Francesco Ianich, better known as Franco Janich, was born in Udine on March 27, 1937. He started playing with Spilimbergo and then in 1956 moved to Atalanta where he debuted in Serie A on September 16 1956. Two years later he moved to Lazio.
He immediately won the Coppa Italia and stayed at the club for three years becoming captain. He was a very elegant and technical defender, probably among the best ever to have played for the Biancocelesti. In his three years at the club he played 93 games in Serie A and 10 in Coppa Italia.
In 1962 he moved to Bologna and became a pillar of the Rossoblu defence. He stayed 11 years with 376 appearances (8th all time for Bologna), winning a scudetto in 1963-64, a Coppa Italia in 1969-70 and a Mitropa Cup in 1961.
In 1972-73 he moved to Lucchese in Serie C and then retired. In his entire career he was never sent off and never scored, but that was not his job.
He played six games for Italy. His first was in the infamous Cile Italy 2-0 at the World Cup of 1962 with some of the worst refereeing ever. His last was the other infamous Italy vs North Korea game in the 1966 World Cup that Italy lost.
After he retired he became General Director of Napoli from 1972 to 1976 and then Sports Director for Como. He returned to Lazio as Sports Director in 1978 and stayed until the arrival of Luciano Moggi in 1980. He then worked for Bari for eight years.
At Lazio he was highly regarded and loved by the fans. He never forgot Lazio and always followed the club with affection. He died in Nemi, near Rome, where he had settled, on December 2, 2019.
Lazio Career
Season | Appearances | Serie A | Coppa Italia |
1958-59 | 36 | 32 | 4 |
1959-60 | 37 | 33 | 4 |
1960-61 | 30 | 28 | 2 |
Total | 103 | 93 | 10 |
Sources