an Italian daily sports paper), The denials were described as "vehement" by the Daily Mail. He was later forced into a change of position, described as embarrassing by the Daily Mail and The Times, when TV footage contradicted his story. Subsequently the BBC featured reports that Rangers
supporters' racism had increased, in support of Amoruso.
In the 2000–01 season, when Rangers exited the UEFA Champions League
to Monaco
partly because of another bad mistake by Amoruso, he was stripped of the captaincy (which went to the 22 year-old Barry Ferguson
). Amoruso had captained the club for two years, the first ever Catholic to do so. He was left humiliated by the demotion and later accused Advocaat of trying to destroy him.
After Dick Advocaat
's October 2000 attack on what he described as "fat necks" in his squad, reports named the Italian as a probable target. More errors had seen Amoruso again booed by his own teams' supporters.
Advocaat was later removed as manager and Amoruso rediscovered his form under new boss Alex McLeish
; winning the 2002 Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year
. After a four-match ban for spitting on James Grady
, he scored the winning goal in his final game for Rangers—the 2003 Scottish Cup final—and wept as he left the pitch.
, who wanted him as a replacement for Henning Berg
. The sale was forced by Rangers' large debts. His Blackburn debut came on 16 August 2003. On the pitch for the full ninety minutes, his place in the team appeared justified as he scored the opening goal after 17 minutes. In October, a knee injury kept him out of the game for five months, which, coming at the end of a run of bad form, was somewhat of a boost. As he returned and came into the team on a sporadic basis playing only eighteen times for Blackburn. His 2004–05 season was marred by regular injuries and he did not play any part of the 2005–06 season. He was released by Rovers in the summer of 2006.
In January 2008, Amoruso briefly came out of retirement to sign for Cosmos
on a part-time basis.
at the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
and won two caps at Under 21 level.
He was never selected by Italy
at full international level, which Amoruso attributed to a "strange mentality" pervading his homeland. He blamed Giovanni Trapattoni
, Cesare Maldini
and Dino Zoff
for failing to provide him with the call-up he felt he deserved.
In 2004 Amoruso expressed a desire to play for Scotland
, through residency. He said: "I began to feel like part of me was Scottish."
which led to substantial weight gain. He is reported to have drank two to three bottles a week.
Fiorentina
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
side Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
. In that six year spell, he managed to win nine major honours with the club including domestic trebles in seasons 1998–99 and 2002–03, representing them over 150 times in competitive football.
Italy
Prior to coming to Scotland, he played for Italian clubs BariA.S. Bari
Associazione Sportiva Bari is an Italian football club founded in 1908, they are based in Bari, Apulia and plays in Serie B. The club have spent many seasons bouncing between the top two divisions in Italian football, Serie A and Serie B....
, Mantova, Pescara
Pescara Calcio
Delfino Pescara 1936 is an Italian football club based in Pescara, Abruzzo.The club was formed in 1936 and currently plays in Italian Serie B. Pescara has competed in 5 seasons in Serie A...
, and Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
, where he won the Italian Cup in 1996, as well as reaching the 1997 UEFA Cup Winners Cup semi-finals, losing out to the eventual winners Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
.
Rangers
Following interest from Manchester UnitedManchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
,Amoruso signed for Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
on 29 May 1997 for a fee of £4 million. Whilst with the club he won the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
on three occasions, as well as the Scottish Cup three times and the Scottish League Cup three times. After missing most of his debut season with an achilles injury, he was installed as captain of Rangers by Dick Advocaat
Dick Advocaat
Dirk Nicolaas "Dick" Advocaat is a Dutch football manager and former player currently the manager of the Russia national football team.He has been moderately successful as a football player and as a coach, which included two stints with the Dutch national football team...
in 1998. After returning to the team Amoruso was booed by Rangers fans after several poor displays and tactical errors. Amoruso also clashed with the manager several times, resulting in an eventually aborted move to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. Advocaat began to sign defenders to replace Amoruso, Bert Konterman
Bert Konterman
Bert Konterman is a former professional footballer from the Netherlands. He retired in June 2004.Konterman's career began with the local amateur club SC Rouveen, then went on to play for clubs in the Dutch Eredivisie including FC Zwolle, Cambuur, Willem II and Feyenoord, until he was snapped up by...
for example and also Paul Ritchie, but the Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
remained after his replacements failed. Ritchie did not make a single appearance while Konterman
Bert Konterman
Bert Konterman is a former professional footballer from the Netherlands. He retired in June 2004.Konterman's career began with the local amateur club SC Rouveen, then went on to play for clubs in the Dutch Eredivisie including FC Zwolle, Cambuur, Willem II and Feyenoord, until he was snapped up by...
was criticised – particularly by his own fans – for being an expensive signing with minimal returns.
In December 1999, Amoruso issued a public apology after directing racist comments at Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
's Nigerian striker Victor Ikpeba
Victor Ikpeba
Victor Nosa Ikpeba is a former football forward from Nigeria. He has played thirty international matches and scored three goals for Nigeria, and played at the FIFA World Cups in 1994 and 1998...
. Earlier that day Amoruso's denied the allegations and threatened legal action in an interview to Corriere dello Sport (an Italian daily sports paper), The denials were described as "vehement" by the Daily Mail. He was later forced into a change of position, described as embarrassing by the Daily Mail and The Times, when TV footage contradicted his story. Subsequently the BBC featured reports that Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
supporters' racism had increased, in support of Amoruso.
In the 2000–01 season, when Rangers exited the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
to Monaco
AS Monaco FC
Association Sportive de Monaco Football Club are a French football club based in Fontvieille, Monaco. The club was founded in 1924 and currently play in Ligue 2, the second tier of French football. The team plays its home matches at the Stade Louis II located within Fontvieille...
partly because of another bad mistake by Amoruso, he was stripped of the captaincy (which went to the 22 year-old Barry Ferguson
Barry Ferguson
Barry Ferguson MBE is a Scottish footballer who plays as a midfielder for Blackpool.Ferguson has made 82 appearances in European competitions, all for Rangers, which makes him the record European appearance holder at the club. He was also inducted into the Rangers F.C. Hall of Fame...
). Amoruso had captained the club for two years, the first ever Catholic to do so. He was left humiliated by the demotion and later accused Advocaat of trying to destroy him.
After Dick Advocaat
Dick Advocaat
Dirk Nicolaas "Dick" Advocaat is a Dutch football manager and former player currently the manager of the Russia national football team.He has been moderately successful as a football player and as a coach, which included two stints with the Dutch national football team...
's October 2000 attack on what he described as "fat necks" in his squad, reports named the Italian as a probable target. More errors had seen Amoruso again booed by his own teams' supporters.
Advocaat was later removed as manager and Amoruso rediscovered his form under new boss Alex McLeish
Alex McLeish
Alexander "Alex" McLeish , is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager, who is currently managing English Premier League club Aston Villa...
; winning the 2002 Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year
Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year
The Scottish Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year is an annual award given to the player who is adjudged to have been the best of the season in Scottish football...
. After a four-match ban for spitting on James Grady
James Grady
James Grady is a former Scottish footballer who spent the majority of his career in the top two divisions in Scottish football. He played as a striker, and became player/manager for Greenock Morton in the First Division between 2009 and 2010. He is currently coaching the strikers at Morton's...
, he scored the winning goal in his final game for Rangers—the 2003 Scottish Cup final—and wept as he left the pitch.
Blackburn Rovers
Amoruso left Rangers in July 2003 to make a £1.4 million move to BlackburnBlackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
, who wanted him as a replacement for Henning Berg
Henning Berg
Henning Stille Berg is a Norwegian former football player. He played as a central defender or right-back.He is one of only three players to have won the Premier League with two different clubs, the others being Ashley Cole and Nicolas Anelka .-Club career:Born in Eidsvoll, Berg played for...
. The sale was forced by Rangers' large debts. His Blackburn debut came on 16 August 2003. On the pitch for the full ninety minutes, his place in the team appeared justified as he scored the opening goal after 17 minutes. In October, a knee injury kept him out of the game for five months, which, coming at the end of a run of bad form, was somewhat of a boost. As he returned and came into the team on a sporadic basis playing only eighteen times for Blackburn. His 2004–05 season was marred by regular injuries and he did not play any part of the 2005–06 season. He was released by Rovers in the summer of 2006.
In January 2008, Amoruso briefly came out of retirement to sign for Cosmos
S.S. Cosmos
S.S. Cosmos is a Sanmarinese football club, based in Serravalle and founded in 1979. Cosmos currently plays in Girone A of Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio...
on a part-time basis.
International career
Amoruso represented ItalyItaly national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
at the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
The FIFA U-16 World Championship 1987 was held in the cities of Toronto, Saint John, Montreal, and St. John's in Canada between 12 July and 25 July 1987...
and won two caps at Under 21 level.
He was never selected by Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
at full international level, which Amoruso attributed to a "strange mentality" pervading his homeland. He blamed Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni , sometimes known as "Trap" or "Il Trap", is an Italian football coach and former player, considered the most successful club coach in the history of Serie A. As a player he was part of Italy's squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup....
, Cesare Maldini
Cesare Maldini
Cesare Maldini is an Italian football manager and former player. He played as a centre back and spent the majority of his career with AC Milan. Maldini also represented Italy at international level in the 1962 and 1966 World Cups. His son Paolo, also a defender, previously held the record for the...
and Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff
Dino Zoff is an Italian former football goalkeeper and is the oldest winner ever of the World Cup, which he earned as captain of the Italian team in the 1982 tournament in Spain, at the age of 40 years, 4 months and 13 days.Zoff was a goalkeeper of outstanding ability and has a place in the...
for failing to provide him with the call-up he felt he deserved.
In 2004 Amoruso expressed a desire to play for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, through residency. He said: "I began to feel like part of me was Scottish."
Personal life
Amoruso admitted in his 2002 biography that during his periods of injury he suffered from depression, loneliness and an addiction to Baileys Irish CreamBaileys Irish Cream
Baileys Irish Cream is an Irish whiskey and cream based liqueur, made by Gilbeys of Ireland. The trademark is currently owned by Diageo. It has a declared alcohol content of 17% alcohol by volume...
which led to substantial weight gain. He is reported to have drank two to three bottles a week.
Honours
Rangers- Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier LeagueThe Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
: 3
-
- 1998–991998-99 in Scottish footballThe 1998–99 season was the 102nd season of Scottish league football.-Summary:The 1998–99 SPL season was one that ended in success for Rangers. Dutchman Dick Advocaat was brought in to replace Walter Smith at Rangers and made major changes, bringing in many players.Rangers were...
, 1999–2000, 2002–03Scottish Premier League 2002-03The 2002–03 Scottish Premier League was won by Rangers.As league champions, Rangers qualified for the UEFA Champions League, with runners-up Celtic also qualifying...
- Scottish CupScottish CupThe Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
: 3
- Scottish Cup
- 1998–99Scottish Cup 1998-99The 1998–99 Scottish Cup was the 114th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition, also known for sponsorship reasons as the Tennent's Scottish Cup...
, 2001–02Scottish Cup 2001-02The 2001–02 Scottish Cup was the 117th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition, also known for sponsorship reasons as the Tennent's Scottish Cup...
, 2002–03Scottish Cup 2002-03The 2002–03 Scottish Cup was the 118th staging of Scotland's most prestigious football knockout competition, also known for sponsorship reasons as the Tennent's Scottish Cup...
- Scottish League CupScottish League CupThe Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
: 3
- Scottish League Cup
- 1998–99, 2001–02Scottish League Cup 2001-02The 2001–02 Scottish League Cup was the 56th staging of the Scotland's second most prestigious football knockout competition, also known for sponsorship reasons as the CIS Insurance Cup....
, 2002–03Scottish League Cup 2002-03The 2002–03 Scottish League Cup was the 57th staging of the Scotland's second most prestigious football knockout competition, also known for sponsorship reasons as the CIS Insurance Cup....
- 1998–99
FiorentinaACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
- Coppa ItaliaCoppa ItaliaThe Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
: 1995–96Coppa Italia 1995-96-First leg:-Second leg:Fiorentina won 3–0 on aggregate.-References:*...