Alessandro Bertoni was born in Reggio Emilia, on February 15 1959.
He started his football in his hometown team of Reggiana and went through the various youth teams before making his debut in '77-78 with 3 appearances in Serie C. The Granata, under manager Guido Mammi, went close to promotion finishing 3rd.
In 1978-79, first under Mammi and then Franco Marini (from the 30th fixture onwards), "La Regia" finished 4th but Bertoni played more, 17 league games.
In 1979 he left "La Città del Tricolore" (the birthplace of the Italian flag) and joined Rondinella Marzocco (Florence) in C2. The "Rondine" (The Swallow) finished 3rd and Bertoni played 29 league games with 8 goals.
In 1980 he stayed in Tuscany but joined Pisa in Serie B. The manager was Lauro Toneatto and the Nerazzurri finished 7th. Bertoni played 22 league games with 6 goals (Cesena, Atalanta, Lecce x2, Lazio, SPAL). He played alongside former Lazio Aldo Cantarutti and future Lazio Arturo Vianello. Pisa's biggest result was beating Milan 1-0 at San Siro.
In 1981-82 he stayed under the leaning tower and Pisa were promoted to Serie A. The manager was Aldo Agroppi and Bertoni played 37 league games with 10 goals (Pescara, Catania, Rimini, Perugia, Palermo, Lecce, Pescara, Cremonese, Sampdoria and SPAL).
In 1982 he went up the Arno and joined Fiorentina in Serie A. The Viola came 5th under Giancarlo De Sisti. Bertoni played 24 league games with 2 goals (Catanzaro on debut and Avellino), 5 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Nocerina) and made his European debut playing 2 games in the Uefa Cup. He played alongside World Champions Giancarlo Antognoni and Francesco Graziani and briefly future Lazio Paolo Monelli (he left in the Autumn - to return the following season).
The following year Bertoni stayed in Florence and the Gigliati finished 3rd (UEFA Cup). Bertoni played less, 9 league games and 3 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Ascoli). He played alongside two more World Champions: Gabriele Oriali and Daniel Passarella.
In 1984, still in Tuscany, he joined Arezzo in Serie B. The Amaranto got through three managers; Enzo Riccomini (1-23), Giuseppe Chiappella (24-32) and Mario Rossi (33-38) and finished 14th. Bertoni played 36 league games with only 1 goal. Two of his team-mates were future Lazio Fabrizio Di Mauro and Giuseppe Corti plus future Roma Amedeo Carboni.
In 1985 Bertoni left Tuscany for Campania and joined Avellino in Serie A. The Irpini had a good season under Enzo Robotti and finished 11th. Bertoni played 30 league games with 1 goal (Pisa) and 5 in Coppa Italia with 2 goals (Ancona, Inter). The squad included former Lazio Andrea Agostinelli and Joāo Batista. Avellino's best results were beating Roma and Inter, both 1-0 at home.
In 1986-87 he stayed in Irpinia. The manager was former Lazio Luís Vinicio and the Biancoverdi finished a record high 8th. They beat Milan, Roma and Fiorentina at home and drew with Juventus, while away the beat Udinese 6-2). Bertoni played 27 league games with 3 goals (Juventus, Udinese, Sampdoria).
In 1987-88 still at Avellino the fairy-tale faded and the "Lupi" were relegated, under first Vinicio and then, after six games, Eugenio Bersellini. The Irpini's best result was beating Juventus 1-0 at home with a Bertoni winner. They also drew away at Inter 1-1 and Roma 0-0 and 0-0 at home against Milan. They Biancoverdi reached the quarterfinals of the Coppa Italia but were knocked out by Juventus 1-2 on aggregate. Bertoni played 30 league games with 2 goals (Torino Juventus) plus 9 games in Coppa Italia with 2 goals (Cremonese, Parma). This year one of his team-mates was former Lazio Massimo Storgato.
In 1988-89 he stayed with Avellino in Serie B. The manager was first Enzo Ferrari (1-13) and then former Lazio Eugenio Fascetti (14-38) and Avellino went no further than 7th place. Bertoni played 36 league games with 2 goals (Taranto, Barletta). The squad included former Lazio Carlo Perrone.
In 1989 he left Irpinia and came to the capital, joining Lazio. The manager was Beppe Materazzi and Lazio finished 9th. Bertoni played 26 league games with 2 goals (Roma, Genoa) plus 2 games in Coppa Italia. Bertoni got into Lazio’s history books scoring in the derby; it ended up 1-1, Giannini equalising seven minutes from time. Lazio’s biggest wins were 1-0 away to Milan, 3-0 at home to eventual champions Napoli and 2-1 at home to Inter.
The next season Italian legend Dino Zoff arrived as manager. Lazio also signed German forward Karl-Heinz Riedle and Armando Madonna, so Bertoni played less, 8 league games and 1 in Coppa Italia. Lazio finished 11th, their best results being defeating Juventus 1-0 at home while both derbies were draws.
In 1991 Bertoni left Lazio and returned home to Reggiana in Serie B. Under manager Giuseppe Marchioro, the Granata finished 7th and Bertoni played 35 league games with 2 goals (Modena, Bologna) and 4 games in Coppa Italia. He chose his two goals well, both in local derbies. His teammates included former Lazio defender Mario Monti and a young but already silver-haired Fabrizio Ravanelli.
The following year went better for Reggiana who topped Serie B and won promotion but not so well for Bertoni who never played and in January joined nearby Carpi in C1. He played 6 league games, first under Giorgio Ciaschini and then Domenico Fornaciari. The "Falconi" finished 17th but avoided relegation due to Ternana and Taranto's financial difficulties.
Bertoni then retired at 34.
Since retiring he has lived in his hometown of Reggio Emilia. He has remained in the football world and trains kids at Polisportiva Falk, a satellite club of Reggiana.
Bertoni was a forward. He was not overly physical at 1.76 and 72 kilos but he was very athletic and mobile, opening spaces and pairing up well with the real centre-forwards. He had a good club career, playing 134 games in Serie A with 12 goals including two against Juventus and one against Roma. He also won a promotion with Pisa in '82.
At Lazio he had a positive first season with the satisfaction of scoring in a Roman derby. He played 35 games for the Biancocelesti with 2 goals but the goal against the Giallorossi counts as many more.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1989-90 | 28 (2) | 26 (2) | 2 |
1990-91 | 9 | 8 | 1 |
Total | 37 (2) | 34 (2) | 3 |
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