Peruzzi was born in Blera (Viterbo), not far from Rome, on 15 February, 1970.
He started his senior career at Roma with 16 appearances. He was then loaned to Verona for the 1988-89 season. He returned to Roma but in 1990 he failed a doping test due to an appetite suppression substance. He was banned for one year and it was only in 1991 that his career was revived, when he signed for the mighty Juventus.
At Juve he won 3 Serie A titles and a Champions League. He played 208 times for the “Old lady” before following manager Claudio Lippi to Inter for the 1999-2000 season.
In 2000 he joined Italian Champions Lazio where he played for 7 successful years winning a Super Coppa in 2000 and Coppa Italia in 2004.
At International level he played 31 times for the “Azzurri”. His career with the national side was hindered by injuries and the emergence of rising star Gianluigi Buffon, he was however in the World Cup winning squad of 2006.
Peruzzi is considered one of the greatest Italian keepers of all time. He was powerful and athletic with explosive reactivity but at the same time agile, despite his sturdy physique.
At Lazio he was well loved, as a local lad, for his technical ability and not least for his affable, kind and down to earth character. He was affectionately known as “Er Cinghialone” (the big wild boar) both for his sheer size and for his love of hunting. In times of difficulty Peruzzi would often invite the whole squad up to Blera to bond and re-focus over a hearty country meal.
After his playing days he worked for the National team staff before returning to Lazio as a sort of intermediary between the club and the players.
His love affair with Lazio finally ended in 2021 after disagreements with the club hierarchy, owner Claudio Lotito and sporting director Igli Tare.
Angelo Peruzzi played 226 games for Lazio: 192 in Serie A, 3 in Coppa Italia, 22 in Champions League, 7 in the UEFA Cup and 2 in Super Coppa finals.
Appearances for Lazio
Season | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | UEFA Cup | Super Coppa |
2000-01 | 37 | 29 | | 7 | | 1 |
2001-02 | 37 | 27 | 2 | 8 | | |
2002-03 | 36 | 30 | | | 6 | |
2003-04 | 33 | 27 | | 7 | | |
2004-05 | 24 | 21 | 1 | | 1 | 1 |
2005-06 | 30 | 30 | | | | |
2006-07 | 28 | 28 | | | | |
Total | 226 | 192 | 3 | 22 | 7 | 2 |
Sources