Gabriele Savino had a very long career starting in 1976 and finishing in 1994, but he never made it to Serie A.
Born on February 6, 1960, in Vercelli, he started playing football for his hometown in Serie C and in 1978 signed for Trecate in Serie D. He then gradually worked his way up the tiers and after stints at Novara, Legnano and Carrarese, signed for Vicenza in Serie B in 1985. He stayed a couple of years there but in 1987 the club was relegated to Serie C1 after the dramatic Lazio - Vicenza match.
His next club would be Lazio. The Biancocelesti had gone through a mini revolution and the objective was a return to Serie A. Savino struggled in the beginning and was not playing well. Neither were Lazio however, and after the first half of the season they were fifth. But that last game was a turnaround. The Biancocelesti managed to draw a difficult game at Taranto 3-3 with a Savino brace and things went better from then on . Lazio conquered Serie A in the last game against the Apulians at the Olimpico.
Savino gave a good contribution to the cause: 40 appearances and 10 goals. Once he started to play better so did Lazio and Serie A became there for the taking. He was going to be confirmed but there was a change of plan in July as Eugenio Fascetti was sacked following an argument with President Gian Marco Calleri over the sale of Paolo Monelli.
Savino was no longer wanted and in the autumn transfer window he was sold to Brescia. In two years, he made 68 league appearances with 11 goals. After this experience he went to play for Lucchese in Serie B but made only 10 appearances. His last years of active football were with Mantova in Serie C2, Treviso and Valdagno in the amateur leagues.
Savino was an excellent midfielder who scored plenty of goals. But the club did not think he was Serie A quality and with Fascetti leaving he was no longer considered useful for the Lazio cause. But he will be remembered for being one of the protagonists of the return to Serie A.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1987-88 | 41 | 36 | 5 |
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