Stefano Sorrentino

Early years / Torino

Born in Cava de' Tirreni, Campania, Sorrentino started playing football with S.S. Lazio, finishing his youth training with Juventus FC in 1997 and failing to collect any official first-team appearances during his one-season spell. In the summer of 1998 he joined Torino FC in Serie B, only playing once in the league. In the next two years, Sorrentino played in Serie C1, representing S.S. Juve Stabia and A.S. Varese 1910 on loan. He returned to Torino in the 2001 off-season, being a backup in the top division (twelve games) and an undisputed starter in the second level during his tenure; in his final campaign he made 43 league appearances for Toro, who finished second and promoted via the playoffs, only to be denied due to financial irregularities.

AEK Athens

In the 2005 off-season, however, the Turin-based club declared bankruptcy and released all their players. On 7 July 2005 Sorrentino signed with AEK Athens. He immediately was established as the main goalkeeper of the team, but after the birth of his daughter, he requested from president, Demis Nikolaidis to let him return to Italy, because his wife was not feeling comfortable enough in Greece. However, the club did not receive a suitable offer for the player and Sorrentino displayed a professional behaviour and continued at the club. On 21 November 2006 he had a top-notch performance in a 1–0 home win against AC Milan for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, also being named…

Sorrentino was known for his penalty-stopping abilities as well as his shot-stopping, reflexes and ability to produce decisive saves. Experienced and consistent, he also drew praise for his work-rate, determination, leadership and longevity. With 14 stops in 363 appearances between 2001 and 2019, he has parried the joint–seventh–most penalties in Serie A history, alongside Francesco Antonioli. Sorrentino noted that his position on the pitch tended to change depending on whether he was playing behind a three or four-man back-line; in the former case, he usually played in a deeper position closer to the goal. Antonio Di Natale described him as one of the best Italian goalkeepers of his generation. Although primarily a goalkeeper, Sorrentino came out of retirement to play as a striker in the lower divisions of Italian football.

As of match played 14 April 2019

Sorrentino's father, Roberto, was also a goalkeeper, who acted as captain for Calcio Catania. He has two brothers. On 9 June 2002, Sorrentino married Antonella Parrella in Turin – the couple had already been living together for ten months. Together they had three daughters, Carlotta, Matilda and Maria Vittoria; they later separated. Sorrentino has been in a relationship with Sara Ruggeri since 2012. He and his partner have a daughter, Viola, who was born on 16 September 2013. On 31 December 2018, he proposed to her by giving her a pair of his goalkeeping gloves with the text "Sara, mi vuoi sposare?" (Sara, do you want to marry me?). He later announced his engagement on his official Instagram account by posting a picture of Ruggeri with the gloves and her engagement ring, with the caption "HA DETTO SÌ!!!!" ("She said yes!"); the couple were wed on 27 May 2019. In March 2017, Sorrentino released his autobiography: Gli occhi della Tigre ("The eyes of the Tiger," in Italian).