Stephan El Shaarawy
Who was Stephan El Shaarawy?
Italian winger who has played for AC Milan, AS Roma, and the Italian national team, known for his pace and technical ability.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Stephan El Shaarawy (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Stephan Kareem El Shaarawy is an Italian professional footballer, born on October 27, 1992, in Savona, Italy. Often called Il Faraone (The Pharaoh) due to his Egyptian paternal heritage, El Shaarawy plays as a left winger for Serie A club AS Roma and the Italian national team. He started his career at Genoa's youth academy and moved through various clubs, developing into one of Italy's most skilled wingers.
El Shaarawy's big break came during a loan spell at Padova, leading to a transfer to AC Milan in 2011. His speed, dribbling, and goal-scoring ability made him a standout at San Siro. In the first half of the 2012-13 season, he emerged as a top talent, forming a strong partnership with Milan's attackers and becoming one of Serie A's most feared wingers, marking him as a promising young player.
Injuries posed major challenges for El Shaarawy, leading to long rehab periods which disrupted his time at Milan. This led to loan moves, first to AS Monaco in the 2015-16 season, and then to AS Roma. The loan to Roma was successful enough for the club to make the transfer permanent. The move to Roma rejuvenated his career and allowed him to show his skills in a system that fit his style.
In 2019, El Shaarawy made a surprising move to the Chinese Super League club Shanghai Greenland Shenhua, looking for new challenges in Asian football. His time in China was relatively short, lasting only 18 months before returning to AS Roma in 2021. His return to Serie A showed his continued quality and ability to adapt to European football.
Internationally, El Shaarawy advanced through Italy's youth teams, from under-16 to under-21, before making his senior debut in August 2012 against England. He scored his first international goal against France in November 2012 and played in major tournaments like the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, where Italy finished third, and UEFA Euro 2016. His international career shows his role as one of Italy's key attacking players for over a decade.
Before Fame
El Shaarawy grew up in Savona during the late 1990s and early 2000s, a time when Italian football was at a high point, with Serie A considered the strongest league in the world. His mixed Italian-Egyptian heritage gave him a cultural background that later influenced his nickname and identity as a player.
He joined Genoa's youth academy, where he developed his technical skills and speed, which became his standout attributes. A key loan move to Padova provided him with first-team experience and the chance to showcase his abilities at a professional level, which eventually led to his signing with AC Milan in 2011 when he was just 18 years old.
Key Achievements
- Breakthrough season at AC Milan in 2012-13 with 16 Serie A goals
- Third place with Italy at 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup
- Represented Italy at UEFA Euro 2016
- Permanent signing by AS Roma after successful loan spell
- Over 30 appearances for the Italian national team
Did You Know?
- 01.His nickname 'Il Faraone' (The Pharaoh) comes from his Egyptian father's heritage
- 02.He scored 16 goals in his first 19 Serie A appearances during his breakthrough 2012-13 season at AC Milan
- 03.El Shaarawy became the youngest player to score 10 goals in Serie A during the 2012-13 season at age 20
- 04.He spent 18 months playing for Shanghai Greenland Shenhua in the Chinese Super League from 2019-2021
- 05.His full name includes the Arabic middle name Kareem, meaning generous or noble