Merry Christmas
The Biancocelesti beat Novara with two goals in the last 15 minutes
Also on this day: December 24, 1958, Alessandria Lazio 0-2. With two goals in the second half by Bizzarri and Tozzi, Lazio secure a fundamental win. Lazio Legend of the day: Humberto Tozzi
The season so far
After the mediocre 1954-55 season, Lazio realised that they had to do more as far as transfers were concerned. So, for the current campionato Lazio spent a lot of money. In came forwards Arne Selmosson and Lorenzo Bettini from Udinese plus Ermes Muccinelli from Juventus, defenders Giovanni Molino (Torino) and Nicola Lo Buono (Trani). Roberto Lovati and Franco Carradori returned from their loan spells at Torino and Palermo. Leaving Lazio were legends Aldo Puccinelli and Romolo Alzani as well as Per Bredesen, Vittorio Bergamo and Renato Spurio. Carlo Parola left active football but stayed as assistant to manager Luigi Ferrero. The Technical Director was still Roberto Copernico.
The beginning of the season had been terrible. Lazio were 14th, just three points clear of the relegation zone. They had won three games but all away from home, including a great win in Milan against Inter. They really needed to beat Novara.
The match: Saturday December 24, 1955, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
The Biancocelesti started the game strongly but it was Novara who had the first chance of the match. Former Lazio player Dionisio Arce, after having received the ball from Ivar Eidefjall, tried a powerful shot that Bob Lovati was only partially able to touch. The ball hit the crossbar. In the 20th minute Lorenzo Bettini got injured and had to move to the wing (at that time no substitutions were possible). Marco Savioni could have also scored for the Piedmontese but his volley off an Arce assist was too high. In the 44th minute Savioni hit another crossbar. Towards the end of the first half Renzo Burini was fouled in the box by Rino De Togni but the referee was not impressed.
This fact created tension among the players and it was not helped by offsides in the 56th and 58th minute called against Helge Bronee and Andrea Marzani that according to La Stampa (slightly biased in favour of Novara) were non-existent. In the 74th minute Luigi Fuin tried a shot from outside the box, Ivano Corghi fumbled but managed to avoid the ball going in. The Lazio players protested and the ref, after having spoken to the linesman, gave the Biancocelesti the goal. Corghi, fuming, decided he’d had enough and began to walk away. It took several teammates and the manager to convince him to continue playing.
In the 80th minute Antonio Baira was sent off for dissent and six minutes later Lazio scored their second. Selmosson was fouled in the box by Corghi and the referee indicated the spot kick. Burini made no mistake.
A difficult and lucky win for the Biancocelesti.
Who played for Lazio
Lovati, Molino, Di Veroli, Villa, Giovannini, Fuin, Olivieri, Burini, Bettini, Selmosson, Muccinelli
Manager: Ferrero
TD: Copernico
Who played for Novara
Corghi, Pombia, De Togni, Feccia, De Giovanni, Baira, Marzani, Eidefjall, Arce, Bronée, Savioni.
Manager: Ottina
Referee: Griggi
Goals: 74’ Fuin, 86’ Burini (pen)
What happened next
Two games later Copernico and Ferrero were sacked and in came Jesse Carver who had managed Juventus, Torino and Roma. Things went decisively better under the English manager and the Biancocelesti started to climb up the table, thanks also to the fact that there were a lot of teams in a few points. After match 26 they were fourth together with Atalanta, Spal, Roma, Padova, and Sampdoria. The third place was reached with three games to go and maintained to the end (in the company of Inter). Lazio had beaten Bologna, Inter, Milan and Napoli away from home plus Roma and Juventus at the Olimpico.
One interesting fact was that the game against Roma had been postponed due to snow, something that happens very rarely in the capital.
Selmosson was the player with most appearances (34) and the leading goal scorer together with Muccinelli (10).
Lazio 1955-56
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 54 |
Top five appearances
Player | Serie A |
Selmosson | 34 |
Bettini | 32 |
Lovati | 32 |
Molino | 32 |
Muccinelli | 32 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Serie A |
Bettini | 12 |
Selmosson | 10 |
Muccinelli | 10 |
Burini | 7 |
Vivolo | 5 |
Let's talk about Attilio Giovannini
Attilio Giovannini was born on July 30, 1924 at San Michele Extra, near Verona, He started his career in the local team and after the war signed for Bolzano. In 1947 he moved to Tuscany to play for Lucchese in Serie A showing a lot of promise, so much that Inter bought him in 1948.
He stayed for six years in Milan forming a formidable defensive midfield alongside Maino Neri and Fulvio Nesti. He made 191 league appearances and won the scudetto twice, in 1952-53 and in 1953-54 both under, former Lazio player, Alfredo Foni
In 1954 he signed for the Biancocelesti and stayed two years. He was not as strong as in his Inter years and was probably past his prime. He made 45 appearances for Lazio and in 1956 went to play his last year in active football in Serie D with Nissena.
Giovannini played 13 times for Italy including a game in the 1950 World Cup (where Italy lost to Sweden 3-2).
After he finished playing, he tried a managerial career but coached just one year at Nissena. He died in New York on February 18, 2005.
Lazio Career
Season | Appearances Serie A |
1954-55 | 31 |
1955-56 | 14 |
Total | 45 |
Sources
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