Sassaroli debut goal not enough
Lazio give everything but have to settle for a draw
Also on this day: November 13, 1932: Lazio Pro Patria 2-1. Goals by Fantoni I and Fantoni II tame the visiting tigers. Lazio Hero of the day: Octavio Fantoni II
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 12th under Umberto Mannocci. The highlights were beating Roma 1-0 (the other derby was 0-0) and Milan 2-0 away. Top scorer was Vito D'Amato with 7 league goals.
This season Mannocci had stayed on but then been replaced on November 7 by Maino Neri. The main summer transfers in were defender Sergio Castelletti (Fiorentina, after 214 league games), midfielders Arrigo Dolso (Udinese), Rino Marchesi (Fiorentina), Giuseppe Massa (Internapoli) plus forwards Romano Bagatti (Varese), Juan Carlos Morrone (Fiorentina) and Gianni Sassaroli (Avellino-end of loan). Lazio had recently added defender Pietro Adorni (Napoli) but his medical had cast some doubts on his physical efficiency so the Biancocelesti had also brought in young defender Antonio Maggioni (Juventus-on loan).
Leaving were defenders Vincenzo Gasperi (Varese), Giampiero Vitali (Fiorentina), midfielder Giovanni Sacco (Juventus-end of loan) plus forwards Nicola Ciccolo (Vicenza), Antonio Renna (Varese) and Orlando Rozzoni (SPAL).
The season started with a 1-5 away defeat to Fiorentina. A sign of things to come. Since then, Lazio had won 1 (Lecco 1-0 away), drawn 2 (including Milan 2-2 away) and lost 3 (including derby 0-1). Lazio were currently joint 14th, with Vicenza on 4 points, just off the last relegation slot. The main problem and not a minor one was scoring goals, only 5 in 7 games. A week earlier the Biancocelesti had lost 0-1 away in Naples.
In Coppa Italia, Lazio had beaten Catania 1-0 away in September and would now play Lecco at home on November 27.
SPAL had finished 15th in Serie A the previous season, under manager Francesco Petagna. The Estensi had drawn in Rome against Lazio and won 2-0 in Ferrara. Top scorer was Enrico Muzzio with 11 league goals. There were three future top managers in the squad: Fabio Capello, Osvaldo Bagnoli and Edy Reja.
This season Petagna stayed on. The main new arrivals were: defenders Glauco Tomasin (Roma), Roberto Ranzani (back from Genoa), Lauro Pomaro (back from Siracusa), midfielders Ivano Bosdaves (Udinese), Domenico Parola (Legnano), Carlo Dell'omodarme (Juventus) plus forward Orlando Rozzoni (Lazio).
Leaving were: defenders Gennaro Olivieri (Roma), Bruno Onorato Fochesato (Savona), midfielders Antonio Colombo (Genoa), Sergio Frascoli (Pescara) plus forwards Franco Carrera (Potenza) and Dante Crippa (Reggiana).
After 7 games SPAL were currently joint 9th with Fiorentina and Torino, on 6 points. The Biancazzurri had won 2, drawn 2 (including Juventus 1-1 at home a week earlier) and lost 3.
In Coppa Italia the Ferraresi had been eliminated by Modena in September after a 1-1 draw and an unlucky toss of the coin (this was pre-penalty shootouts).
A balanced game was expected today between two teams of similar level. It was not Maino Neri's official debut as mid-week Lazio had beaten Red Star Belgrade 3-0 in the Mitropa Cup.
The match: Sunday, November 13, 1966, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A sunny but windy day saw a crowd of about 25,000 at the Olimpico.
Lazio were without defender Pietro Dotti who was suspended and forward Romano Bagatti who had recently lost his father. In attack Gianni Sassaroli got his debut.
SPAL chose Enrico Muzzio and Orlando Rozzoni up front while only one of the three future managers was playing, Osvaldo Bagnoli.
In the early stages Lazio pushed forward. Debutant Sassaroli was lively with a shot blocked by Ernesto Galli and then had an acrobatic header but it was well wide.
SPAL responded with counter foot attempts with Muzzio's pace.
In the 15th minute Lazio suffered a setback when Turkish midfielder Can Bartu strained a thigh muscle and had to be heavily strapped up. He continued but with limited mobility in central midfield.
In the 19th minute Lazio went close with a Vito D'Amato header but it was just over the bar.
In the 29th minute the Romagnoli missed a good chance when Ivano Bosdaves miskicked from a favourable position.
The last attempt was a Juan Carlos Morrone effort in the 36th minute but it was too weak to cause Galli any problems. Halftime Lazio 0 SPAL 0.
Lazio had tried hard enough but not had not created much in proportion to their effort.
In the second half injured Bartu was placed out on the left wing while Morrone came back to central midfield.
In the 52nd minute Lazio went in front. Morrone crossed low from the right, Paolo Carosi shot and it was parried by Galli but only as far as Sassaroli who had an easy tap-in. Lazio 1 SPAL 0 and a dream debut for the young striker from Jesi but adopted Roman.
Lazio insisted and tried to get a second. A thundering shot by Diego Zanetti forced Galli into an acrobatic save and in the 61st minute the keeper dived low and stole the ball from D'Amato who had hesitated too long before shooting.
SPAL started to threaten on the break. Muzzio had a lame header in the 63rd minute and in the 67th Oscar Massei went close with a low cross goal shot.
The visitors then equalised in the 72nd minute with an excellent goal. Muzzio danced past three defenders and from a seemingly impossible angle put the ball in on the far post. Lazio 1 SPAL 1.
Lazio tried to take back the lead but apart from a Morrone effort towards the end were never really dangerous again. Final score 1-1.
A decent performance by Lazio. The Biancocelesti had worked hard and shown courage going forward even after going in front. They had been unlucky with Bartu's injury but continued to struggle in the last twenty metres.
Lazio were still 14th but now had four teams behind them. SPAL were still joint 9th with Fiorentina and Torino.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Neri
Who played for SPAL
E. Galli, Tomasin, Bozzao, Pasetti, Bertuccioli, Bagnoli, Bosdaves, Moretti, Rozzoni, Massei, Muzzio
Manager: Petagna
Referee: Righi
Goals: 52' Sassaroli, 72' Muzzio
What happened next
Lazio ended up relegated by one point. Despite a few good wins (including Inter 1-0 at home), Lazio lost another 9 games (including SPAL 1-4) and finished 15th on 27 points. The return derby ended 0-0 and the Biancocelesti only scored 20 goals all season. Top scorers were Romano Bagatti and Juan Carlos Morrone with 4 league goals each.
In the Coppa Italia Lazio then crashed out to Lecco 0-2 at home.
An awful season and the next would not be much better.
SPAL stayed up and finished 12th on 29 points. In total the Estensi won 8 (including Roma 1-0 and Lazio 4-1, both at home), drew 13 and lost 13. Top scorer was Ivano Bosdaves with 5 league goals.
The Scudetto was won by Juventus for the 13th time. The Bianconeri overtook Inter in the last game of the season when the Nerazzurri surprisingly lost at Mantova and Juventus beat Lazio, sending them down with Lecco, Venezia and Foggia. Lecco have never been back since.
Lazio 1966-67
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals scored |
Serie A | 34 | 6 | 15 | 13 | 20 |
Coppa Italia | 2 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 |
Mitropa Cup | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
Total | 40 | 8 | 16 | 16 | 26 |
Top Five Appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
Morrone | 38 | 33 | 2 | 3 |
Carosi | 38 | 33 | 2 | 3 |
Cei | 37 | 31 | 2 | 4 |
D'Amato | 37 | 32 | 2 | 3 |
Pagni | 36 | 30 | 2 | 4 |
Top Five Goal Scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
Bagatti | 7 | 4 | - | 3 |
D'Amato | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
Morrone | 4 | 4 | - | - |
Marchesi | 2 | 2 | - | - |
Sassaroli | 2 | 2 | - | - |
Let's talk about Gianni Sassaroli
Gianni Sassaroli was born in Monte Roberto di Jesi (Ancona) on July 27, 1946.
At the age of two his family moved to Rome so he grew up in the capital.
His early football was played in the Oratorio di Don Bosco. At 16 he moved to Bettini Quadraro and then joined the Lazio youth setup after being scouted by Enrique Flamini. Sassaroli however was ordered to lose weight and put on a strict diet. In 1964-65 made it to the first team squad but never got his debut.
In 1965-66 he went to Avellino on loan. The Irpini were in Serie C and finished 4th. The manager was Ulisse Giunchi with Walter Crociani as technical director. Sassaroli played 15 league games and scored 1 goal. One of his teammates was former Lazio, Alberto Recchia (1963-64).
In 1966-67 Sassaroli returned to Lazio and apparently never even got paid at Avellino. Lazio were in Serie A and the manager was first Umberto Mannocci and then Maino Neri after 7 games. It was a negative season and the Biancocelesti finished 15th and relegated. Sassaroli played 4 league games and scored 2 goals (SPAL on debut and Foggia).
The following season in Serie B was his big chance and he was expected to be a regular starter. In the first game of the season however he suffered a serious injury and ended up the season with only 5 league appearances and 1 in Coppa Italia. Lazio finished a disappointing 11th, first under Renato Gei (1-24) and then Roberto Lovati (25-42).
In 1968 he was sent to Messina on loan and stayed two seasons. The Sicilians were in Serie C and finished 8th and 7th. The manager was former Lazio player and manager Paolo Todeschini the first year and Tonino Colomban in the second. Sassaroli played 51 league games and scored 7 goals.
In 1970 he joined Alessandria and stayed two years. The Grigi from Piemonte were in Serie C and finished 2nd twice. The manager was Sergio Manente the first season followed by Mario David and Mario Pietruzzi in the second. Sassaroli played 67 league games and scored 19 goals (top scorer with 14 in 70-71). His teammates included former Lazio, Giuseppe Lorenzetti (1967-68), Vincenzo Proietti Farinelli (1964-66, 1967-68), Sergio De Luca (1967-68), Ezio Paparelli (1967-69) and Claudio Di Pucchio (1966-67, 1968-69).
In 1972-73 he spent a year at Frosinone in Serie C. The Ciociari finished 10th, first under Feliciano Orazi and then former Lazio Umberto Mannocci (1964-66). Sassaroli played 19 league games and scored 4 goals.
The rest of his career was then in minor Roman clubs. In 1973-74 he won promotion to Serie C with Cynthia (29 games, 7 goals). In 1974-75 he was relegated to Promozione (5th tier) with Lupa Roma (32 games, 10 goals). His last season was with ALMAS in 1975-76 in Serie D (23 league games and an unknown number of goals).
After retiring he reappeared in the football world as head coach of Aprilia, south of Rome, in 1986-87 at amateur level and finished 2nd.
Sassaroli was a forward. His best years were with Alessandria but his biggest club was Lazio where he played in the highest category. He was unlucky with the Biancocelesti as he got badly injured just as he could have had the chance to make his breakthrough in Serie B.
Sassaroli died prematurely at 43 of a heart attack on December 12, 1989 in Rome.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
1966-67 | 6 (2) | 4 (2) | - | 1 | 1 |
1967-68 | 6 | - | 5 | 1 | - |
Total | 12 (2) | 4 (2) | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Sources
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