Gli occhi della tigre

by Stefano Sorrentino and Marco dell’Olio

Gli occhi della tigre recounts the life of Stefano Sorrentino, a man of great determination who was able to fulfill his dream of becoming a Serie A football player. He did so by playing keeper, like his father Roberto, opposite the best forwards of our time: Messi, Higuain, Totti Del Piero.

The book narrates the many obstacles he had to overcome in order to achieve his goal. From his technical education to his competitive streak, from his self-discipline to his disposition, along with the sacrifices of his private life, the book follows the stages of Sorrentino’s career with never-before-told anecdotes and episodes.

Also recounted is a passionate history with the Juventus Junior League; with Turin, his first team, with the Champions League in Greece and in Andalucía, Spain; of multiple saves made with Chievo Verona in his Palermo years; of his experiences as captain; of the fired and rehired trainers; and of Zamparini, the volcanic football club owner. But don’t think of this as just another book on football because, as Sorrentino discovers, the true game is that of every day, reacting to life’s dramas and trying to do his best as a father of four.

The eye of the tiger is required in order to look at his life and choices in a lucid and honest way within an easily confusing and demanding environment.

The book was written by a football player and a journalist, two friends that have the same values and positive relationship with life, even though their jobs lead them to see and live football from two different standpoints. It is a story that enriches the reader while conveying the simple truth that at the center of every lived experience, there is always the human being, with his or her own pressures and passions.