Giuliano Fortunato, forward, was born in Tricesimo near Udine on May 12, 1940.
He began his career in the youth teams of Pro Gorizia and in 1959 he signed for Triestina in Serie B. After two years, he moved to Vicenza in Serie A and debuted on September 10 1961 against Catania. He scored his only goal of the season in that match.
In the autumn transfer window of 1962 he signed for Milan. He played five years with the Rossoneri but he was never really able to become a first choice player and never played more than 17 games a season. He did however win a European Cup in 1963 and a Coppa Italia in 1967.
In 1967 he joined Lazio. On his arrival the Biancocelesti were in Serie B and coached first by Roberto Gei and then Bob Lovati. Lazio finished 11th and Fortunato was top scorer with 5 league goals.
The following year Juan Carlos Lorenzo arrived as manager and Lazio won the league earning promotion back to Serie A. Fortunato played 35 league games with 8 goals, plus 2 games in Coppa Italia.
In 1969-70 Lazio had a good season in Serie A finishing 8th. He played 20 league games with 2 goals (Roma and Bari), plus 3 games in Coppa Italia.
The 1970-71 season was not as positive. Lazio were relegated back to Serie B with a 15th place finish. Fortunato played 19 league games with 1 goal (Foggia) and 2 games in Coppa Italia. Lazio did however win the Cup of the Alps beating Basel 3-1 in the final. He played 5 games and scored one goal in the tournament.
The 1971-72 season would be Fortunato's last with Lazio but it was a positive one. Under the wise guidance of new manager Tommaso Maestrelli, Lazio won promotion back to Serie A with a 2nd place finish. He played 24 league games and 9 in Coppa Italia. So Fortunato won his second promotion but then parted ways. He moved to Lecce in Serie C where he ended his career.
Fortunato was a strong centre forward with good feet. He played 160 games for Lazio (39 in Serie A, 93 in Serie B, 18 in Coppa Italia, 2 in the Intercities Fairs Cup, one in the Mitropa Cup 2 in the Anglo-Italian Cup and 5 in the Cup of the Alps) and scored 16 goals (3 in Serie A, 13 in Serie B and one in the Cup of the Alps).
He died in Tricesimo on September 23, 2022.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia | Fairs Cup | Mitropa Cup | Anglo-Italian Cup | Cup of the Alps |
1967-68 | 36 (5) | - | 34 (5) | 2 | - | - | - | - |
1968-69 | 37 (8) | - | 35 (8) | 2 | - | - | - | - |
1969-70 | 26 (2) | 20 (2) | - | 3 | - | 1 | 2 | - |
1970-71 | 28 (2) | 19 (1) | - | 2 | 2 | - | - | 5 (1) |
1971-72 | 33 | - | 24 | 9 | - | - | - | - |
Total | 160 (17) | 39 (3) | 93 (13) | 18 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 (1) |
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