Gerardo Branca was born in Naples in 1894. He was the son of Ascanio Branca, a minister and Giuseppe Garibaldi's field general.
Gerardo Branca did his schooling in Rome, attending the well-known "Liceo Tasso".
He then went into the Military Academy in Rome. He was a keen sportsman and in 1912 joined Lazio as a defender. He was also a good tennis player. His playing days were short lived however as he was sent to Libya during the Italo-Turkish war.
When the First World War broke out, he was in the Piedmontese cavalry regiment and involved in several battles. He distinguished himself for his courage on the front and was later bestowed several military awards.
After the war he became a highly respected figure in Roman high society. He continued to play for Lazio but for the reserves. In 1925 he and Olindo Bitetti took over from Giorgio Guglielmi as heads of the Società Podistica Lazio. In 1925-26, Branca became Lazio president.
The manager was Hungarian Dezső Kőszegi and Lazio finished 3rd in the regional section of Prima Divisione. Lazio won 6, drew 2 and lost 2 and came behind Alba Roma and Fortitudo. The star players included defender Luigi Saraceni, midfielders Manrico Berti, Giovanni Fiorini, Carlo Nesi plus forwards Gino Ottier, Aldo Fraschetti, Dante Filippi and above all Fulvio Bernardini. At the end of the season, on June 19, 1926 the name of the club was officially changed to Società Sportiva Lazio.
In the Second World War he fought in Africa as a Colonel. After the military defeat he returned to Italy. The Armistice on September 8 1943 led his regiment to be disarmed by the Germans in Turin and destined to be sent to work camps in Germany. The Nazi's plans however were thwarted and the Italians, being led to the station on their horses, rebelled and managed to escape. There were some deaths on both sides and the Italians were then taken in by locals and hidden or escaped to the mountains to start their resistance.
After the war Branca retired to a private life and died in 1964.
An eventful life in turbulent times with a happier interlude as the 5th president of Lazio.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | National Championship | Roman 3rd Category Championship | Other |
1911-12 | 2 | - | 1 | 1 |
1912-13 | 2 | 1 | - | 1 |
Total | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
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