Arnaldo Lucentini was born in Tolentino (Macerata) on July 7, 1930.
He started playing football for his hometown youth side of Tolentino where he was put up to the first squad in the 1947-48 season.
In 1948 he signed for Sampdoria where he stayed four seasons. The Blucerchiati were in Serie A and finished 5th, 13th, 12th and 7th. His managers were Adolfo Baloncieri for two years, Giuseppe Galluzzi and then Gipo Poggi in the third and former Lazio player Alfredo Foni in the fourth. His teammates included Juan Carlos Lorenzo (Lazio manager 1962-64, 1968-71 and 1984-85), Renato Gei (Lazio manager 1967-68), Umberto Mannocci (Lazio manager 1964-66). Lucentini played 110 league games and scored 18 goals.
In 1952-53 he played a season for Fiorentina. The Viola finished 7th in Serie A, first under Renzo Magli and then former Lazio player and future manager Fulvio Bernardini. Lucentini played 23 league games and scored 1 goal (Triestina).
Triestina were his next club. He stayed three seasons and the Alabardati finished 12th twice and 16th in Serie A. His managers were Nereo Rocco, Severino Feruglio and then Feruglio followed by Piero Pasinato. His teammates included former Lazio Bruno Ispiro (1946-47). Lucentini played 89 league games and scored 14 goals.
In 1956 he joined Lazio. He stayed three years but was not a regular and often played with the reserves. Lazio finished 3rd under Jesse Carver, 12th under Milovan Ciric and then Alfredo Monza and then 11th under Fulvio Bernardini. In September 1958 Lazio won the Coppa Italia, their first ever silverware. Lucentini played 14 league games and scored 2 goals (Triestina, Palermo).
He then spent a year with Catanzaro in Serie B. The Giallorossi finished 8th under Piero Pasinati but helped Italy win the Alps Cup. Lucentini played 16 league games and scored 2 goals.
In 1960 he joined Arezzo for two seasons. The Aretini were in Serie C and finished 13th and 4th, under future Lazio manager Umberto Mannocci (1964-66) and Mario Caciagli in the second year. Lucentini played 45 league games and scored 1 goal. He then retired but made a comeback as player -manager two years later.
In 1964-65 he joined Juve Stabia from Castellammare di Stabia (Naples) as a player but mainly as manager. The "Vespe" (Wasps) were in Serie D and finished 8th. Lucentini however only played 1 league game before finally retiring and concentrating on his career as a manager.
This only continued some years later in Sicily. He had two spells with Empedoclina (1972-74 and 1977-78), then a year with Sciacca (1978-79 with promotion to 6th tier) and finally Licata (1981) but he died suddenly when he fell down the stairs in his home in Gela in 1981.
Lucentini also won one cap for Italy in a friendly versus Switzerland in 1951.
Lucentini was a midfielder. He was a refined and versatile player with good tactical sense. He played 236 games in Serie A with 35 goals. A decent career with a total of 299 games with 38 goals.
At Lazio he played 8 league games in his first year and scored 2 goals contributing to a positive 3rd place. In the second year he played 6 league games and then only friendlies and reserve games in his third.
His hometown of Tolentino has named its football academy in his honour and the council has also named a street after him.
Lazio Career
Season | Serie A Appearances | Serie A Goals |
1956-57 | 8 | 2 |
1957-58 | 6 | - |
Total | 14 | 2 |
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