Giorgio Mastropasqua was born in Rivoli (Turin area) on July 13 1951.
He started his football career in the youth teams of Juventus. Having joined the first team in 1969, in 1970 he was sent on loan firstly to Perugia for a year and then two years at Ternana. In his first season with the Umbria club, Ternana got promoted in Serie A. In 1972 he debuted in Serie A and also played for Italy’s Under-23.
Ternana however was relegated to Serie B in his second year and Mastropasqua returned to Juventus. In 1973-74 he appeared 8 times for the Bianconeri and in 1974 he joined Atalanta as part of the Gaetano Scirea deal. He stayed for five years and helped the Bergamo side to promotion in Serie A in 1977. In 1979-80 he signed for Bologna and the year after he joined Lazio.
When he arrived Lazio were in Serie A and President Umberto Lenzini was building a team that on the cards could have had European ambitions, but unfortunately Lazio were relegated to Serie B (unjustifiably but that’s another story) due to the Totonero scandal. Lazio were however favourites to come straight back up, but failed in the penultimate match when Stefano Chiodi missed a penalty that could have meant promotion. In Mastropasqua’s second year Lazio were very disappointing and only just managed to avoid relegation in Serie C.
Mastropasqua left and joined Catania and was one of the key players that helped the islanders reach Serie A (his third promotion). The last years of his professional career were spent at Piacenza and Pavia.
Mastropasqua was a modern “libero”. He was not one of those sweepers that defended behind the defence line, but he played ten meters forward, almost at midfield. He had good technique and was unlucky to have joined Lazio at the wrong time.
He was however ultimately fundamental in helping Lazio return to Serie A. In Lazio’s penultimate game of the 1982-83 season, the Biancocelesti had to face Mastropasqua’s Catania. It was a very important game, a win from either side would have almost secured promotion. In the second half, the match was 1-1 when Mastropasqua deflected an innocuous Gabriele Podavini shot into his own goal. Lazio won and needed only a point in the last game to go back to Serie A. In the end both teams were promoted.
He appeared 78 times for Lazio (69 in Serie B and nine in Coppa Italia) and scored five goals (all in Serie B)
When he stopped playing football he became a manager and worked for several amateur clubs in the Bergamo area.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Appearances (goals) | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1980-81 | 41 (4) | 36 (4) | 5 |
1981-82 | 37 (1) | 33 (1) | 4 |
Total | 78 (5) | 69 (5) | 9 |
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