Vagheggi factor transforms Lazio
After a dire first half the replacement striker wins freekick for first goal, hits a crossbar and scores Lazio’s second.
Also on this day: January 3, 1993, Ancona Lazio 0-3. Lazio adapt well to difficult conditions, take the lead, weather the Ancona storm and then close game with two more late goals. Player of the day: Diego Fuser
The season so far
Lazio had an unlucky 80-81 season under Ilario Castagner. They finished 4th narrowly missing out on promotion. A missed penalty in the penultimate game condemned them to at least another season in the "purgatory" of Serie B.
Ilario Castagner had been confirmed as manager, but several new players had come in, as well as some back from loan periods. Fan favourite Vincenzo D'Amico had returned from his year at Torino, as had Stefano Ferretti from Empoli and Roberto Badiani from Pistoiese. Lazio had also bought defender Vincenzo Chiarenza (Taranto), midfielder Michele De Nadai (a rare signing from rivals Roma) and forwards Walter Speggiorin (Napoli) and Claudio Vagheggi (L.R Vicenza).
Leaving Lazio were defenders Filippo Citterio (Napoli) and Pietro Ghedin (Pistoiese), midfielder Giuseppe Greco (Ascoli) and forward Stefano Chiodi (Bologna on loan).
Lazio had got off to a sluggish start with 1 point in the first 3 games but then picked up slightly. Lazio had won 6, drawn 4 and lost 5, so on 16 points in joint 6th position with four other teams. Unfortunately, one defeat had come the previous week, 0-1 away at Bari.
In Coppa Italia, in August/ September, the Biancocelesti had lost 3 (Reggina 1-1 but then 0-2 for an object hitting a visiting player, Udinese 1-2 and Pisa 0-2, both away) and drawn 1 (Bologna 1-1 at home) and were out.
Verona had finished 16th the previous season under Giancarlo Cadė.
This season the Gialloblu had a new manager, Osvaldo Bagnoli. They had also brought in a lot of new players: former Lazio keeper Claudio Garella (Sampdoria), defenders Alberto Cavasin (SPAL), midfielders Antonio Di Gennaro (Perugia), Mauro Marmaglio (Inter), Carlo Odorizzi (Genoa), Pellegrino Valente (Avellino), Luigi Manueli (Genoa) plus forwards Sauro Fattori (Fiorentina -on loan), Mauro Gibellini (SPAL) and Domenico Penzo (Brescia).
Leaving were: keeper Paolo Conti (Sampdoria), defenders Carmine Gentile (Genoa), Mauro Ioriatti (SPAL), midfielder Fabio Ferri (Cremonese), Giacomo Piangerelli (Avellino), Gabriele Valentini (Fano) plus forwards Luigi Capuzzo (SPAL), Nicola D'Ottavio (Brescia), Enzo Scaini (Perugia) and Nerio Ulivieri (Carrarese).
On paper the Scaligeri looked to have improved. So far, Verona had won 6, drawn 6 and lost 3. They were on 18 points, in 2nd position and two points above Lazio.
In the Coppa Italia in August/ September the Veronesi had won 3 (Milan 2-0, Pescara 2-0 and SPAL 3-1) and lost 1 (Inter 0-2) and been eliminated.
So today was a promotion clash of uncertain outcome. Verona possibly slight favourites but Lazio were unpredictable, playing at home and were not without some talented players.
The match: Sunday, January 3, 1982, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A grey early January day brought about 20,000 spectators to the Olimpico.
During the first half most of them probably wished they had stayed at home. Lazio were slow, timid and lacking in ideas. Verona were on top for the whole first period but were guilty of not transforming their clear superiority into chances. Despite their dominance the Gialloblu only had one really big goal scoring opportunity with Carlo Odorizzi. The first half fizzled out on Lazio 0 Verona 0, to whistles pouring down on the Laziali.
The second half saw Roberto Badiani come on for a subdued Dario Sanguin. Lazio started to show some signs of life but it was not until the 55th minute that things really changed. A limping Walter Speggiorin was replaced by a more energetic Claudio Vagheggi and nothing was ever the same again.
Vagheggi ran on and transformed the game. He immediately caused havoc in the visitor’s defence and won a free kick in an attacking position. It was then floated into the area by Stefano Ferretti and headed in by Vincenzo D'Amico who, despite being no giant, outjumped a defender (the others were just watching), Lazio 1 Verona 0.
Vagheggi then continued his impressive impact on the game by hitting a crossbar and then scored Lazio's second. In the 81st minute he won a 50-50 ball and ran into the box, beating Garella with a low angled shot. Lazio 2 Verona 0. The whistles were long gone but now there was convinced applause from the Lazio faithful.
Verona tried to get back in the game but Felice Pulici saved well from a dangerous Domenico Penzo freekick. Final score Lazio 2 Verona 0.
An awful first half followed by a far more comforting second. Speggiorin's injury had been a blessing in disguise as Vagheggi had literally turned the game on its head. Lazio up to 4th in the table and looking forward with renewed optimism.
Verona had looked good in the first half but without the necessary urgency. They possibly thought Lazio were so bad that they would not be much threat, they had not calculated the Vagheggi factor and to be fair a general improvement of Lazio's attitude.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Spinozzi, Chiarenza, Mastropasqua, Pighin, De Nadai, Viola, Sanguin (46' Badiani), D'Amico, Ferretti, Speggiorin (55' Vagheggi)
Substitutes: Marigo, Pochesci, Garlaschelli
Manager: Castagner
Who played for Verona
Garella, Cavasin, E. Oddi (72' Fedele), Di Gennaro, Lelj, Tricella, Manueli (72' Fattori), Guidolin, Gibellini, Odorizzi, Penzo
Substitutes: Vannoli, Guidotti, Marmaglio
Manager: Bagnoli
Referee: Lanese
Goals: 55' D'Amico, 81' Vagheggi
What happened next
The optimism soon faded and Lazio went on to have a mediocre season. Lazio did not win another match until late February. On January 24 the Biancocelesti had replaced manager Castagner with Roberto Clagluna. Things didn't really improve and at one point Lazio even risked slipping down to C1. In April, Lazio didn't score a single goal for 4 consecutive matches. In the penultimate match of the season a D'Amico hat-trick in a 3-2 home victory against high flying Varese, after being 2-0 down, eventually saved Lazio's blushes. Despite losing 4 out of the last 5 games, Lazio finished 11th, on 37 points. D'Amico would be Lazio's top scorer with 10 goals.
Fortunately in the summer Italy won the '82 World Cup, leaving to an armistice for the players involved in the 1980 betting scandal. Hence Bruno Giordano and Lionello Manfredonia would be back the following season.
Verona had a fantastic season. They won the league and promotion to Serie A. The Gialloblu won 17 (including Lazio 3-2), drew 14 and lost 7. Top scorer was Domenico Penzo with 16 goals (14 in B) while Gibellini got 13 league goals and Di Gennaro 8. They went up with Sampdoria and Pisa.
The manager Bagnoli and three players, Garella, Tricella and Di Gennaro would then win the Scudetto three years later, in the 1984-85 season.
Lazio 1981-82
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie B | 38 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 38 |
Coppa Italia | 4 | - | 1 | 3 | 3 |
Total | 42 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 41 |
Top five apperances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Chiarenza | 41 | 37 | 4 |
Vagheggi | 38 | 34 | 4 |
De Nadai | 37 | 33 | 4 |
Mastropasqua | 37 | 33 | 4 |
Badiani | 33 | 31 | 2 |
D'Amico | 33 | 30 | 3 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
D'Amico | 10 | 10 | - |
Vagheggi | 9 | 9 | - |
De Nadai | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Ferretti | 4 | 3 | 1 |
Bigon | 3 | 3 | - |
Viola | 3 | 3 | - |
Let's talk about Claudio Vagheggi
Claudio Vagheggi was born in Lucignano (Arezzo), on October 4 1956. He started his professional career at 18 with Montevarchi in Serie C. He played two seasons with the Rossoblu with a 14th and 18th place (relegated on goal difference). He played 35 league games with 3 goals.
In 1976 he joined Varese in Serie B. The Bosini finished 8th under Pietro Maroso and Vagheggi played 3 league games. One of his teammates was young Giorgio Magnocavallo.
In 1977 he moved to Piedmont and signed for Alessandria in Serie C. The Grigi, under first Mario Trebbi and then Romano Mattė, finished 11th. Vagheggi played 35 league games and was top scorer with 9 goals.
In 1978 he joined Udinese in Serie B and stayed two seasons. In the first, the Bianconeri won the league under former Lazio player Massimo Giacomini and Vagheggi played 28 league games with 6 goals and 4 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal. In Serie A the Friulani survived finishing 13th, first under Corrado Orrico (1-22) and then Dino Alessi (23-30). Vagheggi played 16 league games with 2 goals (Inter, Ascoli) plus 3 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Matera). The Bianconeri also won the Mitropa Cup (Vagheggi got 1 goal -Čelik Zenica). One of his teammates was future Lazio, Angelo Cupini.
In 1980 he signed for Vicenza in Serie B. The manager was first Giulio Savoini (1-7) and then Corrado Viciani but the "Lane" finished 17th and were relegated. Vagheggi played 24 league games and scored 5 goals.
In 1981 he arrived in the capital, to Lazio. The Biancocelesti had just missed out on promotion the previous season and still had Ilario Castagner as manager (he would then be replaced by Roberto Clagluna in February). It was a difficult year for Lazio who struggled and even risked relegation to C1 but ultimately finished 11th. Vagheggi personally had a good year with 34 league games and 9 goals (Verona, Varese, SPAL, Foggia, Brescia, Pescara x2, Verona, Palermo) plus 4 games in Coppa Italia. With the return of Bruno Giordano however he was not kept on.
In 1982 he moved further south to Napoli in Serie A. He was reunited with manager Giacomini until he was sacked and replaced by Gennaro Rambone in late November. The Partenopei finished 10th. Vagheggi did not repeat his Lazio season and played 15 league games without scoring and 3 in Coppa Italia with no goals. He played alongside former Lazio Filippo Citterio and future Lazio Claudio Vinazzani.
In 1983 he moved on again and joined Cavese in Serie B. The "Aquilotti" (Eagles) from Campania did not repeat the positive previous season and were relegated. They tried three different managers; Maurizio Bruno, Umberto Pinardi and Ottavio Bugatti but finished 19th. Vagheggi played 35 league games with 3 goals (Cesena, Arezzo, Pistoiese) and 5 in Coppa Italia with 2 goals (Bologna, Cosenza)). His teammates included former Lazio, Maurizio Moscatelli and future Lazio, Ernesto Calisti (on loan from Lazio) and a very young Raffaele Sergio.
In 1984 he joined Pescara in Serie B. The "Delfini" (Dolphins) finished 7th under Enrico Catuzzi and Vagheggi played 16 league games with 3 goals.
In 1985 he joined Campobasso in Serie B. The Molisani's manager was Bruno Mazzia and they finished 9th. Vagheggi played 17 league games with 5 goals (Genoa, Palermo x2, Arezzo). In 1986 he stayed in Molise and Campobasso started with Swede Tord Grip (1-19) and finished with Giampiero Vitali. Campobasso struggled and finished 17th going to a three-team playoff for the last relegation slot. Vagheggi and Lazio's paths crossed as the decisive game was Lazio vs Campobasso (Taranto were safe). Vagheggi had been out injured but played and the Rossoblu lost 0-1 to a Fabio Poli goal and were relegated. Vagheggi played 26 league games (including the decisive playoff) and scored 10 goals (Catania, Taranto, Vicenza, Triestina, Bari, Lecce x2, Bologna, Cagliari, Pisa) plus 5 games in Coppa Italia. One of his teammates was former Lazio, Paolo Pochesci.
In 1987 he returned to Friuli and Udinese in Serie B. The "Zebrette" finished 10th under three different managers: Massimo Giacomini (1-5), Marino Lombardo (6-14) and Nedo Sonetti (15-38). Vagheggi played 31 league games and scored 10 goals (Piacenza x2, Barletta, Parma, Bologna, Genoa x2, Brescia, Lecce, Sambenedettese) plus 2 games in Coppa Italia. The following year he stayed on and Udinese were promoted under Sonetti. Vagheggi played 10 league games and 7 in Coppa Italia with no goals. One of his teammates was former Lazio keeper, Claudio Garella.
In 1989 he joined his last club, Sambenedettese in serie B. The Rossoblu were relegated under four different managers: Maurizio Simonato, Paolo Beni, Bruno Pace, Cané and Pace again. Vagheggi played 23 league games with 3 goals.
He then retired at almost 34.
Since retiring he has become a player's agent and has followed amongst others; Kwadwo Asamoah, Mehdi Benatia, Mauricio Isla and Luis Muriel.
As a player Vagheggi was a forward. He was extremely dynamic and his speed, especially over long distances, was perhaps his best asset. All this running and movement led to him not being overly prolific. He did however score 58 league goals in his career. He played 31 games in Serie A and 251 in B.
At Lazio he had a good season despite the Biancocelesti's difficulties. He did not score until January but then scored 9 league goals. It was not a great year for Lazio but without Vagheggi it would have been far worse. He was nicknamed "Vaghigno" as in a Brazilian player of talent, maybe slightly exaggerated but it also says a lot about the quality, or lack of, in the team (with the exception of D'Amico of course).
Lazio career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie B | Coppa Italia |
1981-82 | 38 (9) | 34 (9) | 4 |
1982-83 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
Total | 46 (9) | 38 (9) | 8 |
Sources
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