Francesco Antonazzi is a Lazio legend. He played 11 seasons for the Biancocelesti and was part of Lazio’s iron defence together with Zeffiro Furiassi, Stefano Malacarne, Romolo Alzani, Vittorio Sentimenti III and goalkeeper Lucidio Sentimenti IV.
Born in Morlupo near Roma on May 6 1924, he played most of his youth career with Lazio. He went on loan to AS Trastevere in 1944, but was called back to Lazio the following season and debuted in the first team in the Centre South Championship. Starting from the 1946-47 season he was one of the irreplaceable pillars of the Lazio team and part of the squad that in the 1950s arrived fourth for three consecutive years. He played 257 games for Lazio, 251 in Serie A, two in the Centre South Championship, 2 in the Latin Cup and 2 in the Mitropa Cup. He finished his career with Chinotto Neri in the fourth tier.
He played a couple of times for the Italy B team and was part of the squad that defeated England 5-0 in 1949.
Once he stopped active football he became a manager and was head coach in the Lazio youth sector and also assistant coach to Juan Carlos Lorenzo in 1963-64. He coached in Serie D in the 1970s and was also in charge of the Tor di Quinto sport facilities where Lazio used to train.
Antonazzi was not very tall, only 1.68, but he was a tough defender and it was never easy for the opposing forwards when they had to play against him. He was not only good at breaking down opposition moves, but also had good technique and often started the game from the back. He was a true Laziale, he felt honoured to wear the Lazio jersey.
He died in Rome on February 25, 1995.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Centre South Championship | Latin Cup | Mitropa Cup |
1945-46 | 2 | - | 2 | - | - |
1946-47 | 27 | 27 | - | - | - |
1947-48 | 21 | 21 | - | - | - |
1948-49 | 28 | 28 | - | - | - |
1949-50 | 36 | 34 | - | 2 | - |
1950-51 | 33 | 31 | - | - | 2 |
1951-52 | 29 | 29 | - | - | - |
1952-53 | 20 | 20 | - | - | - |
1953-54 | 33 | 33 | - | - | - |
1954-55 | 24 | 24 | - | - | - |
1955-56 | 4 | 4 | - | - | - |
Total | 257 | 251 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
Sources