Lorenzo Amoruso

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Lorenzo Amoruso

| image = Lorenzo Amoruso.jpg

| caption = Amoruso in 1989

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1971|6|28}}

| birth_place = Bari, Italy

| height = 1.84 m

| position = Defender

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1988–1995

| years2 = 1991–1992

| years3 = 1992–1993

| years4 = 1995–1997

| years5 = 1997–2003

| years6 = 2003–2006

| years7 = 2008

| clubs1 = Bari

| clubs2 = → Mantova (loan)

| clubs3 = → Pescara (loan)

| clubs4 = Fiorentina

| clubs5 = Rangers

| clubs6 = Blackburn Rovers

| clubs7 = Cosmos

| caps1 = 75

| goals1 = 8

| caps2 = 13

| goals2 = 1

| caps3 = 19

| goals3 = 1

| caps4 = 54

| goals4 = 3

| caps5 = 149

| goals5 = 13

| caps6 = 18

| goals6 = 3

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| totalcaps = 338

| totalgoals = 29

| nationalyears1 = 1989–1991

| nationalteam1 = Italy U-21

| nationalcaps1 = 2

| nationalgoals1 = 0

}}

Lorenzo Amoruso (born 28 June 1971) is an Italian sports commentator and former professional footballer who played as a defender for seven teams in Italy, Scotland, England, and San Marino during his footballing career, but is perhaps best known for his six-year spell with Glasgow side Rangers. In that six-year spell, he won nine major honours with the club including domestic trebles in the 1998–99 and 2002–03 seasons, representing the side on more than 150 occasions in competitive football.

Club career

=Italy=

Amoruso began his career at local club, Bari, in 1988, for whom he went on to make 75 appearances, scoring 8 goals. Amoruso spent 1991–1993 on loan at Mantova and Pescara, but only featured intermittently. In 1995, he secured a move to Fiorentina, becoming club captain and making 54 appearances. He won the Coppa Italia in 1996 and in 1997 the Florence side went on a run in Europe where they reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners Cup only to lose out to eventual champions Barcelona.{{cite web | url=http://www.serieaweekly.com/2012/01/player-profile-lorenzo-amoruso.html | title=Player Profile: Lorenzo Amoruso | access-date=2 May 2013 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522005321/http://www.serieaweekly.com/2012/01/player-profile-lorenzo-amoruso.html | archive-date=22 May 2013 | df=dmy-all }}

=Rangers=

Following interest from Manchester United,{{cite news |last1=Strachan |first1=Graeme |title=Italian football hero returning to Dundee after breaking the hearts of the Dark Blue faithful in 2003 |url=https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/760580/italian-football-hero-returning-to-dundee-after-breaking-the-hearts-of-the-dark-blue-faithful-in-2003/ |access-date=24 October 2020 |work=The Courier (Dundee) |date=10 November 2018}} Amoruso signed for Rangers on 29 May 1997 for a fee of £4million.{{ cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/jul/14/newsstory.sport7 | title=Lorenzo Amoruso factfile | work=The Guardian | date=14 July 2003 | accessdate=8 June 2024 }} 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. He missed most of his debut season with an Achilles tendon injury, and didn't make his debut until April 1998 as a substitute for Gordan Petrić in the Scottish Cup semi-final against Celtic.{{cite news |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rangers-idol-lorenzo-amoruso-heaven-10258581

|title=Rangers idol Lorenzo Amoruso says making debut in Scottish Cup semi win over Celtic was his dream ending to a year of hell |publisher=dailyrecord.co.uk |access-date=3 April 2020}} He was then 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/GO+EASY+ON+THE+AMO%3b+Gough+spares+a+thought+for+Lorenzo%27s+toil.%28Sport%29-a060933194|title=GO EASY ON THE AMO; Gough spares a thought for Lorenzo's toil|date=3 November 1998|website=Daily Record|access-date=29 June 2010}} Amoruso also clashed with the manager several times, resulting in an eventually aborted move to Sunderland. Advocaat began to sign defenders to replace Amoruso, including Bert Konterman for example and Paul Ritchie, but the Italian remained after his replacements failed. Ritchie did not make a single appearance{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-18753147.html|title=Ritchie the Maine attraction puts Ibrox flop behind him|date=9 September 2000|website=The Scotsman|author=Mike Wade|access-date=29 June 2010}} and Konterman was criticised to begin with, but, like Amoruso, he eventually found his way into the hearts of the fans.{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-72599947.html|title=Football: BERT GETS A BASHING; Rangers 0 Dundee 2 Utd Fans go mad at top flop|date=21 April 2001|first=David|last=Leggit|publisher=The People|access-date=29 June 2010}}

In December 1999, Amoruso issued a public apology after directing racist comments at Borussia Dortmund's Nigerian striker Victor Ikpeba.{{cite news | title = Amoruso in race comment about-turn | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/556706.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 10 December 1999 | access-date = 24 March 2010}} Earlier that day Amoruso's denied the allegations and threatened legal action in an interview to Corriere dello Sport – Stadio (an Italian daily sports paper).{{cite news|title=Amoruso admits racist taunts|date=10 December 2000|website=The Times|first=Phil|last=Gordon}} He was later forced into a change of position, described as embarrassing by The Times, when TV footage contradicted his story. Subsequently, the BBC featured reports that Rangers supporters' racism had increased, in support of Amoruso.{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/565230.stm | work=BBC News | title=Fan's fear over 'racism at Rangers' | date=14 December 1999}}

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.{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3a+MY+HEART+WILL+ALWAYS+BE+AT+GERS%3b+Big+Amo+signs+off.%28Sport%29-a0105290758|title=Football: MY HEART WILL ALWAYS BE AT GERS; Big Amo signs off|date=13 July 2003 |publisher=Sunday Mail|author=Mark Guidi|access-date=29 June 2010}} He was left humiliated[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-94312194.html FOOTBALL: Advocaat tore off armband and ripped out my heart; ADAPTED from LA CONFIDENTIAL: The Lorenzo Amoruso Story by David McCarthy and Keith Jackson priced pounds 9.99] by the demotion and later accused Advocaat of trying to destroy him.{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Cover+story%3a+It+would%27ve+been+hard+to+play+for+a+gaffer+who+set+out...-a0123553304|title=It would've been hard to play for a gaffer who set out to destroy me|date=24 October 2004 |publisher=Sunday Mail|author=Mark Guidi|access-date=29 June 2010}}

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.{{cite news |title=Why Advocaat has finally called time on his superstars |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12151911.why-advocaat-has-finally-called-time-on-his-superstars/ |access-date=24 October 2020 |work=Herald Scotland |date=24 October 2000}} More errors had seen Amoruso again booed by his own teams' supporters.{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3a+THE+SEVEN+DEADLY+SINS+OF+LORENZO.%28Sport%29-a068201843|title=Football: THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS OF LORENZO |access-date=10 July 2010 |author=Colin Duncan|publisher=Daily Record|date=13 December 2000}} During this period Amoruso was linked with moves to English clubs Fulham and West Ham United.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/1102629.stm |title=Italians and Fulham join Amoruso hunt |publisher=BBC |date=5 January 2001 |access-date=3 April 2020}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1121193.stm |title=Advocaat urges Amoruso to stay|publisher=BBC |date=17 January 2001 |access-date=3 April 2020}}

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,{{cite news|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport/Amoruso-banned-for-four-games.2411750.jp|title=Amoruso banned for four games for spitting |access-date=10 July 2010 |author=Stephen Halliday|website=The Scotsman|date=19 March 2003}} he scored the winning goal in his final game for Rangers—the 2003 Scottish Cup final—and wept as he left the pitch.{{Cite web|url=https://www.planetfootball.com/in-depth/story-lorenzo-amoruso-great-era-rangers-scottish-football/|title=Lorenzo Amoruso: Joining Rangers was 'an opportunity I couldn't miss'|date=2017-08-30|website=Planet Football|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-03}}

=Blackburn Rovers=

Amoruso left Rangers in July 2003 to make a £1.4 million move to Blackburn Rovers,{{Cite news | title = Blackburn sign Amoruso | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/2997588.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 14 July 2003 | access-date = 13 April 2008}} who wanted him as a replacement for Henning Berg. The sale was forced by Rangers' large debts.{{Cite news | title = Rangers could lose Ferguson | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3150791.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 15 August 2003 | access-date = 13 April 2008}} His Blackburn debut came on 16 August 2003, when he scored the opening goal of a 5–1 home win over promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers.{{cite news |title=Blackburn thrash sorry Wolves |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/3140893.stm |access-date=12 February 2021 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 August 2003}} In October, he was ruled out following a knee operation.{{cite news |title=Amoruso adds to Blackburn's injury woes |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2003/1022/176300-blackburn/ |access-date=12 February 2021 |publisher=RTÉ |date=22 October 2003}} 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.{{cite news |title=Blackburn Rovers |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/blackburn-rovers-j85s73xl6ls |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=The Sunday Times |date=13 August 2006}}

In January 2008, Amoruso briefly came out of retirement to sign for Cosmos of San Marino on a part-time basis.{{cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=658233.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215072517/http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=658233.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 February 2008|title=Cosmos starstruck by Amoruso arrival|publisher=UEFA website|date=14 February 2008}}

International career

Amoruso represented Italy 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3a+AMO+IS+CUP+AGAINST+IT+FOR+A+CAP.-a082940659|title=Football: AMO IS CUP AGAINST IT FOR A CAP|publisher=Sunday Mail|date=17 February 2002}} He blamed Giovanni Trapattoni, Cesare Maldini and Dino Zoff for failing to provide him with the call-up he felt he deserved.{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3a+AMO%3a+BOB+CAN+DO+A+JOB+AFTER+HIS+CAP+CALL-UP.-a097372559|title=AMO: BOB CAN DO A JOB AFTER HIS CAP CALL-UP|publisher=Sunday Mail|date=9 February 2003}} In 2020, he reiterated his view that moving to Rangers cost him the chance to play for Italy.{{cite news |last1=Collin |first1=Ian |title=Lorenzo Amoruso insists Rangers move wrecked dreams of playing for Italy - but he doesn't regret Ibrox stint |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/18410041.lorenzo-amoruso-insists-rangers-move-wrecked-dreams-playing-italy---doesnt-regret-ibrox-stint/ |access-date=12 February 2021 |work=The Herald |date=28 April 2020}}

In 2004 Amoruso expressed a desire to play for Scotland, through residency. He said: "I began to feel like part of me was Scottish."{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Football%3a+Blackburn+star%3a+I+may+give+Vogts+more+Amo.-a0113344682|title=Blackburn star: I may give Vogts more Amo|publisher=Liverpool Echo|date=17 February 2004}}

After retirement

On 15 September 2010, Amoruso was hired by his former club Fiorentina as a scout for the first team. After almost two years with the club, he stepped down from his role.{{cite web |url=http://www.repubblica.it/venerdi/interviste/2016/02/05/news/lorenzo_amoruso_italian_bastard_a_me_-132803939/ |title=Lorenzo Amoruso: "Italian bastard a me?" |publisher=La Repubblica |language=it |author1=Angelo Carotenuto |date=5 February 2016 |access-date=3 September 2018 }}

He is now a commentator on Serie A games for international audiences for example StarZ / Abu Dhabi Sports TV.

Honours

Bari

Mitropa Cup: 1990

Fiorentina

Rangers

Individual

Scottish Premier League Player of the Month: January 2002
SPFA Players' Player of the Year: 2001–02
Rangers F.C. – Hall of Fame{{cite web |url=http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/03/22/rangers-legend-lorenzo-amoruso-posts-message-on-instagram-a-mont/ |title=Rangers legend Lorenzo Amoruso posts message on Instagram a month after criticising club's players, fans respond in numbers |publisher=www.hitc.com |author1=Aiden Cusick |date=22 March 2017 |access-date=3 September 2018 }}