Franzoni is enough
An early goal by the reserve forward proves sufficient for the two points
Also on this day:
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had won their historic first Scudetto. Led by manager Tommaso Maestrelli the Biancocelesti had beaten Foggia on May 12 to become Italian champions. The celebrations had gone on all summer in Rome and all over the region.
In the meantime, Italy had taken part in the World Cup in Germany. There had already been some controversy because Lazio as title holders had hoped and expected to have a few more players called up. Instead, only three were included and of those only Giorgio Chinaglia had got playing time. His campaign ended in a black cloud too as he openly criticised the manager Ferruccio Valcareggi's decision to substitute him in the game against Haiti, with eloquent hand gestures. The gesture itself was quite tame for modern standards and was not openly rude but clearly lacking respect. In Italy however there was an uproar and Chinaglia was a sort of scapegoat for Italy's fiasco. Lazio, already unpopular for having broken Juventus' dominance, were now whistled everywhere they went in their northern pre-season friendlies due to Chinaglia's antics.
More disappointing was Lazio not being able to represent Italy in the European Cup, due to a one-year ban after the previous year's Lazio vs Ipswich incidents (pitch invasion, brawls etc) in a UEFA Cup tie.
The summer market the squad had gone largely untouched. The main arrival was midfielder Roberto Badiani (Sampdoria) while leaving were midfielders Pierpaolo Manservisi (Mantova) and Ferruccio Mazzola (Sant' Angelo).
In August-September there had been the Coppa Italia to play. Lazio were in a group with Atalanta, Genoa, Pescara and Roma. Lazio had drawn two, 0-0 away to Atalanta and 2-2 at home to Genoa and lost two, 1-2 away at Pescara and the derby 0-1. Lazio were therefore out of the cup.
The league had started well and Lazio won their first three games. They then slowed down a bit with 3 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats (derby 0-1 and Inter 1-2 at home). Then Lazio had won the big match against Juventus followed by one win (Milan 3-0), a bad defeat at Ascoli and two draws. Lazio were currently in 2nd place on 21 points, 3 points behind leaders Juventus.
Vicenza had finished 12th the previous season under Uruguayan manager Héctor Puricelli. The Biancorossi had lost both matches against Lazio 0-3. Top scorers were Oscar Damiani and Angelo Sormani with 5 league goals each.
This season the manager was still Puricelli. The main new signings were: defender Roberto De Petri (back from Reggina), midfielder Gianluigi Savoldi (Juventus - on loan via Cesena) plus forward Gian Paolo Galuppi (back from Como).
Leaving Vicenza were: forwards Ezio Vendrame (Napoli) and Oscar Damiani (Juventus).
Vicenza were struggling and currently 13th, on 11 points, just one above the relegation zone. The Lane had won 3, drawn 5 and lost 8 (including Lazio 1-2). A week earlier they had drawn 0-0 at home to Cagliari.
In Coppa Italia the Berici were eliminated in the summer after 1 win (Ascoli 1-0 away), 1 draw (Brindisi 3-3 at home) and 2 defeats (Novara 0-1 away and Inter 1-2 at home).
Today was a game Lazio were expected to win and really had to if they wanted to keep up their title challenge.
The match: Sunday, February 9, 1975, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A nice and sunny February day brought about 40,000 fans to the Olimpico.
Lazio were missing both Renzo Garlaschelli and Luciano Re Cecconi replaced by Paolo Franzoni and Roberto Badiani.
Vicenza had to do without defender Giuseppe Longoni.
The game immediately set itself up well for Lazio. In the 3rd minute they took the lead when Franzoni beat former Lazio keeper Michelangelo Sulfaro. The visitors claimed the Lazio forward had touched the ball with his hand but the goal stood. Lazio 1 Vicenza 0. A perfect start for the Biancocelesti.
Lazio insisted, hoping to bury the visitors in goals like the previous season. In the 5th minute Giorgio Chinaglia was set up by Franco Nanni but Sulfaro saved his shot into corner. In the 14th minute Franzoni's header hit the outside of the post.
Shortly after Vicenza finally showed some signs of life when Felice Pulici had to keep out an Angelo Sormani freekick.
In the 22nd minute Lazio had a huge chance but Badiani one-on-one with the keeper hit him and on the rebound Franzoni looked certain to score but his shot was inadvertently deflected by Chinaglia and went out. In the 26th minute Franzoni, teed up by Chinaglia, was just anticipated by Sulfaro.
At this point Vicenza definitely stirred. Mario Perego went past a hobbling Vincenzo D'Amico and crossed to Giorgio Bernardis whose header hit the crossbar. In the 35th minute Bernardis threatened again, he got the better of Nanni but shot wide.
Lazio had the last say but Chinaglia's left footed effort was weak and comfortably saved by Sulfaro. Halftime Lazio 1 Vicenza 0.
In the second half Lazio seemed intent on merely controlling the game. Bernardis continued to be lively and in the 55th minute Sormani had another freekick palmed away into corner by Pulici.
In the 59th minute Lazio went close when a Chinaglia volley came off a defender and spun up to Nanni whose header shaved the post.
In the 63rd minute the visitors were dangerous. Gian Paolo Galuppi crossed and Pino Wilson and Giancarlo Oddi ran into each other and the ball reached Sormani in front of goal but Pulici rushed off his line and the Brazilian forward kicked the keeper instead of the ball. "Felix" was injured but managed to continue.
The game then went a bit quiet with Lazio content with administering their lead. Some of the home fans were not too pleased with this tactic and some whistles were heard from the stands.
In the 66th minute D'Amico finally gave in to the injury he had been carrying around since the first half and defender Sergio Petrelli came on. Tommaso Maestrelli decided to move Mario Frustalupi to mark Bernardis as Nanni was struggling to control the Vicenza number 4.
The game petered out and only came to life again in the 90th minute but Nanni fired over the bar from a good position. Fulltime Lazio 1 Vicenza 0.
An important win for Lazio after two draws. They had not been dominant, maybe deluded early on that the game would be without any particular risks.
Lazio maintained their second place, still three points behind leaders Juventus who had beaten Milan 2-0 away.
Vicenza dropped to 15th. The Biancorossi were now penultimate and one point behind Cagliari, Sampdoria, Varese and Ternana.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Ghedin, Martini, Wilson, Oddi, Nanni, Franzoni, Badiani, Chinaglia, Frustalupi, D'Amico (66' Petrelli)
Manager: Maestrelli
Who played for Vicenza
Sulfaro, Gorin, Perego, Bernardis, Ferrante, Berni, Galuppi, Savoldi II, Sormani, Faloppa, Vitali
Substitutes: Bardin, Stivanello, Zuliani
Manager: Puricelli
Referee: Gussoni
Goal: 3' Franzoni
What happened next
Lazio were consistently 2nd for much of the year but ultimately did not repeat the previous triumphant season despite still challenging for the Scudetto until March. Then a derby defeat and Tommaso Maestrelli having to take a pause due to a diagnosis of cancer definitely ended their hopes. The players with tears in their eyes then crumbled 1-5 at home to Torino. In the end Lazio finished 4th and qualified for the UEFA Cup. For the last five games the "Maestro" was replaced on the bench by Bob Lovati. Top scorer was Giorgio Chinaglia with 14 league goals.
Vicenza finished 14th and were relegated. In the next 13 games the Biancorossi won 2 (including Milan 2-0 at home), drew 6 (including Inter 0-0 away) and lost 5. They ended with 21 points, three from the last survival spot (Sampdoria and Ascoli on 24). Top scorer was Alessandro Vitali with 8 league goals.
Juventus won their 16th Scudetto while Vicenza were accompanied down by Ternana and Varese (Vicenza are the only ones who have ever been back but now not since 2001 and are now in Serie C).
Let's talk about Paolo Franzoni
Paolo Franzoni was born in Livorno, on January 15, 1948.
He started playing football with local G.S Rosignano Solvay and then at 17 joined Reggiana in Serie B. He only played one league game under Romolo Bizzotto and the Granata finished 15th.
In 1966 he changed team but not colours as he joined Torino in Serie A. The manager was Marino Bergamasco (with Nereo Rocco as T.D) but Franzoni never made his debut for Toro who finished 7th. His teammates included future Lazio, Carlo Facchin and Giambattista Moschino.
In 1967 he went home and joined Livorno on loan in Serie B. He played 4 league games under Leandro Remondini and the Amaranto finished 7th.
In 1968 he joined Como, again on loan, in Serie B. The manager was Franco Viviani and Franzoni played 17 league games with 2 goals (Monza, SPAL). The Lariani finished 6th.
In 1969 he signed for Piacenza in Serie B. In his first year the "Lupi" were relegated while in his second they finished 15th in C1. Franzoni played 78 league games and scored 10 goals.
In 1971 he joined Sorrento in Serie B. The manager was first Nicola D'Alessio and then Pasquale Atripaldi and the Rossoneri were relegated. Franzoni played 28 league games with 5 goals.
In 1972 he changed coast and joined Brindisi in Serie B. The manager of the "Messapici" was future Lazio, Luis Vinicio and they finished 7th. Franzoni played 37 league games and scored 6 goals.
In 1973 came his big chance and he joined Lazio in Serie A. The manager was legendary Tommaso Maestrelli. The Biancocelesti had gone close to the Scudetto the previous year and were now giving it another shot. It turned out to be a triumphant season and Lazio won their first ever Italian title. Franzoni made a good contribution with 10 league appearances with 1 goal (Roma) and 6 games in Coppa Italia.
The following year Lazio finished 4th. Their season was affected by Maestrelli's deteriorating health, in April for the last six matches he was replaced by Roberto Lovati so he could undergo treatment. Lazio's best results were beating Juventus 1-0 and Milan 3-0, both at home. Franzoni again played 10 league games with 2 goals (Bologna, Vicenza, both winners) and 3 games in Coppa Italia. The Biancocelesti were unable to play in the European Cup as they had been banned for a year (originally it had been three) following the ugly scenes after the home game against Ipswich the previous season.
The following season, in 1975-76, Franzoni joined Avellino in Serie B. The manager was first Antonio Giammarinaro (1-13) and then Corrado Viciani (14-38) and the Irpini finished 9th. Franzoni played 29 league games with 4 goals. One of his teammates was former Lazio, Rino Gritti.
In 1976-77 he signed for Ternana in Serie B. He played under three different managers; Edmondo Fabbri (1-11), Cesare Maldini (12-24) and Omero Andreani (25-38). The Rossoverdi finished 14th and Franzoni played 21 league games with 1 goal.
In 1977-78 he joined Piacenza on loan in Serie C. The "Piace" managers were Ezio Galbiati (1-29) and Sergio Montanari (30-38) and they finished 4th allowing them to participate in the following year's new C1 league. Franzoni played 25 league games with 5 goals.
Franzoni's last club was Frosinone in 1978-79. The Ciocari, under Adelmo Eufemi and then former Lazio Umberto Mannocci, finished 18th in C2 and were relegated to Serie D. Franzoni played 20 league games with 2 goals.
Franzoni then retired at 31.
He then became a manager starting where he had played in the early 70's, Sorrento. In 1981-82 he took the Rossoneri to 12th place in C2.
In 1982-83 he was back at another old haunt, Gioventù Brindisi in C2. The Biancazzurri were relegated and then folded in 1985.
In 1983-84 he was at Sant'Elena (Quartucciu-Cagliari) in C2. It was an unfortunate season and the Sardinians were kicked out of the league halfway through for bankruptcy (the first case in Italy).
In 1984-85 he was back on the mainland with Civitavecchia (a port north of Rome) in C2. "La Vecchia" finished 12th.
In 1985-86 he returned to Sardinia but to the north-west and was in charge at Alghero in Interregionale (regional amateur level). The "Catalani" (The Catalans) finished 7th.
After a few years break in 1991-92 he reappeared at Bolzano in Interregionale and the Eagles finished 6th. That was his last direct involvement in football.
Franzoni was a forward who played more for the centre-forwards than for himself. He was the classic "spalla" (sidekick /partner). He had a nomadic career up and down the country but his peak was at Lazio.
At Lazio he stayed two years with 29 appearances and 3 goals.
He will forever be remembered as Italian champion at Lazio. He was a reserve in the Scudetto winning team of 1973-74 but a reserve who got 10 league games and scored a crucial goal in the first of the two winning derbies of that incredible season. An integral part of Maestrelli's squad and deservedly "Campione d'Italia".
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1973-74 | 16 (1) | 10 (1) | 6 |
1974-75 | 13 (2) | 10 (2) | 3 |
Total | 29 (3) | 20 (3) | 9 |
Sources
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