Gilberto Noletti was born in Cusano Milanino (Milan) on May 9, 1941.
He spent his formative years with Milan and won two Viareggio youth tournaments. In 1959-60 he joined the first team squad and in two seasons played 3 league games. His manager was Luigi Bonizzoni in the first season and Paolo Todeschini in the second. The Rossoneri finished 3rd and 2nd.
In 1961-62 he spent a year with Lazio on loan, following manager Todeschini who was then replaced after 21 games by Bob Lovati and finally Carlo Facchini. Lazio were in Serie B for the first time in their history and narrowly missed out on promotion by one point. Things were not helped by having a goal ridiculously disallowed in a potentially crucial game against Napoli in March. Against all evidence the linesman and then the referee claimed Lazio's goal had gone in and out through a hole in the net, the game ended 0-0 and Napoli were later promoted. Noletti played 23 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia.
In 1962-63 Milan loaned Noletti to Juventus. The Bianconeri had Brazilian Paolo Amaral as manager and finished 2nd in Serie A and won the Alps Cup. Noletti played 14 league games with 1 goal (Genoa).
In 1963 he returned to Milan where he stayed for four seasons. He played 72 league games and scored 2 goals (Roma, Napoli) plus 4 games in Coppa Italia, 1 in the Fairs Cup and 1 in the Mitropa Cup. The Rossoneri finished 3rd, 2nd, 7th and 8th. In 1963 Milan lost the Intercontinental Cup final against Pelé's Santos but in 1967 won the Coppa Italia, defeating Padova 1-0.
His managers were Luis Carniglia and Nils Liedholm the first year, Liedhom the second, Liedholm and then Giovanni Cattozzo in the third and Arturo Silvestri in the fourth. He played alongside future Lazio, Giuliano Fortunato (1967-72) and former Lazio Massimo Giacomini (1963-64) but also some greats such as Gianni Rivera, Giovanni Trapattoni, Pierino Prati, Angelo Sormani, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger, Giovanni Lodetti, Amarildo, Cesare Maldini and José Altafini to name a few.
In January 1967 however his career took a huge blow. He ruptured his Achilles tendon. In the summer of 1967, he was sold to Sampdoria but never played due to his injury.
He then signed for Lecco in Serie B. In the 1968-69 season the Blucelesti were relegated under former Lazio manager Renato Gei. Noletti played 18 league games.
He then spent three years with Sorrento. The Costieri were initially in Serie C and finished 4th, 1st (promoted) and 19th in B (relegated). In the first year his manager was Paolo Todeschini from his Milan and Lazio days. He played 75 league games with 6 goals. One of his teammates was a young Beppe Bruscolotti who would later win a Scudetto with Napoli in the Maradona years and another was future Lazio, Paolo Franzoni (1973-75).
Noletti's last club was Grosseto. He spent three seasons with the Maremmani in Serie C, finishing 9th, 7th and 10th. He played 63 league games with 5 goals. In his last season one of his teammates was former Lazio, Bruno Chinellato (1970-71).
At 35 Noletti retired.
In his youth he played 16 games for Italy U-21's, winning the Mediterranean Games twice, in 1959 and 1963. He also took part in the Rome 1960 Olympics with Italy finishing 4th.
Noletti was a defender. He was a good club player, as his 76 games for Milan show. His career at top level was cut short by injury at 25, otherwise it is more than likely he would have won several prestigious trophies to add to his Coppa Italia (Milan won a European Cup, a Scudetto, 2 Cup Winners Cups and the Coppa Italia twice between 1968 and 1973).
At Lazio he only spent one season on loan. It was an unlucky one for the Biancocelesti who narrowly missed out on promotion finishing 4th. Noletti however performed well and from Rome moved on to Juventus on loan.
Gilberto Noletti died in Forlì, on April 28, 2024.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1961-62 | 25 | 23 | 2 |
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