Fortunato Torrisi was born in Melito di Porto Salvo (Reggio Calabria), on October 23, 1955.
He started his football with Borgata Augusta but his first professional club was Siracusa. He made his debut for the Sicilians in 1973 in Serie C. He stayed two seasons with the "Leoni" finishing 6th and 4th. He played 45 league games and scored 2 goals.
In 1975 he joined Como in Serie A. The Lariani were relegated, the manager was first Beniamino Cancian (1-12) and then Osvaldo Bagnoli (13-30). Torrisi played 5 league games. His teammates included, Lazio connections, Oliviero Garlini (1984-86) and Renzo Rossi (1976-77) plus a young Paolo Rossi.
In 1976 he moved back to Siracusa in Serie C. The Aratusei finished 6th and he played 36 league games with 3 goals.
In 1977-78 he spent a season with Chieti in Serie C. The Teatini finished 9th and qualified for the new Serie C1 to be set up the following year. Torrisi played 35 league games and scored 6 goals.
In 1978-79 he played for Pistoiese in Serie B. The manager was Enzo Riccomini and he played 29 league games with 1 goal. He played with Lazio connections Maurizio Moscatelli (1980-83), Sergio Borgo (1973-74, 1975-76) and the great Mario Frustalupi (1972-75).
In 1979 he moved to Le Marche and joined Ascoli in Serie A. He stayed three seasons with the Bianconeri. The first was fantastic and they finished 4th under manager Giovan Battista Fabbri. Torrisi played 29 league games with 4 goals (Torino, Udinese, Cagliari, Inter). Ascoli won 11 matches (including Juventus and Inter away). One of his teammates was legendary Lazio keeper Felice Pulici (1972-77, 1981-82).
The following year Battista started but was replaced by Carlo Mazzone after 12 games. Ascoli finished 11th and Torrisi played all 30 league games with 3 goals (Napoli x2, Brescia).
In his last year in Ascoli the "Picchio" (The Woodpecker) finished an excellent 6th and beat Juventus again. He played all 30 league games again, with 4 goals (Udinese, Catanzaro, Como, Bologna) plus 3 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Bari). His teammates included former Lazio Giuseppe Greco (1980-81).
In 1982 Torrisi joined Torino in Serie A for one season. The manager was Eugenio Bersellini and the Granata finished 8th. The highlight came on March 27 in the derby against Juventus. With 20 minutes to go Toro were trailing 0-2 but, in the space of three minutes, between the 71st and 74th, turned it around and won 3-2. Torrisi scored the winning goal to go down in Torino history. Over the season he played 21 league games with 4 goals (Inter, Cagliari x2 and derby winner) plus 4 games in Coppa Italia. His teammates included Lazio connections Giuliano Terraneo (1986-87), Paolo Beruatto (1987-90) and Roberto Galbiati (1985-86).
In 1983-84 he was back in Sicily with Catania in Serie A. The manager was first Gianni Di Marzio until December and then Giovan Battista Fabbri, from his first year in Ascoli. The Etnei only won one match and were relegated. Torrisi played 25 league games with 1 goal (Roma in 2-2 draw) plus 2 games in Coppa Italia. He played with Lazio connections Aldo Cantarutti (1978-79), Giorgio Mastropasqua (1980-82) as well as future manager Sir Claudio Ranieri.
In 1984 he signed for Lazio in Serie A. It was a difficult year which ended up in relegation. Paolo Carosi started as manager but in September was replaced by an already past it Juan Carlos Lorenzo and finally, in March, Bob Lovati and Giancarlo Oddi took over. Torrisi played 21 league games.
In 1985-86 he stayed in the capital. The manager was promotion specialist Gigi Simoni but this time it did not happen. The club was in chaos with uncertainty, unfulfilled promises and late or unpaid wages. Lazio finished 11th but at one point seriously risked relegation to Serie C. Torrisi played 16 league games with 2 goals (Cesena, Ascoli).
He then went up the road to Terni in Umbria and joined Ternana in Serie C2. He stayed two seasons and the Rossoverdi finished 3rd and 14th. In the first year the manager was, former Lazio player and Scudetto winner, Mario Facco. In the second year Facco was replaced during the season by Corrado Viciani. Torrisi played 35 league games with 2 goals. His teammates included Lazio legends Vincenzo D’Amico (1970-80, 1981-86) and Paolo Di Canio (1984-86, 1987-90, 2004-06).
Torrisi then returned to Chieti for one last season, in 1988-89. The Neroverdi were in C2 and finished 3rd, under manager Antonio Gianmarinaro. Torrisi played 25 league games with 1 goal.
At 34 he then retired.
In 1993 he started his coaching career with the Lazio academy. In 1998-99 he was in charge of the Primavera (U19's). In 1999 he then worked for the Lodigiani youth sector.
Meanwhile in 1997 he won a league title with Lazio Master Calcio 5-a-side team.
He then coached some first teams in the lower tiers. In 1999-2000 he was with Catanzaro in C2, 2001 Acireale (sacked and replaced by Walter Mazzarri), 2003 Gladiator (Caserta) in C2 for 7 games, 2004 Castel di Sangro briefly in C2, 2005-06 Latina briefly in C2, 2007-2009 two stints with Gaeta in Eccellenza (winning promotion) and Serie D and finally 2010 Flaminio C.C in Serie D (where he resigned). He now runs a football academy in Rome.
Torrisi was a midfielder. He was physically strong at 1.83 and 79 kilos. He could play in various midfield roles and had good athleticism. He had a good club career, playing 162 games in Serie A and scoring 16 goals. His best years were with Ascoli and the highlight of his career was surely scoring the winning goal for Torino in the Turin derby.
At Lazio he arrived at the wrong time with the team going through a terrible year, ending up in relegation and then another bad year in Serie B with chaos at administrative level. Torrisi actually played decently but sank with the general situation. He played 37 games for the Biancocelesti with two goals.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Serie B |
1984-85 | 21 | 21 | - |
1985-86 | 16 (2) | 16 (2) | |
Total | 37 (2) | 21 | 16 (2) |
Sources
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