Guido Gratton was born on September 23, 1932 in Monfalcone, near Gorizia.
He started playing football with Parma in 1949-50 in Serie C and in the next season he was at Vicenza where he stayed for two years both in Serie B. He debuted in Serie A with Como in 1952-53 where he played 30 games with 3 goals.
In 1953 he signed for Fiorentina. He stayed seven years, won a scudetto in 1955-56, lost the European Cup final in 1957 to Real Madrid, and the Coppa Italia final twice, in 1958 against Lazio and in 1960 to Juventus. He became one of the most important players in that wonderful team coached by Fulvio Bernardini, making 193 league appearances with 23 goals.
In 1960-61 he signed for Napoli and stayed a season. The year after he joined Lazio in the infamous 1961-62 season. He had signed for Inter but the manager, Helenio Herrera, did not take him into consideration so in the autumn transfer window he moved to Rome.
Lazio had just been relegated to Serie B for the first time in their history and were looking for an immediate promotion back to the elite football of Serie A. The season was determined by a ghost goal against Napoli, that eventually was crucial for Napoli’s promotion and Lazio having to stay in Serie B for another year. He did not play much, just 5 appearances, but it was his last professional season. He was fondly remembered at Lazio for his professionalism. His last year in active football was with Impruneta, an amateur club near Florence.
At International level, Gratton played 11 games for Italy (with three goals) and was part of the the 1954 World Cup squad, but did not play.
He was briefly manager for Salernitana in 1969-70 and later on the bench for Paganese and Foligno.
Gratton died on November 26 1996, in Bagno di Ripoli near Florence, when a group of thieves broke into the tennis club he was managing. They hit him with chairs and racquets and he was found in the morning unconscious in a pool of blood. He never woke up.
Lazio Career
Season | Serie B appearances |
1961-62 | 5 |
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