Aldo Puccinelli was one of the strongest wingers in Lazio's history. He is the all time second player for number of league appearances for the Biancocelesti, preceded only by Stefan Radu. He played 345 games for Lazio (319 in Serie A, 20 in the Central and Southern Serie A-B Championship, 3 in Coppa Italia, 2 in the Mitropa Cup and 1 in the Latin Cup) and scored 78 goals (75 in Serie A, 2 in the Central and Southern Serie A-B Championship and one in Coppa Italia).
Born in Bientina on Christmas Day of 1920, he started playing football for Pontedera in 1940 in Serie C. He signed for Lazio in 1940. Small, tough and fast, it was his first time in a big city and did not play much in his first season. But Alexander Popovic, Lazio manager in the 1941-42 season, thought very highly of him and he was promoted to the first team.
His first spell at Lazio lasted until the outbreak of World War II when he left to be closer to his family. In Tuscany he played for Massese and Santacroce. He returned to Lazio in 1945 and stayed for 10 seasons. He was a leading figure in the Lazio squad, used as left winger but more often on the right. He was part of the team that reached fourth place three consecutive times between 1949-50 and 1951-52, and was skipper for a number of matches.
He was only 156 centimetres tall and weighed 56 kilos. A featherweight compared to today’s footballers. But he was physically strong and terribly fast, it was very difficult to take the ball off him. He was a leader, an ideal partner for Silvio Piola. He played 20 derbies, fourth Lazio player with most appearances against Roma behind Pino Wilson, Beppe Favalli and Paolo Negro.
He left Lazio in 1955 and played his last couple of professional years with Livorno. He later became manager for many Tuscan teams (Cascina, Siena, Empoli, Viareggio, Livorno and Cuoiopelli) though never in Serie A.
He died in Livorno on March 11 1994.
Aldo Puccinelli was a little giant, forever to be remembered in Lazio’s history.
His records
Record | Position | Number | 1st position |
Total appearances | 6th | 345 | Radu (427) |
Total goals | 7th | 78 | Immobile (198) |
Appearances Campionato | 2nd | 339 | Radu (348) |
Goals campionato | 7th | 77 | Immobile (163) |
Goals Serie A | 6th | 75 | Immobile (163) |
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Southern Serie A-B Championship | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup | Latin Cup |
1940-41 | 2 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
1941-42 | 23 (9) | 23 (9) | - | - | - | - |
1942-43 | 30 (3) | 27 (2) | - | 3 (1) | - | - |
1945-46 | 20 (2) | - | 20 (2) | - | - | - |
1946-47 | 38 (13) | 38 (13) | - | - | - | - |
1947-48 | 34 (6) | 34 (6) | - | - | - | - |
1948-49 | 38 (8) | 38 (8) | - | - | - | - |
1949-50 | 35 (10) | 34 (10 | - | - | - | 1 |
1950-51 | 40 (9) | 38 (9) | - | - | 2 | - |
1951-52 | 28 (9) | 28 (9) | - | - | - | - |
1952-53 | 31 (6) | 31 (6) | - | - | - | - |
1953-54 | 18 (3) | 18 (3) | - | - | - | - |
1954-55 | 8 | 8 | - | - | - | - |
Total | 345 (78) | 319 (75) | 20 (2) | 3 (1) | 2 | 1 |
Sources