Amos Mariani was born in Montecatini Terme (Pistoia), on March 30, 1931.
He started playing football for his local club Montecatini before moving to fellow Tuscans, Empoli in 1947.
The Azzurri were in Serie B. Mariani stayed two seasons and played 22 league games with 1 goal. The Empolesi finished 5th and 17th.
In 1949-50 he joined Juventus. The Bianconeri had future Lazio manager Jesse Carver in charge and Mariani made his debut on October 16 against Atalanta. It would be his only appearance but he became Italian Champion in May as the "Old Lady" won the Scudetto. He was in a squad which included future Lazio Pasquale Vivolo, Carlo Parola, Karl Aage Præst and John Hansen.
In 1950 Mariani signed for Atalanta. He stayed one season in Serie A under managers Giovanni Varglien and then Englishman Dennis Neville. The Orobici finished 12th and Marani played 26 league games with 3 goals (Udinese, Novara, Juventus).
In 1951 he joined Udinese in Serie A. Under manager Guido Testolina he played 36 league games with 1 goal (Lucchese). The Friulani finished 14th.
In 1952 he moved back to Tuscany and joined Fiorentina. He stayed three seasons under Renzo Magli and then future Lazio Fulvio Bernardini for two full seasons. The Gigliati finished 7th, 3rd and 5th and Mariani played 85 league games with 15 goals (Novara, Juventus, Bologna, Roma, Bologna, Lazio, Legnano, Catania, Udinese, Atalanta, Roma,Torino, Inter). In his time in Florence, he played alongside Maurilio Prini who would score Lazio's winner in the 1958 cup final against the "Viola".
In 1955 Mariani joined reigning champions Milan. He stayed three years. In his first the manager was Héctor Puricelli and Milan finished 2nd and reached the semi-finals of the European Cup (Real Madrid 3-5 on aggregate). Mariani played 26 league games with 5 goals (Atalanta, Sampdoria, Padova, Torino home and away), 3 in the European Cup with 1 goal (Rapid Vienna) and 2 in the Latin Cup with 1 goal (Benfica - Milan won the cup beating Athletic Bilbao 3-1).
The following year, under Gipo Viani, Milan won the Scudetto. Mariani played 30 league games with 2 goals (Palermo, Udinese) and 1 in the Latin Cup with 1 goal (Saint-Étienne). He played alongside former Lazio Per Bredesen. One of Milan's seven defeats came against Lazio, 0-3 in Rome.
The 1957-58 would be his last with Milan. The Rossoneri finished 9th, first under Viani and then Luigi Bonizzoni for the Coppa Italia (from June to September). They however reached the European Cup final but lost to Real Madrid 2-3 after extra-time in Brussels (in the later infamous Heysel Stadium). Mariani played 26 league games with 7 goals (Udinese, Atalanta, Vicenza, Inter, Padova, Lazio, Roma), 4 in Coppa Italia and 6 in the European Cup with 1 goal (Rapid Vienna).
In 1958 he signed for Padova in Serie A. The manager was future Milan legend Nereo Rocco. The Patavini finished 7th and Mariani played 31 league games with 9 goals.
In 1959 he joined Lazio. In the capital he was reunited with manager Bernardini. The Biancocelesti finished 12th and reached the Coppa Italia semi-finals (lost to Juventus 0-3) and then achieved 3rd place (Torino 2-1 in losers final). Mariani played 20 league games.
The following season Bernardini stayed on but was replaced by former player Enrique Flamini after 10 games (with Jesse Carver as TD from the 15th game onwards). Lazio struggled all season and were ultimately relegated in 18th place. They did reach the Coppa Italia final but lost to Fiorentina 0-2 and also won a derby 2-1. Mariani played 24 league games with 2 goals (SPAL, Atalanta) and 3 in Coppa Italia.
In 1961 he moved further South to Naples in Serie B. The Partenopei had Fioravante Baldi as manager and then former legend Bruno Pesaola and finished 2nd winning promotion back to Serie A (at Lazio's expense… see Seghedoni's disallowed goal). More surprising was Napoli winning the Coppa Italia defeating SPAL 2-1 in the final (after defeating Sampdoria, Torino, Roma and Mantova). Mariani played 18 league games with 4 goals (Reggiana, Alessandria x2, Messina) and 1 game in Coppa Italia.
The following season, 1962-63, would be his last. Under Bruno Pesaola, Napoli went straight back down to Serie B in 16th position (Lazio were promoted, ...so justice was done). Mariani played only 11 league games with 2 goals (Fiorentina, Palermo) and 9 in the Cup Winners Cup with 2 goals (Bangor City, OFK Belgrade, who eliminated Napoli in the quarterfinals). One of his teammates in Naples was former Lazio defender Giovanni Molino.
He then retired at 32.
At international level Mariani won 4 Italy caps with 2 goals. He took part in the 1952 Olympics with a goal against the USA and then in 1959 scored at Wembley in a 2-2 draw against England in a friendly. He is therefore one of the few Italians to have scored in the glorious north-west London stadium (Capello, Zola, Insigne and Bonucci others who come to mind).
After retiring he went into coaching. He started at Sorso (Sassari, Sardinia) and then spent a year each at Pro Vasto (C) and Montebelluna (D).
After a break he had a brief experience with Torres (D) in 1975 and then reappeared in Greece in 1977-78 at Ethnikos Peiraios (Piraeus Athens) and two years later in his hometown Montecatini (C2). He then had single seasons with Lecco (C2), Lucchese (C2), Alghero (5th tier), Vibonese (5th tier) and then Sambiase (Vigor Lamezia) and Chiaravalle (Ancona) at amateur level. In 1990 he retired from coaching.
Mariani was a forward who usually played on the right wing. He was 1.75 and 73 kilos. His main qualities were his speed and an excellent cross. He was a great assist man but also got his own fair share of goals. He had an excellent club career. He played 316 games in Serie A with 45 goals and won 2 Scudetti (Juventus 1950 as a reserve and Milan 1957 as a protagonist) and a Coppa Italia (Napoli 1962).
At Lazio he had two good seasons but they were difficult years for the Biancocelesti. He was also slightly past his peak having spent his best years with Fiorentina and especially Milan. At Lazio he played 47 games with 2 goals.
Mariani died in 2007 in Montecatini Terme.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Cup of the Alps |
1959-60 | 20 | 20 | - | - |
1960-61 | 28 (2) | 24 (2) | 3 | 1 |
Total | 48 (2) | 44 (2) | 3 | 1 |
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