The previous season Lazio had done well arriving fourth and missing out on a Champions League qualification by just two points. They could have made it but in the last seven games of the season they only won the last two and lost the decisive game at Udine.
For the 2012-13 season there was a changing of the guard as Edy Reja had decided to step down as manager. As the new head coach Igli Tare and Claudio Lotito had surprisingly chosen the unknown, at least to the Italian media, Vladimir Petkovic, a Swiss national of Bosnian origin who had been very successful in Switzerland coaching Young Boys and Sion.
Not a lot was expected in the summer transfer window and therefore not a lot was done. Mind you, a lot of players returned to Lazio from previous season loans: Sergio Floccari, Luis Pedro Cavanda, Juan Pablo Carrizo, Mauro Zarate all came back, giving depth to the squad.
Welcome
Just two new signings were made.
Ederson, Brazilian midfield player, had been on the Biancoceleste wanted list for many years and there had been attempts in the past to sign him, unsuccessfully. He arrived to Lazio as a free agent after four seasons at Olympique Lyonnais and three and a half in Nice.
Michael Ciani, a big French defender, arrived to give the Lazio defence a hand. He had played the last three years with Bordeaux and previously with Lorient.
Goodbye or almost
Javier Garrido was loaned to Norwich City. In the two years at Lazio he played very little, just 23 appearances (one goal). Constantly injured, when he did appear his contribution had not been up to par. It was hoped that a good year in the Premier League would then transform his loan into a permanent deal.
Guglielmo Stendardo returned from his loan at Atalanta and Lazio ended his contract by mutual consent. After 104 appearances and seven goals he left the club and went back to Bergamo.
Emiliano Alfaro was one of the many Tare low cost signings made in the hope that he could develop into a good player. He did not. After just 8 appearances last season he was loaned to UAE club Al-Wasl.
Simone Del Nero could have made a difference on the pitch, he did have the quality to do so, but his career was hindered by too many injuries. His contract with Lazio was over and he signed for Johor Darul Ta'zim in the Malaysian Super League. He had made 35 appearances and one goal for Lazio, winning a Coppa Italia and Super Coppa in 2009.
Stephen Makinwa had been a promising forward and played very well for Atalanta and Palermo. But too many injuries and a poor attitude marred his stay at Lazio. His contract expired and was not renewed. He made 56 appearances and three goals with the Biancocelesti.
Winter transfer window
Lazio made two signings and said goodbye to a few players in January 2013.
Bruno Pereirinha, midfielder, arrived on a free transfer. Able to play both in defence and midfield, it was hoped he could be a valid alternative on the right wing. He arrived from Sporting Lisbon.
Louis Saha, French forward, had played most of his career in the Premier League mainly Fulham, Manchester United and Everton. In the last couple of years he had played very little with Tottenham and Sunderland. He arrived on a free transfer having ended his contract with Sunderland.
Goodbye or almost
Tommaso Rocchi, Lazio’s captain and centre forward since 2004, wanted to give himself just one more chance to play in top tier football and signed for Inter. In this first part of the season he had made just three appearances and wanted to play more. He left Lazio after 293 appearances and 105 goals. Best of luck.
Lionel Scaloni had not played a lot at Lazio and in the first part of the 2012-13 season he made just 7 appearances. The Biancocelesti sold him to Atalanta. Scaloni had made 67 appearances for Lazio with one goal.
Francelino Matuzalem arrived five days late for the season pre-training and as punishment was excluded from the squad. He was loaned to Genoa. He left Lazio after 93 appearances and 4 goals.
Juan Pablo Carrizo was supposed to have been Angelo Peruzzi's heir but did not fulfil expectations. Third keeper at Lazio, he joined Inter to be back up for Samir Handanovic. He made 27 appearances at Lazio, his last was the memorable Coppa Italia match against Siena were he kept Lazio in the game and saved two penalties in the shoot out.
Luciano Zauri had been off Lazio’s list of players for a while. He played very little in 2011-12 (just 12 games) and not at all this season. He was sold to Pescara. With Lazio Zauri made 177 appearances and scored 6 goals.
Giuseppe Sculli arrived in Rome in January 2011 but did not really fit in so a year later he was loaned to Genoa for six months. Zero playing time this season so far, he was loaned out again, to Pescara for another six months.
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