In looking at the biographies of Lazio players one comes across many surprising people. Corrado Corelli is one of them. He is actually better know as a sculptor.
The son of Italian painter Augusto Corelli, Corrado was born in Rome on August 19 1884. His footballing career started for the Roman team Virtus Roma, a team which was created by Lazio “dissidents” in 1903. Corrado and his brother Filiberto had learnt how to play football at the Irish Catholic Seminary which had taught the first Rome athletes the basics of this new sport.
Legend has it that Lazio was supposed to play a game in Tuscany in June 1908 and the choice of the players was given to Sante Ancherani, centre forward, captain and manager. It was a game in Pisa, an inter-regional tournament organised under the patronage of the local council. Ancherani had tried to get the Corelli brothers to play for Lazio many times but the brothers had always refused. This time they accepted and this can be considered the first “transfer” in Lazio history.
The story continues with Lazio arriving in Pisa the day before the game. On the next morning, while busying being tourists, Lazio were approached by the organising committee and asked to play a game against Lucca. Lazio won 3-0 just before lunch time. While the team were eating, they were asked to play a second extra match, this time against Spes Livorno. 4-0 for Lazio. Time for a rest? No, because here came Virtus Juventusque ready for the scheduled match. The players protested but Ancherani told them to stay back in the front of the goal and stop all opposition attempts (an early form of “catenaccio”?). The game was almost over and it was still 0-0. But Ancherani in the dying minutes scored from a Corelli cross and Lazio won. Ancherani sent a telegram: “Won tournament 3-0, 4-0, 1-0”. No other team in the world has ever won three games on the same day.
That was Corrado’s first day at Lazio and he will continue to play for the Biancocelesti until 1922. His brother Filiberto played for just a year before becoming a full time painter.
One has to consider that Lazio was a very strong team in the early years and played many local games. It is therefore unknown exactly how many games Corelli played and how many goals he scored. What is known is that he was very fast and intelligent.
He participated in both of the World Wars even if he was 56 when he was called for the second one. At the end of the First World War he was asked how he managed to survive three tough years in the trenches: “Thanks to Lazio that nurtured my health and God who protected me”, he replied.
He participated in the March on Rome, but quickly realised his mistake and abandoned the fascist ideals.
When he was called for the Second World War he was put in charge of the rail transportation of men and armaments to the Russian front. He was often stationed in Poland where he saw many merchant trains full of people escorted by the SS. He did not understand why and he found it very strange. He drew a picture of what he saw. Once he got back from the war he realised that those people were being sent to concentration camps. His drawing is exhibited in the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City.
As previously mentioned he was a well-known sculptor specialised in small artefacts and gold, silver and copper creations using the embossing technique. His works of art are in many museums and private collections.
He died in Rome on August 26 1968.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Lazio 3rd Category | Roman 3rd Category | National Championship | Other Tournaments |
1908 | 3 | - | - | - | 3 |
1909 | 2 | - | - | - | 2 |
1910 | 8 (4) | 6 (2) | - | - | 2 (2) |
1911 | 5 | 3 | - | - | 2 |
1912 | 10 (10) | - | 9 (8) | - | 1 (2) |
1912-13 | 18 (6) | - | - | 12 (5) | 6 (1) |
1913-14 | 13 (1) | - | - | 10 | 3 (1) |
Total | 59 (21) | 9 (2) | 9 (8) | 22 (5) | 19 (6) |
Sources
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