Roberto Baronio was born in Manerbio (Brescia) on December 11, 1977.
His first club at youth level was Voluntas Brescia and then Brescia.
In 1994-95 he made his debut for Brescia in Serie A. He played 5 league games under three different managers: Mircea Lucescu (1-20), Luigi Maifredi (21-26) and then Adelio Moro. The Rondinelle were relegated. He played alongside Lazio connections Marco Ballotta (1997-2000, 2005-08), Luca Brunetti (1986-88), Maurizio Neri (1991-93) and Marco Piovanelli (1995-97) plus a young Andrea Pirlo.
He then stayed on in Serie B and played more regularly, 28 league games with 1 goal (Foggia). Brescia finished 16th, first under Lucescu (1-24) and then, future Lazio Edy Reja. He also won the prestigious Viareggio youth tournament with the U19's.
Baronio's positive performances earned him a move to Lazio in Serie A for the 1996-97 season. The manager was first Zdenek Zeman (1-18) and then Dino Zoff and Lazio finished 4th (UEFA Cup). Baronio played 15 league games, 2 in Coppa Italia and 1 in the UEFA Cup.
In 1997-98, with the arrival of Sven-Goran Eriksson at Lazio, he was loaned to Vicenza in Serie A. The Biancorossi finished 14th and reached the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup (losing to eventual winners Chelsea 2-3 on aggregate). The manager was Francesco Guidolin and Baronio played 13 league games, 1 in Coppa Italia, 2 in the Cup Winners Cup plus the Supercoppa game lost 0-3 to Juventus. His teammates in Vicenza included Fabio Firmani (Lazio, 2005-09, 2009-11) and Alessandro Iannuzzi (Lazio, 1995-96, 1998-99).
In 1998-99 Baronio was back at Lazio. Eriksson was still in charge and Baronio, faced with quality competition in midfield, only played 7 league games, 3 in Coppa Italia and 4 in the Cup Winners Cup. Lazio finished 2nd being edged to the title by Milan in controversial circumstances. The Biancocelesti however won the prestigious and last ever European Cup Winners Cup, defeating Mallorca 2-1 in Birmingham.
In 1999-2000 Baronio was on the road again, this time to Reggina on loan. The Amaranto were in Serie A and had a good season, finishing 11th under manager Franco Colombo. Baronio played 31 league games with 3 goals (Lecce, Parma, Perugia) and 7 in Coppa Italia. He again played alongside Iannuzzi and Pirlo.
In 2000-01 he returned to Lazio who were now Italian Champions. Eriksson started but was replaced by Dino Zoff in January due to bad results and the fact the Swede had accepted the England job for June. Lazio picked up and finished 3rd. Baronio played 12 league games, 1 in Coppa Italia and 7 in the Champions League with 1 goal (winner against Anderlecht).
In 2001-02 he was off again, to Fiorentina on loan. It was a negative season for the Viola who ended up relegated and went through three different managers: Roberto Mancini (1-18), Ottavio Bianchi (19-29) and then Luciano Chiarugi. Baronio himself played 21 league games with 1 goal (winner away to Udinese), 5 games in the UEFA Cup plus the Supercoppa game lost 0-3 to Roma. In Florence one of his teammates was future Lazio, Enrico Chiesa (2002-03).
In 2002-03 he spent a year on loan at Perugia in Serie A. The manager was Serse Cosmi and the "Grifoni" (The Griffins) finished 9th. Baronio played 11 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia.
In 2003-04 and 2004-05 he played on loan with Chievo Verona. The first year the manager was Luigi Del Neri and the Clivensi finished 9th. The second season Mario Beretta started and was then replaced by Maurizio D'Angelo and Chievo finished 15th. Baronio played 51 games in Verona with 1 goal (in A against Lecce).
In 2005-06 he came back to Lazio again but only until January. He played 7 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia, under Delio Rossi before leaving again. Lazio finished 6th but were then demoted to 16th for their involvement in Calciopoli.
In January 2006 Baronio joined Udinese on loan. The manager was first Serse Cosmi, then Loris Dominissini and finally Giovanni Galeone. The Friulani finished 11th and Baronio played 10 league games and 4 in Coppa Italia. His teammates included Lazio connections, Giampiero Pinzi (1998-2000), Stefano Mauri (2006-16) while Nestor Sensini was assistant manager (1999-2000).
In the summer of 2006, he was back at Lazio and this time stayed two seasons. Rossi was still manager and Lazio finished 3rd (CL qualification) and 12th. Baronio played 19 league games, 1 in Coppa Italia and 1 in Champions League.
In 2008-09 he went home to Brescia for a season in Serie B. The manager was first Serse Cosmi (1-5), then Nedo Sonetti (6-40) and finally Alberto Cavasin (40-42 + playoffs). The Leonessa finished 4th and lost to Livorno 2-5 in the promotion playoff final. Baronio played 29 league games with 2 goals (Modena, Sassuolo) plus 2 in the playoffs with 1 goal (Empoli).
In the summer of 2009, he was on the familiar road back to Rome and Lazio. The new manager was Davide Ballardini and Lazio's first match, in August, was the Supercoppa final against Mourinho's Inter in Beijing. This was thanks to Lazio and Delio Rossi's triumph in the previous year's Coppa Italia. Lazio against all odds won the game 2-1 and lifted the cup. Baronio started and played 52 minutes of the final. The rest of the season was less positive for the Biancocelesti and in February Ballardini was replaced by Edy Reja and Lazio picked up and finished 12th. Baronio played more than he had ever done before at Lazio, 24 league appearances (partly due to Ledesma being out of favour), 1 in Coppa Italia, 7 in the Europa League plus the Chinese triumph. This however would be the end of his Lazio experience.
In 2010-11 he played one more season for Atletico Roma in Serie D. He played 21 games with 1 goal and the Biancoblu finished 3rd.
Baronio then retired at 33.
At international level he represented Italy in all the various age groups; U17's (7 games, 1 goal), U18's (7 games, 1 goal), U21's (24 games, 4 goals), U23's (4 games, 1 goal), Italy Olympic team (3 games, 1 goal) plus one full cap for Italy, against Ecuador in a friendly in 2005. He won an U21 European Championship in 2000, the Mediterranean Games in 1997 and a silver at the U18 European Championship in 1995.
Since retiring Baronio has gone into coaching. He started at amateur level with Futbol club youth setup between 2012 and 2015. He then worked for the Italian Football Federation with the U18's and 19's for two years. He then spent one year with Brescia U19's and two years with Napoli U19's. His next job was as a technical collaborator at Juventus in 2020-21 (with Andrea Pirlo). He then went abroad to Turkey and Fatih Karagümrük in the top flight as assistant manager to Pirlo. He is currently Pirlo's assistant at Sampdoria in Serie B.
Baronio was a midfielder. He is 1.80 for 80 kilos but was more technical than physical. He was a sort of second-rate Pirlo. At the beginning of his career however he was a real promise. It is fair to say he never really fulfilled his potential. He had flashes, at Reggio Calabria, Verona with Chievo and occasionally at Lazio. He had the qualities, he was technical, strong, had good shooting abilities, could play in various roles including playmaker but for one reason or another never blossomed. He had his satisfactions but he could have achieved more.
At Lazio he was an eternal prospect. He was with the Biancocelesti on and off for 14 years but never really played with continuity. Nevertheless, he played 115 games and scored 2 goals. He won three Italian Supercups and a European Cup Winners Cup.
Lazio Career
Season | Total Games (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | Cup Winners Cup | UEFA Cup/Europa League | Super Coppa |
1996-97 | 18 | 15 | 2 | - | 4 | 1 | - |
1998-99 | 14 | 7 | 3 | - | - | - | - |
2000-01 | 20 (1) | 12 | 1 | 7 | - | - | - |
2005-06 | 9 | 7 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
2006-07 | 11 | 11 | - | - | - | - | - |
2007-08 | 10 | 8 | 1 (1) | 1 | - | - | - |
2009-10 | 33 | 24 | 1 | - | - | 7 | 1 |
Total | 115 (2) | 84 | 10 (1) | 8 | 4 | 8 | 1 |
Sources
Yorumlar