Angelo Sormani

Ángelo Benedicto Miguel Sormani (Italian: [sorˈmaːni]; born 3 July 1939) is an Italian-Brazilian former football manager and player, who played as a forward; he was capable of playing anywhere along the front-line, as a centre-forward, as well as in an attacking midfield role, or also as a winger on the right flank. Born in Brazil, he represented the Italian national football team at the 1962 FIFA World Cup. Despite lacking pace, he was a physically strong, creative and intelligent player with excellent technical ability; throughout his career, he was known for his tactical versatility, power and determination, as well as his capability to take part in and initiate attacking plays due to his passing ability.[1][2] Following his retirement, he also worked as a manager, coaching two clubs for which he formerly played: Roma, and Napoli.[1]

Angelo Sormani
Personal information
Full name Ángelo Benedicto Miguel Sormani
Date of birth (1939-07-03) 3 July 1939
Place of birth Jaú, Brazil
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
XV de Jaú
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1959–1961 Santos ? (?)
1961–1963 Mantova 64 (29)
1963–1964 Roma 25 (6)
1964–1965 Sampdoria 30 (2)
1965–1970 Milan 137 (45)
1970–1972 Napoli 53 (7)
1972–1973 Fiorentina 9 (0)
1973–1976 Vicenza 57 (12)
National team
1962–1963 Italy 7 (2)
Teams managed
1980 Napoli
1986–1988 Roma
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Before moving to Italy to play in Serie A, where he would spend most of his professional life, Sormani began his club career in his home country of Brazil, where he initially played for Santos Futebol Clube; he was initially used as a backup striker to Pelé, but despite this limitation, he was able to move into the starting line-up due to his versatility, and his ability to adapt to any position along the front line.[1]

After moving to Italy, Sormani made his Serie A debut with A.C. Mantova in 1961, spending two seasons with the club (1961–63), where he displayed his talent and potential, earning the nickname "the white Pelé". He subsequently attracted the attention of larger clubs, and he moved to A.S. Roma for the 1963–64 season, for an at the time world record of 500 million Lire in 1963, in addition to 250 million more, including the value of the three players Mantova received from Roma in exchange: Torbjörn Jonsson, Elvio Salvori, and Karl-Heinz Schnellinger. During the single season he spent with the capital club, he won the Coppa Italia, although he was unable to display consistently the talent he had demonstrated whilst playing at Mantova. After a difficult season, Sormani spent the 1964–65 season with U.C. Sampdoria, where he also struggled, before moving to A.C. Milan in 1965, where he flourished, and achieved notable domestic and international success. During his time at Milan, he finally fulfilled his potential and established himself as one of the league's top players, winning the 1967–68 Serie A title, the Coppa Italia during the 1966–67 season, the 1967–68 European Cup Winners' Cup, the 1968–69 European Cup, and the 1969 Intercontinental Cup.[1]

After his successful time with Milan, in 1970, he moved to S.S.C. Napoli for two seasons, before spending the 1972–73 season with Fiorentina. He moved to Vicenza Calcio in 1973, where he spent three seasons, before ending his career in 1976.[1]

International career

Despite being born in Brazil, Sormani made 7 appearances and scored 2 goals for the Italy national football team between 1962 and 1963,[3] after obtaining Italian citizenship due to his Italian origins (grandson of emigrants from Garfagnana (paternal grandparents) and the Polesine (maternal grandparents));[1][4] he represented Italy at the 1962 FIFA World Cup in Chile, where they were eliminated in the first round.[5]

Honours

Club

Roma[1]

Milan[1]

Individual
  • A.C. Milan Hall of Fame[2]

References
  1. "Angelo Sormani" (in Italian). Storie di Calcio. Retrieved 18 January 2015.
  2. "A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Angelo Sormani". A.C. Milan. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  3. "Nazionale in cifre: Sormani, Angelo Benedetto". figc.it (in Italian). FIGC. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 24 April 2015.
  4. Cervi, Gino. "Azzurro oriundo, ma serve in un Mondiale?". GQ Italia. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  5. Angelo Sormani – FIFA competition record
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