He is the swashbuckling Italian football hero who famously put paid to Dundee’s dreams of Scottish Cup glory.
Lorenzo Amoruso scored the winner for Rangers against the Dark Blues at Hampden in 2003 in what was Dundee’s first final in 39 years.
The man who broke the hearts of the Dundee faithful is now returning to the city for an intimate Q&A session at Clarks on Lindsay Street on Thursday February 7.
Hosted by David Tanner, Amoruso will take time to meet guests and talk about his time at Ibrox including the Scottish Cup final winner against Dundee in his final game.
The event is being organised by The Longest Forty Production Company which is also bringing Claudio Caniggia to Dundee for a similar event in the city this month.
Amoruso – who also played for Fiorentina and Blackburn Rovers – made just short of 150 appearances for Rangers after being signed by Walter Smith in 1997.
He joined Rangers despite interest from Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United and went on to win three Scottish Premier League titles, three Scottish Cups, and three Scottish League Cups.
Amoruso said: “If I could go back 20 years and be put in that same situation again, then I would make the same choice.
“I wanted to play in the Champions League against the best players and in those days, only one club from each country was in the competition.
“Rangers offered me that chance and Walter Smith and David Murray made me feel wanted.
“Man United did want me too.
“They made a call and of course, it was very tempting to go there.
“It was very flattering when they were interested but I had made my mind up to go to Scotland.”
The big centre back signed for £4m and was club captain when Dick Advocaat took over from Walter Smith, becoming the first ever Catholic player to skipper Rangers.
Advocaat failed to build on his successful first two years in charge and was replaced by Alex McLeish whose appointment revitalised Amoruso as he won the Scottish PFA Players’ Player of the Year award in 2002.
Amoruso knew the Scottish Cup Final against Dundee would be his last match.
McLeish told him financial difficulties dictated that it would be better if he moved on.
Amoruso said: “Dundee made it very hard for us but with 15 minutes to go Neil McCann delivered a great ball and I managed to head it into the net.
“When the whistle blew I felt cold as if my feet were in an ice bath.
“I knew I was leaving so I had mixed emotions.”
He moved to Blackburn Rovers but his career was disrupted by injuries and he was released in 2006.
In January 2008, Amoruso briefly came out of retirement to sign for Cosmos of San Marino on a part-time basis.
Tickets for the Dundee night are available now from Eventbrite.
