Lazio sink Gre-No Li and Co
A Remondini winner gives Lazio great win and dents Milan's title hopes
Also on this day
The season so far
Lazio had finished 13th in Serie A the previous season. The manager was first Orlando Tognotti (1-10) and then Mario Sperone. The highlights were beating Bologna 8-2, Genoa, Modena and Palermo all 5-1 and Triestina 4-0. Both derbies ended up in draws. Top scorer was Romano Penzo with 12 league goals.
This season Sperone stayed on as manager and Lazio were active on the transfer market. Arriving were: keeper Lucidio Sentimenti IV (Juventus), defender Zeffiro Furiassi (Fiorentina), midfielders Flavio Cecconi (Atalanta) and Vittorio Sentimenti III (Juventus) plus forward Dionisio Arce (Sporting Luqueño).
Leaving were: keepers Uber Gradella (retiring) and Marco Brandolin (Udinese), midfielders Salvador Gualtieri (Vicenza) and Guido Tavellin (Verona-on loan), Paolo Todeschini (Napoli) plus forward Costantino De Andreis (Napoli).
So far Lazio were in 5th place. The Biancocelesti had won 10 (including Roma 3-1 and Juventus 2-1 away), drawn 7 (including recent derby 0-0) and lost 7.
Milan had finished 3rd the previous season, under future Lazio manager Giuseppe Bigogno. The Rossoneri had beaten Lazio twice, 3-0 at home and 3-2 away. Top scorer was Riccardo Carapellese with 17 league goals.
This season the manager was Hungarian Lajos Czeizler. Some important players had been signed: keeper Lorenzo Buffon, second cousin to Gianluigi, (Portogruarese), midfielders Nils Liedholm (IFK Norrköping), Benigno De Grandi (Seregno) plus forwards Enrico Candiani (Pro Patria), Giuseppe Rinaldi (Pescara) and Gunnar Gren (IFK Göteborg).
The famous Gre-No-Li trio was thus formed (Nordhal had arrived in January 1949).
Leaving the Rossoneri were: defender Edy Gratton (Sampdoria), midfielders Giuseppe Antonini (Reggiana after 268 league games), Albert Gudmundsson (RC Paris), Paddy Sloan (Udinese), Gianni Toppan (Lucchese) plus forwards Riccardo Carapellese (Torino), Pietro Degano (Venezia), Elio Onorato (Lucchese) and Héctor Puricelli (Legnano).
The Diavolo was currently in 2nd place, only one point behind leaders Juventus. They came from six consecutive wins (including Juventus 7-1 away). The Rossoneri had won 18 (including Bari 9-1 and Pro Patria 7-1), drawn 3 and lost 4 (including an incredible derby 5-6 to Inter). The game at home to Lazio in October had ended in a goalless draw.
Milan were favourites today but Lazio were improving.
The match: Thursday, February 23, 1950, Stadio Nazionale, Rome
A glorious, sunny day in the capital attracted a capacity crowd of about 35,000 with many spectators not able to get in.
Lazio were without midfielder Flavio Cecconi and forward Aldo Puccinelli while Milan had forward Enrico Candiani missing, replaced by Aurelio Santagostino.
In the first twenty minutes Milan were in control with quick and precise movements but Lazio's defence stood firm. The Rossoneri were superior but Leandro Remondini and Francesco Antonazzi in particular were superb. In the first quarter Lazio hardly got out of their own half.
Then in the 24th minute Lazio unexpectedly scored. Vittorio Sentimenti III won back possession and served Mario Magrini who took a few steps forward and let off a blistering shot from about 30 metres out which into the top hand corner. Lazio 1 Milan 0.
Milan were now less flashy but still dangerous. In the 26th minute Dionisio Arce bicycle kicked the ball to safety from near the goal line. In the 30th minute the Rossoneri were awarded a penalty. Santagostino teed up Nils Liedholm who was about to shoot when he was pulled down by Remondini. Gunnar Gren took it and, despite Lucidio Sentimenti IV getting a hand to it, managed to equalise. Lazio 1 Milan 1.
Three minutes later the Lazio keeper dived low at Gunnar Nordahl's feet to avoid the danger.
In the 36th minute Lazio took back the lead. Norberto Höfling lobbed the ball to Enrique "El Flaco" Flamini who lobbed hesitant Omero Tognon and Carlo Belloni, Lorenzo Buffon was just about to come out to catch the ball when Romano Penzo pounced and headed in. Lazio 2 Milan 1.
Halftime came with the Romans still in front. Lazio had defended brilliantly for prolonged periods and seldomly attacked but had struck twice.
In the second half Milan had far more difficulties threatening. Nordahl pulled back a bit but Gren was absent today, Renzo Burini too isolated and Liedholm marked well by Romolo Alzani.
Milan's equaliser therefore came a bit out of the blue. In the 60th minute Liedholm put in a good cross and his compatriot Nordahl headed in from close range. Lazio 2 Milan 2.
Two minutes later Lazio were awarded a freekick at the edge of the box for a foul by Tognon on Arce. Remondini took it while Magrini joined the Milan defenders in the wall but then at the last second moved away and that's exactly where the ball passed. Buffon was caught unawares, Lazio 3 Milan 2.
Lazio at this point decided to go for the old "catenaccio" to defend the fort. Their backline was solid as a rock and the visitors struggled to get into the Biancocelesti's area.
The Devil tried with long range shots by Liedholm, Tognon, Carlo Annovazzi and Nordahl but none of them worried "Cochi" Sentimenti. Final score Lazio 3 Milan 2.
The players and fans celebrated wildly at the final whistle. A great win for Lazio against Scudetto candidates. A success based on superb defending, resilience and hard work by the whole team.
Lazio were now joint 4th with Fiorentina on 31 points. Milan were still second but now three points behind leaders Juventus who had won 4-1 away at Pro Patria.
Who played for Lazio
Sentimenti IV, Antonazzi, Remondini, Furiassi, Alzani, Sentimenti III, Höfling, Magrini, Arce, Flamini, Penzo I
Manager: Sperone
Who played for Milan
Buffon, Belloni, Foglia, Annovazzi, Tognon, Bonomi, Burini, Gren, Nordahl, Liedholm, Santagostino
Manager: Czeizler
Referee: Pieri
Goals: 24' Magrini, 30' Gren (pen), 37' Penzo, 60' Nordahl, 62' Remondini
What happened next
Lazio had a good season and finished 4th, on 46 points. In the remaining 12 games Lazio won 6 (including Inter 3-2 at home), drew 3 and lost 3. Top scorer was Norberto Höfling with 13 league goals.
Milan finished 2nd, on 57 points, five behind Juventus. In the remaining games the Rossoneri won 9 (including derby 3-1, Torino 7-0, Novara 5-0 and Roma 6-2) and lost 3. Top scorer was Swede Gunnar Nordahl with 35 league goals.
With Juventus Champions for the 8th time at the opposite end Bari and Venezia slumped down to Serie B.
Let's talk about Nils Liedholm
Nils Erik Liedholm was born in Valdemarsvik in south-east Sweden on October 8, 1922.
His first club at youth level was local Valdemarsvik. He started playing football relatively late as his father wanted him to continue working as an accountant.
In 1942 he joined Sleipner in Norrköping. At the time they were a big club in Sweden having won the Allsvenskan league title in 1938 and were runners up in the 1941 Swedish Cup. Liedholm stayed four years (including the war years) and played 60 league games with 24 goals.
In 1946 he joined IFK Norrköping who were taking over as the main local club. He stayed three seasons with "Snoka" playing 48 league games with 22 goals. He won two league titles in 1947 and 1948.
In 1949 he went to Italy and joined A.C Milan. On leaving he told his dad: "Don't worry I'll be back in a year or two at the most". He stayed eleven successful seasons winning the Scudetto 4 times (1951, '55, '57 and '59). He played a total of 394 games with 89 goals. He was captain between 1956 and 1961. His attacking partnership with fellow Swedes Gunnar Gren and Gunnar Nordahl became legendary, the wonderful Gre- No-Li.
At 38 he retired but another successful chapter as a manager was about to begin.
At international level Liedholm won 23 caps for Sweden and scored 12 goals. He would have played more but between 1949 and June 1958 players abroad were not eligible. He won a runner up medal at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, losing 1-4 to Pelė's Brazil. Liedholm scored Sweden's goal in the final thus becoming the oldest player ever to score in a World Cup final, a record still today. He also won Olympic Gold at the 1948 London Olympics.
As mentioned, on retiring Liedholm went into coaching. He started collaborating with Milan and then became manager from 1964 to 1966 (2nd and 7th).
He then coached Verona for two seasons winning promotion to Serie A in his second year.
In 1968-69 he spent a year at Monza in Serie B finishing 11th.
In 1971 he joined Fiorentina and stayed two seasons. The Viola finished 5th and 4th.
In 1973 he moved to Roma, from the 7th fixture onwards, and stayed four seasons in the capital. The Giallorossi finished 8th (and Lazio won Scudetto), 3rd, 10th and 7th.
In 1977 he returned to Milan for two seasons. In the first season the Rossoneri finished 4th but then won the Scudetto in 1979 (Milan's first star).
Liedholm then went back to Roma for another five seasons. The Lupi finished 6th, 2nd, 3rd, 1st, and 2nd. Apart from the Scudetto they also won the Coppa Italia three times. In 1984 they reached the European Cup final but lost to Liverpool on penalties in Rome after a 1-1 draw. So, a successful period with some great players such as Paulo Roberto Falcao, Bruno Conti, Agostino Di Bartolomei, Roberto Pruzzo to name a few.
In 1984 he returned to Milan for almost another three seasons. The Diavolo finished 5th, 7th and 5th but in the third season he was replaced by Fabio Capello after 25 games. The Silvio Berlusconi era had begun.
In 1987 he returned to Roma for a third stint but this time as technical director with Angelo Sormani officially manager. The Giallorossi finished 3rd. The following season he stayed on, he was replaced by Luciano Lupi (with Luciano Spinosi as manager) from fixture 19 to 22 but then was called back (with Sormani) and Roma finished 8th.
He then took a break and looked after his wine business with his son Carlo. He owned an agricultural company (Tenuta "Villa Boemia") in Cuccaro Monferrato near Alessandria in Piedmont where the main production was wine. His wife too was from Piedmont.
In 1992 he returned to football briefly. In mid-March in the 1991-92 season he was called by struggling Verona during the season to take over from Eugenio Fascetti (after 0-2 defeat by Lazio). Liedholm then became technical director for the last four games with Mario Corso as manager. Verona however were relegated in 16th place.
He then had another break before his last involvement in football. In 1997 he was called by Roma to take over for the last eight games of the season. The Giallorossi were having a negative season under Argentine Carlos Bianchi. Roma then won 1, drew 2 (including Lazio 1-1), lost 5 and Roma finished 12th.
At 75 he called it a day and concentrated on his wine and punditry. A great career both as player and manager.
As a player he was a midfield playmaker. He was classy and intelligent with great tactical acumen. He was an altruistic player and a leader on the field. He played 502 games (359 in A) and scored 135 goals (89 in A). He won 4 league titles in Italy and 2 in Sweden. In 1999 he was voted the most important player in Swedish history.
As a manager he was known as "Il Barone" for his educated and calm manner. He was respected and liked by all (even Lazio fans). In Italy he was one of the first to play the "zona" in defence as opposed to man-to-man marking. He won two league titles (Milan and Roma), 3 Italian Cups (Roma) and a Serie B (Varese).
A Swede who became Italian and had great success as a player, manager and wine producer.
Liedholm died in Cuccaro Monferrato on November 5, 2007.
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