Marco SGRO'

This substantial midfielder, born in Sermoneta (Latina) 28 years ago, sweat before arriving and staying in Serie A with Atalanta. He grew up playing with the juvenile teams of Genoa and, for a long time, in Serie C: Jesi (1 season, 34 games, 7 goals), Siena (2 seasons, 54 games, 2 goals), Fiorenzuola (2 seasons, 74 games, 9 goals).

He went to Atalanta in 1993. The first impact was not a good one since the team didn't get on well and many fans twisted their mouths looking at the newcomer. Marco didn't quit and played 12 games, scoring the winning goal versus Inter in the last game of a season which, however, pushed Atalanta to Serie B. The next season Sgro' was lent to Ancona.

In just one year he went through Serie A, Serie B, Serie C1: a dangerous jump if you don't have a strong balance. Sgro', instead, rolled up his shirt sleeves, played 38 games scoring 1 goal and proving he could couple quantity and quality. Atalanta realized that in person when, playing in Ancona, suffered 4 goals and saw Sgro' turning out to be the best player of the game. Even if, at first, his comeback to Bergamo wasn't a triumphal one and he began as a backup, Mondonico actually believed in him and in just a few games he became an irreplaceable pivotal midfielder of Atalanta. He emerged as a tenacious and fighting player, one of the best midfielder of the italian League. His qualities allowed Mondonico to use him even as a central defender. Last year he played several games in that position.

When Atalanta faced Udinese he proved to be ready: Emam (the egyptian player of Udinese who lately won the Africa's Cup), tried to overcome Marco who, however, promptly knocked him down. Sgro' was ejected but Atalanta resisted and won the game. Marco has an excellent shot from afar and can break into the opposite goal-mouths from the backlines. He just needs to show more consistency as a scorer to become the next "market-man" of Atalanta.

Off the field he is paradoxally lazy and who knows him claims that humility is his best quality. He loves movies and especially those with Kevin Costner and Madonna. He also likes the italian songs singer-writers like Renato Zero. Antonio Villa (owner of Fiorenzuola) is the man who mostly signed his track through the football world, a world where Sgro' would like to stay even after ending his career as a player.