Carlo Soldo was born in Genivolta (Cremona), on April 13, 1942.
He grew up in the Milano Folgore youth team but his first professional club was Novara. He made his debut for the "Gaudenziani" (The Gaudentians) in Serie B in 1960. He played three seasons in Piedmont playing 58 games. The first two in Serie B but the third in C (Novara were relegated for sporting offenses, despite a 14th place).
In 1963 he joined Varese in Serie B. The "Bosini" won promotion to Serie A under Uruguayan Héctor Puricelli. Soldo played 37 league games with 1 goal (Alessandria).
In Serie A the Biancorossi came 11th in 1964-65. Soldo played 34 league games with 1 goal (Vicenza).
In his final year in Varese, they were relegated under three different managers; Mario Gambazza, Pietro Magni and then Piero Trapanelli (Puricelli had gone to Atalanta). Soldo played 26 league games.
In 1966 Soldo went to Inter for a year under Helenio Herrera. The "Beneamata" came 2nd in the league and were losing finalists in the European Cup (Celtic 2-1 in Lisbon). Soldo played in Europe scoring in the Last 16 game against Hungarian Vasas Budapest. In the league however, due to some disagreements with Herrera, he did not get any games.
In November 1967 Soldo joined Lazio in Serie B. Lazio finished 11th under Renato Gei, until February, and then Roberto Lovati. Soldo played 30 league games with 2 goals (Foggia, Reggiana).
The following season Juan Carlos Lorenzo arrived, even if Lovati still sat on the bench until March for documentation issues (Lorenzo needed Italian passport) and Lazio won the league and promotion to Serie A. Soldo played 36 matches with 2 goals (Genoa, Bari) plus 3 games in Coppa Italia. His opening goal against Bari was particularly important as it was a promotion clash in May.
In 1969-70 in Serie A he started the season with Lazio playing 7 league games with 1 goal (Torino) plus 3 games in Coppa Italia. In November however he was sold to Monza in Serie B. He started suffering from physical problems and played 24 league games over two seasons. The "Brianzoli" finished 15th and 17th.
In 1971-72 he was at Pro Vercelli in serie C. The former glories (7 Scudetti between 1908 and 1922) came 17th. Soldo played 18 games for the "Bianchi Piemontesi".
In 1972-73 Soldo moved down to Sicily and joined Messina in Serie C. The "Peloritani" were relegated to Serie D and Soldo played 21 games with 1 goal.
His last club was Triestina in 1973-74 in Serie C. The "Giuliani" were relegated to Serie D and Soldo only played 6 league games.
At 32 he retired, also due to persistent knee problems.
He then went into a long managerial career. He started with Portogruaro in 1974 in Serie D and then had a myriad of teams up and down Italy, mainly in C1 and C2 (Pro Vercelli, Treviso, Varese, Salernitana, Palazzolo, Fidelis Andria, Pro Sesto, Pavia, Südtirol, Lecco, Alessandria just to name a few). His biggest success was a promotion from C2 to C1 with F. Andria in 1989. He also had an experience abroad coaching Iran U16's winning the Asiatic Cup in 1997. He finally retired in 2013 at 71.
Soldo as a player was a strong defender, 1.78 metres and 75 kilos. His career was hindered, especially in the second part, by his knee injury. The fact that Inter, in their prime, bought him in 1966 shows he had potential.
The peak of his career was at Lazio. He played 80 games with 5 goals for the Biancocelesti. He won promotion to Serie A in 1969. In fact I am sure, looking back at his career, that warm June 22 day, in a packed Olimpico celebrating Lazio’s return to the big time must have been one of his fondest memories.
Lazio Career
Season | Total apperances (goals) | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia | Mitropa Cup |
1967-68 | 30 (2) | - | 30 (2) | - | - |
1968-69 | 39 (2) | - | 36 (2) | 3 | - |
June- Nov 1969 | 10 | 7 (1) | - | 3 | 1 |
Total | 80 (5) | 7 (1) | 66 (4) | 6 | 1 |
Sources