Lazio spread wings in Tuscany for promotion rush
A goal by Savino gave Lazio precious points for Serie A return
Also on this day: April 17, 2005, Bologna Lazio 1-2. After an awful first half Lazio stir and overturn Bologna with a Rocchi winner. Player of the day: Fabio Bazzani
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had dramatically avoided relegation to Serie C. They started the season with a nine-point docking due to one of their player's involvement in the Totonero bis scandal. The manager was Eugenio Fascetti and only a Giuliano Fiorini goal eight minutes from time in the last game of the season and a subsequent win over Campobasso in a three-team playoff allowed them to stay up. The squad were heroes for life at Lazio but another season was about to begin.
Fascetti stayed on and the objective was clearly promotion. The Biancocelesti made some changes to the squad. Arriving were keeper Silvano Martina (Torino), defender Paolo Beruatto (Torino), midfielders Ciro Muro (Napoli), Gabriele Savino (Vicenza) plus forwards Giuseppe Galderisi (Milan-on loan) and Paolo Monelli (Fiorentina).
Leaving were keepers Mario Ielpo (Cagliari) and Giuliano Terraneo (Lecce), defenders Ernesto Calisti (Fiorentina), Gabriele Podavini (Genoa), Daniele Filisetti (Venezia-Mestre) plus forwards Giuliano Fiorini (Venezia-Mestre), Paolo Mandelli (Inter-end of loan), Fabio Poli (Bologna) and Giampaolo Saurini (Cagliari-on loan). In the autumn Giorgio Magnocavallo also left (Barletta). Some painful departures, especially Podavini, Poli and Fiorini.
So far, Lazio were in the heart of the promotion race. The Biancocelesti had won 9, drawn 14 and lost 5 (including Arezzo 0-1), so on 32 points. They had started off reasonably well (14 points in first 12 matches) but then had seven consecutive draws (not the end of the world but not really promotion pace). They had then won four, drawn 3 and lost 2. Lazio were currently joint 5th but only one point behind Lecce and Cremonese in joint 3rd. A week earlier the Biancocelesti had drawn 1-1 away in Bergamo against Atalanta.
In Coppa Italia in August/September they had been eliminated in the group phase. They won 3 (Pisa on penalties, Lecce 1-0, Casertana 2-0) and lost 2 (Juventus on penalties after a 1-1 draw and Catanzaro 0-5).
Arezzo had finished 12th the previous season under manager Enzo Riccomini. They had won one (in Rome) and drawn one against Lazio. Top scorer was, former Roma, Guido Ugolotti with 8 league goals. The squad included Enrico Vella (Lazio, 1982-83), Fernando Orsi (1982-85, 1989-1998), Francesco Dell'Anno (1983-1986), Massimo De Stefanis (1975-79) and Fabrizio Di Mauro (1993-94).
This season Bruno Bolchi had started as manager (1-21) but then been replaced by Antonio Angelillo. Arezzo had added a few players to the squad: keeper Nico Facciolo (Reggiana), defender Bruno Incarbona (Barletta), midfielder Walter Allievi (Catania) plus forwards Andrea Silenzi (Lodigiani), Sandro Tovalieri (Avellino) and Andrea Nappi (Vis Pesaro). Some big names up front.
Leaving were defender Maurizio Codogno (Novara), midfielders Fabrizio Di Mauro (Avellino), Luigi Gozzoli (Pro Patria), Domenico Neri (Montevarchi, after 234 league games), forwards Carlo Muraro (Pistoiese), Giovanni Pagliari (Perugia-end of loan) and Angelino Zennaro (Lucchese).
So far, the season was not going well for the Amaranto. They were currently bottom of the table in 20th position. They were however only two points from safety, 17th placed Barletta. Arezzo had won 4 (including Lazio 1-0 away), drawn 12 and lost 12. Their most recent game had been a 0-0 home draw to Sambenedettese.
An almost must win game today for Lazio's promotion hopes but it would not be easy against a team fighting for their lives.
The match: Sunday, April 17, 1999, Stadio Comunale, Arezzo
A summer like day brought a good 20,000 crowd to the stadium but at least half came from Rome (the Tuscan town is only 188 km from the capital), about 12,000.
Arezzo had a few absences from the squad if not necessarily the regular eleven; defender Fulvio Rondini, midfielders Stefano Butti and Franco Ermini plus forwards Sandro Tovalieri and Andrea Silenzi while Lazio only had Giancarlo Camolese unavailable.
The game was evenly balanced from the start.
The first chance was for Lazio in the 2nd minute with a Paolo Monelli header, from a Ciro Muro free kick, that Fernando Orsi did well to dive low and catch. After some minutes Raimondo Marino almost put the ball in his own net and then in the 23rd minute Marco Nappi had a chance but stumbled on the ball in a favourable shooting position. Three minutes later Walter Allievi had a thundering shot which went just over the bar so Lazio were far from dominant
In the 39th minute however, Lazio scored. Vincenzo Esposito delivered a free kick into the box and after a series of attempted clearances and shots the ball fell to Gabriele Savino who managed to put it in the back of the net with a low shot that trickled in. Arezzo 0 Lazio 1.
An even sided first 45 minutes but it was Lazio who had got the breakthrough.
In the second half Lazio relied on the counterattack. They were almost successful immediately but Gabriele Pin's cracking shot was parried by Orsi.
The Aretini tried to change things by putting on Marco Sereni for Marco Carrara in the 58th minute but by and large the visitors controlled the game well with Pin and Antonio Elia Acerbis particularly active. Lazio attacked more but without the necessary urgency or conviction to double their lead.
In the 66th minute Silvano Martina had to make the only really difficult save of his Tuscan afternoon when he had to dive to his left to parry a powerful, curling, long range shot by Nappi.
One last card for the locals was throwing on talented, and former Lazio player, Francesco Dell'Anno for a midfielder Gennaro Ruotolo.
It did not produce the desired effect and Lazio managed to see the game out without running any particular risks. Final score Arezzo 0 Lazio 1.
A clinical win for the Biancocelesti and far from memorable but they made their superior quality count and then controlled the game to earn the away win.
An important win for Lazio who moved up to 3rd place on goal difference as Lecce, Catanzaro, Cremonese and Bari had all drawn. The final sprint was on and the Eagle had spread its wings.
Arezzo were now three points from safety as Modena had won and Sambenedettese drawn. There was still hope but things were getting increasingly difficult for the "Cavallino" (Colt).
Who played for Arezzo
Orsi, Minoia, Incarbona, Ruotolo (76' Dell'Anno), Pozza, Mangoni, Nappi, Carrara (58' Sereni), Ugolotti, De Stefanis, Allievi
Substitutes: Bastogi, Rondini, Silenzi
Manager: Angelillo
Who played for Lazio
Martina, Marino, Beruatto, Pin, Gregucci, Esposito, Savino (89' Brunetti), Acerbis, Galderisi (89' Rizzolo), Muro, Monelli
Manager: Fascetti
Referee: Feliciani
Goals: 39' Savino
What happened next
Lazio managed to finally conquer promotion, finishing joint 3rd. It was not easy. A week later Lazio beat Barletta 4-2 at home but then lost 0-1 away to Triestina. In the next 6 they won 3 and drew 3. They then came into the last game of the season, against Taranto at home, needing a win. In a packed Olimpico, already under heavy reconstruction for Italia '90 the Biancocelesti won 3-1 and booked their place back in the top flight after three difficult years. Lazio have been in Serie A ever since. Top scorer was Paolo Monelli with 14 goals (13 in B).
Arezzo were relegated in 20th place. In the next 9 games the "Cavallino” drew 6 and lost 3. Top scorer was former Lazio youth player Marco Nappi with 8 league goals.
Lazio went up with league winners Bologna plus Lecce and Atalanta. Arezzo went down with Triestina (who had started at minus five points) and Modena.
Lazio 1987-88
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie B | 38 | 15 | 17 | 6 | 42 |
Coppa Italia | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Total | 43 | 17 | 19 | 7 | 46 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Monelli | 42 | 37 | 5 |
Marino | 41 | 36 | 5 |
Martina | 41 | 36 | 5 |
Pin | 41 | 36 | 5 |
Beruatto | 40 | 35 | 5 |
Savino | 40 | 35 | 5 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
Monelli | 14 | 13 | 1 |
Savino | 10 | 8 | 2 |
Muro | 4 | 4 | - |
Gregucci | 3 | 3 | - |
Rizzolo | 3 | 3 | - |
Let's talk about Giuseppe Galderisi
Giuseppe Galderisi was born in Salerno on March 22, 1963. He grew up in Trecasali near Parma.
His first club however was Vierti-Raito near Salerno. At 14 he joined Juventus' academy. He made his first team debut in August 1980 in a cup game and then played his first Serie A game against Perugia in November in his only league appearance. He stayed three years with the "Old Lady". The manager was Giovanni Trapattoni and in the second season Galderisi played more due to Roberto Bettega suffering an injury. Galderisi played 16 league games with 6 goals (Udinese, Catanzaro x2, Milan x3). The following year however, he only played 7 League games as Juventus had Paolo Rossi, Michel Platini and Zbigniew Boniek up front. In Coppa Italia he made 6 appearances with 1 goal (Inter) and also played 1 game in the European Cup. In his three seasons in Turin he won 2 league titles and a Coppa Italia but lost a European Cup final to Hamburger SV, 0-1 in Athens.
In 1983 he joined Verona. He stayed with the Gialloblu for three seasons. It was a good period for the Scaligeri under manager Osvaldo Bagnoli. The Veronesi finished 6th, won a historic Scudetto and 10th. Galderisi played 82 league games with 24 goals (Milan, Ascoli x2, Avellino, Milan, Catania, Juventus, Napoli, Udinese, Juventus, Fiorentina, Cremonese, Ascoli, Udinese, Fiorentina x2, Sampdoria, Avellino, Torino, Avellino x2, Napoli, Milan, Roma) 24 games in Coppa Italia with 10 goals (Cagliari, Bari x2, Catania, Inter, Cremonese, Parma x2, Pisa x2) and 5 in Europe (UC 2, EC 3) with 3 goals (Red Star Belgrade x2, Sturm Graz). In this period, he also played for Italy. His performances earned him a call from AC Milan.
In 1986 he joined the Rossoneri. The manager was first Nils Liedholm (1-24) and then Fabio Capello. The Milanesi finished 5th. Galderisi played 21 league games with 3 goals (Inter, Empoli, Fiorentina) and 7 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Barletta). He was not however the success the club had hoped.
In 1987 he joined Lazio on loan in Serie B. For Lazio he was a big name and there were big hopes put on the striker. Lazio won promotion under Eugenio Fascetti but Galderisi did not shine. He played 33 league games with 1 goal (Bologna) and 5 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Juventus).
In 1988 he returned to Verona in Serie A. Bagnoli was still manager and Galderisi played 28 league games with 4 goals (Lecce x2, Atalanta, Sampdoria) and 9 games in Coppa Italia with 4 goals (Taranto x2, Juventus, Torino). The Gialloblu finished 14th. His teammates included Lazio connections Pedro Troglio (1989-91) and Stefano Pioli (manager 2014-16).
In 1989 he joined Padova in Serie B. He would stay six full seasons. The Patavini finished 11th, 5th, 12th, 4th (promoted), 14th in A. He played 192 league games with 34 goals (all in B), 7 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal. His managers included Enzo Ferrari, Mario Colautti, Bruno Mazzia, Mauro Sandreani (promotion year and A). His teammates included Lazio connections: Giancarlo Camolese (1986-88), Antonio Rizzolo (1986-89), Demetrio Albertini (2003-04). In 1995 he started the year but after 7 games in A and 1 in Coppa Italia he left for the States in April.
He joined New England Revolution but after only 4 games he moved to Tampa Bay Mutiny in May. He stayed until October 1997, playing 42 league games with 12 goals. In October 1997 he returned to N.E Revolution for three months and played an extra 7 games with 2 goals.
At 33 he retired.
At international level he won 10 caps for Italy and took part in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico playing all four games. He also won 16 caps for the U21's with 2 goals (winning bronze at 1984 European Championship)
Since retiring Galderisi has become a manager in the lower tiers. He has had stints at Cremonese (C2, 7th place), Mestre (C2, sacked), Giulianova (C1, sacked), Gubbio (C2, 5th), Viterbo (C2, 19th), Sambenedettese (C1, sacked), Avellino (C1, sacked), Foggia (C1, 5th), Pescara (Serie D, sacked), Arezzo (D, 3rd- lost promotion playoff), Benevento (D, 2nd- lost promotion playoff), Triestina (D, 15th -relegated), Salernitana (D, sacked), Olhanense (Portuguese top flight, 16th-relegated), Lucchese (Lega Pro, 10th, 10th and relegated), Gubbio (C, 12th), Vis Pesaro (C, 14th and then relegation), Mantova (C, sacked), Gelbison (C, last few games and relegated). So, a twenty-year career without many high points so far.
As a player he was a striker. He was quick and agile at 1.68 and 70 kilos, his nickname was "Nanu" (from nano meaning dwarf). Despite his diminutive size he had a powerful shot and good heading abilities. He was primarily however a goal vulture using his speed and innate goal scoring skills to punish defences. He had his best years at Verona winning a historic Scudetto in 1985. Also memorable was his hat-trick for Juventus against Milan in 1982. His career was hampered by several injuries which limited his performances.
At Lazio he was a disappointment. He only scored one league goal but the fact that Lazio won promotion means the fans remember his stay more benevolently than it possibly deserves.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1987-88 | 38 (2) | 33 (1) | 5 (1) |
Sources
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