Martin Scorsese, an icon in the world of cinema, is known for his masterpieces like Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and The Irishman. Born in New York City, Scorsese’s films have captured the grit and soul of human experience, cementing him as one of the most influential directors of all time.
But while his love for storytelling and cinematography is undeniable, his indifference toward sports, particularly football, is also well-known. Scorsese highlighted his dislike for sports during the Raging Bull movie.
It is reported that Scorsese repeatedly turned down the opportunity to direct the film. Never a sports fan, he had this to say about the sport of boxing, “A boxer? I don’t like boxing…Even as a kid, I always thought that boxing was boring… It was something I couldn’t, wouldn’t grasp.”
He also indirectly took a dig at football, “Anything with a ball, no good.” making his disinterest in football abundantly clear.
Yet, despite his well-documented dislike for football, the legendary director recently found himself in possession of a gift from Serie B side Palermo— a custom framed Palermo FC home kit from this season, complete with his name and the iconic number 10.
Made by Puma, the kit has the iconic pink colour of Palermo, combined with black. It recalls the 1974-1975 jersey worn exactly fifty years ago in the historic Coppa Italia final against Bologna with an elegant V-neck and black edges on the sleeves.
The kit also has a little hashtag on the back, which reads “#siamoaquile” translating to “we are eagles”- described by Palermo as their inevitable motto.
So, how did a man who holds little regard for sports end up receiving a personalized Palermo FC football kit? The answer lies not in the game itself, but in something much deeper: heritage.
This gesture from Palermo came as a tribute to Scorsese’s Sicilian roots and according to MenInBlazers, a token to mark Italian – American Heritage month which is celebrated every October.
It was an unexpected yet fitting symbol of connection between the celebrated filmmaker and his ancestral homeland, even if the sport itself holds no appeal to him.
Though Scorsese was born and raised in New York, his family’s lineage traces back to Sicily. His grandparents hailed from two small towns in the province of Palermo—his father’s family from Polizzi Generosa, and his mother’s from Ciminna.
Even though he built his life and career across the Atlantic, Sicily, particularly Palermo, has always held a special place in his heart.
According to another source, Scorsese was in Sicily to receive honorary citizenship from Polizzi Generosa, the birthplace of his paternal grandfather, Francesco Scorsese, who left the town in 1880. It was during this event that the Italian side gifted the legendary director a personalized jersey.
This ceremony was a homecoming of sorts, one that acknowledged Scorsese’s place within Sicilian history and culture.
Fans have also speculated or rather come up with a deeper meaning behind the jersey being numbered as 10.
The number 10 on the back of the jersey, often worn by football’s most creative playmakers, symbolized Scorsese’s own role as a regista—a director who pulls the strings in cinema and displays his creativity on screen.
“Finally, we have our regista. For us Palermo fans and cinema lovers, this is an immense joy”, a fan said on Twitter.
Palermo FC’s social media summed it up perfectly: “The blood of this land is in the roots of master Martin Scorsese. Palermo, the mountains of Polizzi, all of Sicily, will always be his home.”
Though Scorsese may never watch a football match with interest, his roots in Palermo, Sicily, and his ancestral connection to the city will forever remain.
The framed Palermo kit, bearing the number 10, is not just a shirt—it’s a symbol of homecoming and that Palermo has claimed him as one of their own.
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