Despite having appeared just once for Lazio, and not even the full game, Carlo Cudicini is a Lazio hero.
He was born in Milan on September 6, 1973, son of Fabio Cudicini one of the greatest goalkeepers in Italian football history, and grandson to Guglielmo, defender in the 1920s and 30s.
He started playing football in the Milan youth teams and debuted professionally on March 3 1993 in the Champions League match against Porto. For the next season he was at Como in Serie C1 but appeared in only seven games. Back to Milan for a year, in 1995 he was sent again on loan to Prato (C1) where he was regular player. In 1996 he went on loan to Lazio.
On October 20 1996 in Lazio-Cagliari he was forced to come on in the 4th minute due to Luca Marchegiani having been sent off. He did well and Lazio were winning in 10 men but towards the end of the game in an attempt to stop Paolo Bisoli from scoring he injured his Achilles tendon. The injury was serious, he should have been substituted immediately but Lazio had finished the sub slots. Igor Protti was ready to go in goal, but the Biancocelesti would have been left in 9 men. Cudicini decided to stay on the pitch despite the fact that he could hardly walk. The Lazio defenders crowded around him and the Biancocelesti managed to win. A heroic decision, never forgotten by the fans.
He was out for the rest of the season so for the next one he decided he wanted to play to show his talent, so he signed for Castel di Sangro where he stayed for two years, the first in Serie B and the second in C1.
Gianluca Vialli, manager at Chelsea, signed him as backup goalkeeper in 1999 and in 2000 he became a first choice player. He stayed nine and a half years with 216 appearances, winning two Premierships (2004-05 and 2005-06), two FA Cups (1999-00 and 2006-07), two League Cups (2004-05 and 2006-07) and two Community Shields (2000 and 2005). He played less in the last years and in January 2009 he moved to the other side of London and signed for Tottenham. In three full and two half seasons he made 37 appearances. In 2013 he signed for LA Galaxy and after 25 appearances decided to retire.
He took to coaching and became assistant to Noel King, training the goalkeepers for the Ireland Under-21s. With the arrival of Antonio Conte at Chelsea in 2016 he went back to the Blues and was his assistant. He also continued under Maurizio Sarri. In August 2019 he was appointed technical coach for the players on loan.
He will never be forgotten by Lazio fans.
Lazio Career
Season | Serie A |
1996-97 | 1 |
Sources
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