*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:43, 18 May 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:04, 8 September 2021 (UTC)
Sirigu began his career with Venezia and then Palermo. In 2011, he moved to French side Paris Saint-Germain. Twice voted the Ligue 1 Goalkeeper of the Year, his honours at the club include four consecutive league titles and all four domestic competitions in both the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons. After spending the 2016–17 season in Spain on loan to Sevilla and Osasuna, Sirigu was signed by Torino in 2017. After playing 152 matches with the club, he then had brief spells at Genoa, Napoli and Fiorentina.
Born in Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy, Sirigu started his football career in Venezia's youth system playing as a midfielder. He was known for his powerful back heels, which he used to take penalty kicks. He had been training as an attacker for a local amateur side, Puri e Forti, at 11 years old when coaches concluded that his asthma condition would hinder him too much as an outfield player. Instead, observing Sirigu's extensive hands, they told him to have a go at the goal.[3]
Sirigu successively returned to Palermo as a second-choice keeper, behind new signing Rubinho, for the 2009–10 season. Following a string of unimpressive performances by Rubinho, Palermo coach Walter Zenga, himself a former goalkeeper who was noted for his ability, elevated Sirigu to the starting role for the Week 6 game, an away match against Davide Ballardini's Lazio on 27 September 2009. The game, which also represented Sirigu's official debut in the Italian Serie A, ended in a 1–1 draw, with the young goalkeeper being nominated Man of the Match due to his numerous saves throughout the match.[6] He was subsequently confirmed for the following game, where Sirigu managed to keep a clean sheet in a 2–0 win against Serie A giants Juventus. Since then, Sirigu was regularly featured in the starting line-up and permanently confirmed as the first-choice goalkeeper, leading the club to send Rubinho out on loan to Livorno later in January. Due to his performance during his time at Palermo, Sirigu earned the nickname "Walterino," a reference to his coach, Walter Zenga, who is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time.[7]
On 21 October 2009, Palermo announced to have agreed a contract extension with him, the new contract would have expired in June 2014.[8] His final appearance for Palermo came in the 2011 Coppa Italia Final against Internazionale at Rome's Stadio Olimpico, a 3–1 loss.[9]
Sirigu warming up for Paris Saint-Germain before a match against AS Saint-Étienne in January 2015
On 28 July 2011, Sirigu signed a four-year contract with French club Paris Saint-Germain[10][11] for a transfer fee of €3.895 million.[12] Although initially signed as a reserve for Nicolas Douchez, Sirigu started all 38 Ligue 1 matches during his first season at the club as PSG finished as runners-up to Montpellier HSC.[13]
After PSG completed the signing of German goalkeeper Kevin Trapp from Eintracht Frankfurt in July 2015,[21] deputy sporting director Olivier Letang announced that the club "would not stand in [Sirigu's] way" if he wished to leave Paris.[22] However, the player's agent denied that the player would leave the club.[23] Sirigu remained PSG's first choice goalkeeper in the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue, winning both titles, with Trapp taking his place as the preferred choice in Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions League matches.[24] On 12 February 2016, he announced that he would have left PSG during the previous winter transfer window if "an important proposal had arrived",[25] but ultimately remained with the club for the remainder of the season.
On 26 August 2016, Sirigu joined La Liga club Sevilla FC on a season-long loan.[26] He made his debut with the club in a 1–1 away draw against Eibar on 17 September.[27] A week later, away to Athletic Bilbao, he was sent off for elbowing Aritz Aduriz, leaving midfielder Vicente Iborra to unsuccessfully face the former's penalty in a 3–1 loss.[28]
Having made only three appearances for the Andalusians, Sirigu moved to fellow league club, strugglers CA Osasuna on 31 January 2017 for the remainder of the season.[29]
On 27 June 2017, Torino announced they had signed Sirigu on a free transfer.[30] He made his debut for Torino on 12 August, in a 7–1 home win against Trapani in the Coppa Italia third round,[31] and eight days later made a first Serie A appearance in a 1–1 draw away to Bologna.[32]
In July 2018, when Sirigu had a year left on his contract, he extended it until June 2022.[33][34] On 3 March 2019, he recorded his sixth consecutive Serie A clean sheet, thereby surpassing Luciano Castellini's club record of 517 minutes without conceding a goal in Serie A.[35][36] On 15 July 2021, his contract with Torino was terminated by mutual consent.[37]
On 3 August 2021, Sirigu joined Genoa, stating that his aim was to be chosen by Italy for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[38] Having missed only the last game of his one season at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris, he then joined Napoli on a free transfer.[39]
Having not played at all for Napoli, Sirigu transferred to Fiorentina on 25 January 2023.[40] After playing two games – one in the UEFA Europa Conference League – he suffered an Achilles tendon injury in March, ruling him out for an estimated six months; his contract was set to expire in June, but included a one-year extension option.[41]
On 15 September 2023, Sirigu joined Ligue 1 side OGC Nice on a one-year deal.[42]
On 16 January 2024, after failing to make an appearance during 124 days at Nice, Sirigu left the club and joined Turkish Süper Lig club Fatih Karagümrük.[43] He left the club by the end of the season following the expiration of his contract.
On 24 August 2024, Sirigu signed a one-year deal with Serie B club Palermo, thus returning to the Rosanero thirteen years after his departure.[44]
With Cesare Prandelli serving as national coach, Sirigu was named in his first squad list for the friendly match against Ivory Coast on 10 August 2010,[53] in which the goalkeeper also debuted as Italy lost 1–0.[54] On 3 September, he made his second appearance for the first competitive match, a 2–1 away victory against Estonia for Euro 2012 qualifying.[55]
For the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, he was selected as the second-choice keeper behind Buffon.[58] Shortly before the tournament, on 31 May, he kept his first international clean sheet as Italy beat San Marino 4–0 in a friendly match in Bologna.[59] In the final tournament, he once again did not feature as Italy finished in third place, defeating Uruguay on penalties in the bronze medal match following a 2–2 draw.[60]
Prandelli selected Sirigu as his second-choice goalkeeper for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[61] Due to an injury to starting goalkeeper Buffon, he started in the opening group match, and made several decisive saves which contributed to the 2–1 victory against England; this was his only appearance throughout the tournament.[62] Following consecutive 1–0 defeats to Costa Rica and Uruguay, however, Italy finished in third place in their group, and were eliminated in the group stage for a second consecutive World Cup.[63][64][65]
On 31 May 2016, Sirigu was included in Antonio Conte's 23-man Italy squad for UEFA Euro 2016.[66] Due to a fever suffered by starting goalkeeper Buffon, Sirigu made his only appearance of the tournament on 22 June, in his country's final group match, a 1–0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland.[67] Italy were eliminated from the tournament in the quarter-finals, following a penalty shoot-out loss against Germany.[68]
In June 2021, Sirigu was included in Italy's squad for the rescheduled UEFA Euro 2020 by manager Mancini.[72] He made his only appearance of the tournament in Italy's final group match against Wales on 20 June, coming on as a late substitute for Gianluigi Donnarumma in the team's 1–0 victory in Rome, which saw them top their group.[73] On 11 July, Sirigu won the European Championship with Italy following a 3–2 penalty shoot-out victory over England at Wembley Stadium in the final, after a 1–1 draw in extra-time.[74]
Sirigu was once again named Italy's second-choice goalkeeper for the 2021 UEFA Nations League Finals, where they finished in third place, beating out Belgium 2–1 in the bronze medal match.[75][76]
Regarded as one of the best Italian goalkeepers of his generation, Sirigu was considered in the 2010s as the possible 'heir-apparent' of Gianluigi Buffon as Italy's first-choice goalkeeper, due to his consistency, physical strength, composure, strong mentality, explosive reflexes, and shot-stopping ability between the posts.[77][78][79] Although he was frequently compared to Zenga in his youth,[80][81] his former manager at Cremonese, Emiliano Mondonico, compared him to Dino Zoff because of his calm character under pressure.[82] Former Italy goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi has also praised Sirigu for his goalkeeping technique and ability to come off his line quickly to collect the ball.[83] Sirigu is also known for his professionalism and leadership qualities, as well as his ability to motivate his teammates, and is therefore considered to be an influential dressing room personality, which makes him a popular figure with his teams' fans.[84][85]
^"Sirigu in prestito alla Cremonese" [Sirigu loaned to Cremonese] (in Italian). US Città di Palermo. 12 July 2007. Archived from the original on 3 February 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
^"SIRIGU CEDUTO AL PSG" [SIRIGU SOLD TO PSG] (in Italian). ilpalermocalcio.it. 28 July 2011. Archived from the original on 18 December 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
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