No one is a prophet in their own land
Lazio win despite a very hostile environment
Also on this day: April 28, 1968, Lazio Lecco 1-0. A Massa goal gives Lazio much needed two points. Player of the day: Pierluigi Ronzon
The season so far
The transfer window started with a bang: Beppe Signori sold to Parma for 25 billion lire plus Dino Baggio and Pippo Inzaghi.
Lazio needed money so when the Parma President Calisto Tanzi, looking to make his team stronger, made the offer, Sergio Cragnotti saw no reason to say no. The rest of the world did however say no. Firstly, the fans who organised a demonstration. 5,000 people took to the streets to show their discontent over the deal. Secondly, the banks said that they would cover if the deal did not go through. Thirdly President Dino Zoff underlined all the technical problems that would have occurred in case the deal went through. Lastly, Beppe Signori said no. So Signori stayed.
In hindsight, Cragnotti was probably right.
As a consequence, in the summer of 1995 Lazio did not sign anybody of particular interest with the exception of future legend Guerino Gottardi. On the other hand, many players waved goodbye: Roberto Cravero, Roberto Bacci, Mauro Bonomi and Paul Gascoigne, all players “chosen” during Dino Zoff’s stint as manager.
The season started very well with two consecutive wins. The highlight of the early part of was the crushing of Juventus 4-0 at the end of October. It was a demonstration of Lazio’s full potential and of just how lethal manager’s Zdenek Zeman’s teams could be. Two days later came the other side of the coin: Lazio were eliminated in the UEFA Cup by Olympique Lyonnais. This was an example of how the season panned out. Spectacular games (6-3 against Sampdoria for example) and dismal performances like losing to Vicenza and Piacenza. Lazio fans were used to it by now, but the question was: will we ever win anything with this inconsistency?
Lazio’s inconsistent year continued until March 24 when they lost to Cremonese. At that point the season seemed lost and was very disappointing. But the players found the strength to change things around and since then Lazio never lost. Three wins and two draws. Lazio were sixth together with Inter, one point behind Roma and two from Parma. A win in Bergamo would be vital.
One further note is that starting from this season teams could substitute up to three players per match and for the first time players could choose a fixed number for their jersey, between 1 and 99, and keep it for the entire season.
The match: Sunday April 28, 1996, Stadio Azzurri d’Italia, Bergamo
The game was not going to be an easy one and the traditional hostility of the Bergamo supporters against anything coming from Rome was made even worse since a local born player, Beppe Signori, was the Biancocelesti star, hence a traitor. Not only. Signori was on 99 goals in Serie A. They certainly did not want him to score in Bergamo.
Lazio had three chances in the first 10 minutes with Diego Fuser, who hit the crossbar with a free kick, Daniele Franceschini and Signori. In the 10th minute Domenico Morfeo, from 25 metres ,gave the ball a big whack that Luca Marchegiani tipped onto the top of the crossbar. Two minutes later Lazio scored. Roberto Di Matteo passed the ball to Gigi Casiraghi on the right. The Lazio centre-forward moved into the box and shot towards goal. The ball was deflected by Mauro Valentini and Fabrizio Ferron was beaten. 1-0 for Lazio.
Atalanta reacted immediately. In the 21st minute there was a free kick on the right side of the Lazio penalty box. Perfect cross from Morfeo and splendid header from Sandro Tovalieri which hit the woodwork. In the 33rd minute Atalanta equalised. Morfeo outside of the box passed the ball to Cristiano Pavone. The Lazio defence almost cleared but Marco Sgrò was able to pass it to Morfeo who put the ball past Marchegiani.
In the 57th minute penalty for Lazio, Fuser burst into the box and tried to out run Valentini and Paolo Montero but was fouled on entry. Signori with his classic no run up spot kick gave Lazio the lead again. 100 goals in Serie A for Signori.
At this point Atalanta gave up, more concentrated on the upcoming Coppa Italia final against Fiorentina. Lazio administered. The crowd was not happy and when Signori went to take a corner in the 69th minute he was hit by a coin coming from the stands. A lot of pain for the blond striker. Alas no one is a prophet in their own land.
In the 84th minute the Biancocelesti closed the game. Quick counter attack, Signori to Fuser who ran down most of the pitch on the right and once near the box crossed in for Massimiliano Esposito who headed the ball in.
Good win for Lazio, fifth place reached and Roma overtaken.
Who played for Atalanta
Ferron, Pavone (65' Pisani), Conteh, Montero, Valentini, Bonacina, Sgrò (87' Mutarelli), Fortunato (90' Herrera), Gallo, Tovalieri, Morfeo
Substitutes: Zani, Luppi
Manager: Mondonico
Who played for Lazio
Marchegiani, Negro, Nesta (88’ Gottardi), Grandoni, Chamot, Fuser, Di Matteo, Franceschini (57’ Piovanelli), Rambaudi (67’ M. Esposito), Casiraghi, Signori
Manager: Zeman
Referee: Racalbuto
Goals: 12’ Valentini (og), 33’ Morfeo, 57’ Signori (pen), 84’ M. Esposito
What happened next
In the last two matches Lazio beat both Napoli and Torino thus securing not only a UEFA Cup qualification for the next season but also a good third place. Just like last year, the team was able to turn things around with a great finale and reach an important objective.
Signori was top scorer in Serie A, together with Igor Protti, for the third time in four years. He scored a total of 26 goals that season. Paolo Negro and Diego Fuser had the most appearances (39).
Lazio 1995-96
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 34 | 17 | 8 | 9 | 66 |
Coppa Italia | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
UEFA Cup | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
Total | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 77 |
Top five appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup |
Fuser | 39 | 32 | 4 | 3 |
Negro | 39 | 31 | 4 | 4 |
Di Matteo | 38 | 31 | 3 | 4 |
Signori | 38 | 31 | 4 | 3 |
Chamot | 37 | 32 | 4 | 1 |
Winter | 37 | 30 | 3 | 4 |
Top five goal scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup |
Signori | 26 | 24 | 1 | 1 |
Casiraghi | 18 | 14 | - | 4 |
Winter | 7 | 6 | - | 1 |
Fuser | 6 | 6 | - | - |
Boksic | 4 | 4 | - | - |
Let's talk about José Chamot
José Chamot was born in Concepcion del Uruguay in Argentina on May 17, 1969. He started his football career at youth level in a local team and then in 1988 he signed for Rosario Central.
In November 1990 Pisa President, Romeo Anconetani, signed two players from Rosario: Chamot and Diego Simeone. Two unknowns at that time but great signings. Chamot stayed for two years before moving to Foggia in 1993-94. Here he found a mentor in Zdenek Zeman. It was the second season without the formidable trio of Roberto Rambaudi, CIccio Baiano and Beppe Signori, but Foggia that year did exceptionally well and just missed out on a UEFA Cup qualification.
In the summer of 1994 Zeman joined Lazio and specifically asked for Chamot. He needed a player who already knew all the necessary defencive movements and could help others understand them too. José Chamot signed for Lazio and played four seasons in Rome. He was a great defender, fast, good sense of position, he could also play left back.
He appeared in 131 games for Lazio (100 in Serie A with one goal, 16 in Coppa Italia and 15 in the UEFA Cup with one goal).
While Zeman was manager he played regularly but with the arrival of Sven Goran Eriksson he played a lot less and in 1988 he was sold to Atletico Madrid. He stayed there for a year and a half before moving to AC Milan. He played three and a half years for the Rossoneri winning a Champions League and a Coppa Italia. Between his last year at Milan and the years after at Leganes and Rosario Central he only played nine games. In 2006 he quit football.
Chamot played 43 times for his country with two goals. He participated in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups plus the Copa America in 1995. He won the silver medal at the 1996 Olympic Games.
Once he stopped playing he became a manager and was Assistant Coach at Rosario Central and also River Plate (with Matias Almeyda manager).
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | UEFA Cup |
1994-95 | 43 (1) | 28 (1) | 7 | 8 |
1995-96 | 37 | 32 | 4 | 1 |
1996-97 | 34 (1) | 29 | 2 | 3 (1) |
1997-98 | 17 | 11 | 3 | 3 |
Total | 131 (2) | 100 (1) | 16 | 15 (1) |
Sources