Rozzoni hat trick gives Lazio new hope
Flamini’s job as manager of the first team started off well as Lazio finally won their first game thanks to a hat trick from Rozzoni and a Mariani free kick.
Also on this day: December 4, 1932, Lazio Alessandria 6-0. Big win for the Biancocelesti over the Piedmontese. Player of the day: José Castelli
The season so far
There probably could not have been a worse start for Lazio in the 1960-61 season. Chaos at the club, lack of money and therefore little possibility to invest on great players, and problems with the manager, Fulvio Bernardini, translated into two draws and seven losses in the first nine games.
In September Lazio played the 3rd place final of the previous year’s Coppa Italia and beat Torino 2-1 (the finals for first and third place were played at the beginning of the 1960-61 season).
Just before the game against Spal, Bernardini was shown the door and the team was handed to Lazio legend Enrique “Flacco” Flamini who was managing Lazio’s youth teams. There was hope that the ensuing enthusiasm would allow Lazio to avoid its first relegation to Serie B, which nonetheless seemed increasingly likely at this point.
The match: Sunday, December 4, 1960, Rome, Stadio Olimpico
There were 40 thousand spectators and there was the feeling everything was about to change. Lazio started well and had an early chance with Claudio Bizzari, but it was Spal that took the initiative. Romano Taccola had a chance but it was well saved by Lazio’s goalkeeper Franco Pezzullo.
In the 40th minute Lazio surprisingly took the lead. Franco Carradori passed the ball in the box to Orlando Rozzoni who turned and scored.
The 2-0 came just after 3 minutes in the second half and it was Rozzoni again who headed the ball in from a Bizzari cross. Pezzullo saved Lazio in the 50th minute after a Carlo Nelli shot. Lazio made it three at the 57th minute: free kick, Carradori to Amos Mariani who found the gap.
It was 4-0 ten minutes later when Rozzoni scored his hat trick from Mariani assist.
A great joy for Lazio and for Flamini who was also encouraged and supported by a number of former players who came to the Stadio Olimpico to shout Forza Lazio.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Flamini
Who played for Spal
Maietti, Valadè, Bozzao, Riva, Catalani, Rota, Novelli, Massei, Taccola, Carpanesi, Azzali.
Manager: Ferrero
Referee: Campanati
Goals: 40’ Rozzoni, 48’ Rozzoni, 57’ Mariani, 67’ Rozzoni
What happened next
This win was one of the rare moments of solace for Lazio in the 1960-61 season. Things did not improve as hoped and Lazio were already doomed by February.
At least they beat Roma. While the bets on the match were more focused on how many goals Lazio were going to concede, Lazio put in a surprisingly exceptional performance
and won. But it was not enough. As giving the role of Director to Jess Carver in an attempt to help Flamini proved not to help the situation.
Lazio ended up last.
But they did well in Coppa Italia. After beating Como at home in March for 4-0, they played in San Siro against Inter in April. An early goal by Giancarlo Morrone was enough to reach the semi-finals where the beat Torino on penalties in May.
The final was however another story. Lazio, already relegated, lost 2-0 to Fiorentina.
In the early summer of 1961 Lazio had to play against Grasshopers Zurich for their leg of the Cup of the Alps. In the first two tournaments, 4 Italian sides played against 4 Swiss in a single home and away match. The nation that got more points won the trophy. Lazio won their leg by wining 5-0 away and drawing 3-3 at home.
Carradori was the player with most appearances that season (39 in total, 32 in Serie A) while the leading scorer was Rozzoni with 15 goals (11 in Serie A).
Lazio 1960-61
Competition | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals Scored |
Serie A | 34 | 5 | 8 | 21 | 30 |
Coppa Italia | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
Total | 38 | 7 | 9 | 22 | 36 |
Top Five Appearances
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Carradori | 36 | 32 | 4 |
Rozzoni | 33 | 30 | 3 |
Eufemi | 31 | 28 | 3 |
Janich | 30 | 28 | 2 |
Molino | 29 | 26 | 3 |
Top Five Goal Scorers
Player | Total | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
Rozzoni | 13 | 11 | 2 |
Morrone | 6 | 4 | 2 |
Carradori | 3 | 1 | 2 |
Franzini | 2 | 2 | - |
Mariani | 2 | 2 | - |
Fumagalli | 2 | 2 | - |
Let’s talk about Orlando Rozzoni
Orlando Rozzoni was a massive centre forward for the time, similar, so they say, to Christian Vieri if one wants to have a general idea.
Born in Treviglio on July 23 1937, he started playing for his hometown team before going to play for Atalanta in 1955. After just a year he moved to Florence where he played for Fiorentina for two years. This was followed by a year for Spal before being signed by Lazio in 1959.
He immediately became a fan favourite. He was big, powerful, a classic old-fashioned
centre forward. He was nicknamed “Orlando Furioso” like the main character of the Italian epic poem by Ludovico Ariosto.
His first year was a good one: 13 goals and a good feeling with his attacking partner Humberto Tozzi. Year two was not so good, not for him personally, but the team was relegated to Serie B. He played very little in Serie B since Lazio, in economic difficulty, were forced to sell him to Udinese.
He came back after a year and was decisive in Lazio’s promotion. However he did not play as much as he could have done: in a match against Como he fractured his knee and the recovery was slow. In the 1963-64 season he struggled with his form and only scored one goal. He was sold to Catania in 1964 but came back for a third time in 1965. He hardly ever played due to a not too comfortable relationship with manager Umberto Mannocci.
He went back to Spal in 1966 where he stayed for two seasons. His final two seasons were with Ternana and Rapallo.
He never stopped being a fan favourite and Lazio Club Milan is named after him and Renzo Garlaschelli. He died in 2009.
He played 100 games for Lazio (74 in Serie A, 20 in Serie B and 6 in Coppa Italia) scoring 41 goals (26 in Serie A, 10 in Serie B and 5 in Coppa Italia).
Appearances for Lazio
Season | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Serie B | Totals |
1959-60 | 25 | 1 | - | 26 |
1960-61 | 30 | 4 | - | 34 |
Sep-Oct 1961 | - | 1 | 2 | 3 |
1962-63 | - | - | 18 | 18 |
1963-64 | 15 | - | - | 15 |
1965-66 | 4 | - | - | 4 |
Total | 74 | 6 | 20 | 100 |
Goals for Lazio
Season | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Serie B | Totals |
1959-60 | 13 | 1 | - | 14 |
1960-61 | 11 | 4 | - | 15 |
1962-63 | - | - | 10 | 10 |
1963-64 | 1 | - | - | 1 |
1965-66 | 1 | - | - | 1 |
Total | 26 | 5 | 10 | 41 |
Sources