Riccardo Okely was born in Rome on October 5, 1906. He was the third of four brothers who all played football, the eldest Giorgio also played for Lazio, between 1924 and 1927.
Ricardo Okely started his football career with Lazio in 1926. The Biancocelesti were in Prima Divisione (2nd tier) and won their national group. They then came 4th in the "Final Four" and would play in the following years Divisione Nazionale (top tier). Okely played 14 league games with 3 goals, under player/manager Jenő Lőwy.
In 1927-28 the manager was Austrian, Franz Sedlacek and Lazio finished 10th. They managed to stay up thanks to the future enlargement of the league format. Okely played 4 league games with 1 goal (Reggiana) and 2 in the Coppa Coni with 1 goal (Padova). This was the last season without the derby with Roma…
In 1928 he joined Padova for a season. The Biancoscudati had Englishman, Herbert Burgess as manager and finished 8th in the A group of the Divisione Nazionale. Okely played 27 league games with 3 goals (Livorno, Milan, Casale).
In 1929-30 he was back with Lazio. It was the first season with the single national Serie A format. He stayed two seasons and the Biancocelesti finished 15th and 8th. Okely played 12 league games with 2 goals (Casale, Livorno). The managers were Ferenc Molnár the first year and then Molnar (1-27) followed by Cesare Migliorini (27-32) and Amilcar (33-34).
In 1931-32 he played a season with Robur (Siena) in the Prima Divisione (now 3rd tier). He played 25 league games with 3 goals and the Bianconeri finished 9th.
In 1932-33 he was back at Lazio. The manager was Karl Stürmer and the Romans finished 10th. Lazio won their first derby against newcomers Roma. Okely however played only for the reserves, 16 games with 2 goals.
In the following two years he played for Montepaschi in Rome at amateur level and Siena in the 3rd Division.
In September 1935 he started training with Lazio again but only played 3 games with the reserves. For the record, the Lazio first team finished 7th, first under Walter Alt (1-27) and then József Viola (28-30). This was the first year of the Coppa Italia and Lazio reached the quarter finals, they beat Roma in the last 16 but then lost 0-1 away to Alessandria.
At this point, at almost 30, Okely retired.
He was a forward. From his stats not a particularly prolific one. He did however play 33 games for Lazio and scored 7 goals.
Riccardo Okely died in Rome on December 17, 1989
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | National Division | First Division | Coppa Coni |
1926-27 | 14 (3) | - | - | 14 (3) | - |
1927-28 | 6 (2) | - | 4 (1) | - | 2 (1) |
1929-30 | 8 | 8 | - | - | - |
1930-31 | 5 (2) | 5 (2) | - | - | - |
Total | 33 (7) | 13 (2) | 4 (1) | 15 (3) | 2 (1) |
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