Ezio Sclavi was born in Montu' Beccaria (Pavia, Lombardy), on March 23, 1902.
He started his football at local club Stradellina. In 1923 he was sent to Rome to carry out his compulsory military service and was fortuitously signed up by Lazio. Legend has it that Sclavi was helping set up the infrastructure for the scudetto final between Lazio and Genoa and was noticed by talent scouts while playing a game. Anyway he signed for Lazio despite never having played at top level before.
In his first spell at Lazio (1923-1925) he played 32 times.
In 1925 he joined Juventus but had difficulty establishing himself as first choice keeper and was even sometimes played outfield as a midfielder. Juventus won the league that year and offered him a new contract but as a midfielder so he decided to return to Lazio. In Rome he quickly reclaimed the number one jersey and played with Lazio until 1934.
He is remembered as a real character and a tough nut. In a game against Alessandria in 1931 he fainted after a collision with an opponent and was carried off, he soon insisted to come back on only to be forced off again with a face injury that needed several stitches, but once again Sclavi reappeared between the posts, this time so heavily bandaged that the press at the time likened him to a mummy. His courage was greatly admired and appreciated especially as Lazio went on to win the game. He definitely belonged to another era, on one occasion he even challenged a journalist to a duel after some criticism, the two did later become friends.
In the 1933-34 season he twice underwent meniscus operations and lost his place to Giacomo Blason. He then played briefly for Messina in serie B but he claimed without Lazio he was lost. His disappointment at finishing at Lazio and the fact that a close Jewish friend had to escape abroad due to the racial laws led Sclavi to a drastic decision, he left for Ethiopia as a volunteer. In Africa he set up a rubbish disposal company and continued to be involved with football as player/coach (this time as centre-forward) and won 3 consecutive league titles. All this was interrupted in 1941 when he was imprisoned in a concentration camp by the British. He was held captive for 6 years and finally returned to Italy in 1947 penniless.
He settled in Liguria where he had a sister and returned to his two passions; football and painting. In his playing days in Rome he had started frequenting the artistic circles and mingled with intellectuals and writers such as Alberto Moravia and Elsa Morante. He had also started painting and realized he had a genuine talent. In 1933 he had his first exhibition which had received positive reactions. On his return from Africa he thus took up painting again and established himself as a much admired artist.
In his playing career in two different spells Ezio Sclavi played a total of 255 times for Lazio. He also earned 3 caps for Italy, he probably deserved more but was penalised for not playing for the more 'influential' Northern clubs.
Sclavi was no giant physically, he was 1.77 metres tall but what he lacked in height he made up for in courage. He was agile and quick and despite his height was good in the air on high crosses and corners. At Lazio he was one of the more popular players of the period. A real character as the story of his life shows and a player who as they say in Italy “dava tutto per la maglia” (gave everything he had for the jersey). A man and player no-one can forget and even the younger generations have heard of the legendary “portiere-artista” (the artist-goalkeeper). It is said about many people's lives that they could write a book about it, and this is certainly true in Ezio Sclavi's case, and in fact they have.
Lazio Career
Season | Total | National Championship | First Division | National Division | Serie A | Coppa Coni |
1923-24 | 17 | 17 | - | - | - | |
1924-25 | 15 | 15 | - | - | - | |
1926-27 | 23 | - | 23 | - | - | |
1927-28 | 18 | - | - | 16 | - | 2 |
1928-29 | 29 | - | - | 29 | - | - |
1929-30 | 31 | - | - | - | 31 | - |
1930-31 | 33 | - | - | - | 33 | - |
1931-32 | 32 | - | - | - | 32 | - |
1932-33 | 31 | - | - | - | 31 | - |
1933-34 | 26 | - | - | - | 26 | - |
Total | 255 | 32 | 23 | 45 | 153 | 1 |
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