Enrico Todesco

Enrico Todesco was born in Milan, on May 2, 1960.

Source Lazio Wiki

He took up football as a kid with local team Cusano Milanino before joining Como at 16.

He stayed with the Comaschi for three seasons. In 1976-77 Como were in Serie B and the manager was Osvaldo Bagnoli but Todesco played with the youth team.

 In 1977-78 under three different managers: Gennaro Rambone (1-13), Luís Suarez (14-24) and Narciso Pezzotti (25-38) the Lariani were relegated. Todesco however made his debut and played 19 league games with 3 goals (Cremonese, Avellino, Palermo). One of his teammates was future star defender Pietro Vierchowod.

In 1978-79 Como won promotion back to Serie B (in 1st place) under Giuseppe Marchioro. Todesco played 8 league games. One of his teammates in attack was future Italy national player Aldo Serena.

In the summer of 1979, he signed for Lazio in Serie A. The manager was Bob Lovati but it was a terrible year for the Biancocelesti. In October a Lazio fan Vincenzo Paparelli was killed in the stadium before the derby by a nautical flare fired from the Roma end. Then in March four Lazio players were arrested for match fixing. Lazio narrowly avoided relegation on the pitch but not in the sports justice courts and were condemned to Serie B. Todesco played 9 league games and 2 in Coppa Italia.

In 1980-81 Todesco joined Genoa in Serie B. The Rossoblu, unlike Lazio, were promoted to Serie A. The manager was Gigi Simoni and Todesco played 30 league games with 2 goals (Sampdoria, Catania). His teammates included former Lazio Stefano Di Chiara and future Biancocelesti Silvano Martina and Giuseppe Corti.

In 1981-82 he joined Pisa in Serie B and again won promotion under Aldo Agroppi. Todesco played 21 games and scored 8 goals (Pescara, Catania, Bari, Sambenedettese, Pistoiese x2, Reggiana, Cremonese). His teammates included future Lazio, Alessandro Bertoni and Arturo Vianello.

He stayed in Pisa in Serie A in 1982-83. The manager was former Lazio Luís Vinicio and the Biancocelesti finished 11th. Todesco played 26 league games with 4 goals (Ascoli, Sampdoria, Roma, Torino) plus 7 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Bologna).

In 1983-84 Todesco returned to Como in Serie B. He would stay another six seasons. In the first the Lariani won promotion under Tarcisio Burgnich and Todesco contributed with 8 goals in 37 league games (Empoli, Varese, Monza, Cesena, Cremonese, Cavese, Triestina) plus 1 goal (Lecce) in Coppa Italia in 5 appearances. One of his teammates was, future Lazio, Claudio Sclosa.

Over the next five seasons Como and Todesco played in Serie A. The Azzurri finished 11th, 9th, 9th, 11th and 18th (relegated). The managers were Ottavio Bianchi the first year, Roberto Clagluna and then Rino Marchesi in the second, Emiliano Mondonico in the third, Aldo Agroppi and then Tarcisio Burgnich in the fourth and finally Rino Marchesi and then Angelo Perini in the fifth. Todesco played 119 games in the top flight with 5 goals (Napoli, Avellino, Sampdoria, Fiorentina, Pescara).

Todesco then had an experience in Canada with the North York Rockets (Toronto, with Gregorz Lato as manager) for a season before playing two last seasons with Saronno in C2 and Interregionale (5th tier). He played 19 league games for the Amaretti.

He then retired at 32.

Todesco was a forward. He was not particularly physical but he based a lot of his game on his speed. He played 154 games in Serie A and scored 9 goals plus 21 goals in Serie B.

At Lazio he was unlucky to arrive in the Biancocelesti's "annus horribilis". He was supposed to be groomed as back up for Bruno Giordano and Renzo Garlaschelli but the year did not go as planned. In the end he made 9 appearances and moved on.

I personally saw him close up from the side lines of the pitch in an August summer friendly between Cerveteri and Lazio, played in the Etruscan Necropolis town just north of Rome. Todesco scored two goals and to my naive and young eyes he looked like a new Johan Cruyff. I was obviously wrong but he had a decent career, winning four promotions and playing oved 150 games in the top flight.

Lazio Career

Season	Total Appearances	Serie A	Coppa Italia
1979-80	11	9	2

Sources

Wikipedia