Giampaolo Saurini

Giampaolo Saurini was born in Colleferro near Rome, on November 13 1968.

Source Wikipedia

He first played in the youth sides of Colleferro and then joined Lazio.

At 19 he was loaned to Cagliari in Serie C1 for a year. The manager was first Enzo Robotti (1-9), then Mario Tiddia and the Rossoblu finished 11th. Saurini played 21 league games and scored 3 goals.

In 1988-89 he returned to Lazio but was then loaned first to Virescit Bergamo in C1 where he only played 4 league games. The Viola were relegated to C2.

In 1989-90 he was back in Rome with Lodigiani on loan in Serie C2. The Biancorossi finished 9th and Saurini played 26 league games with 9 goals.

In 1990-91 he came back to Lazio in Serie A. The manager was legendary Dino Zoff and Lazio finished 11th. The two main strikers were Rubén Sosa and Karl-Heinz Riedle but Saurini played 11 league games with 1 goal (the equaliser against Atalanta in a 2-2 home draw).

In 1991 he joined Brescia in Serie B. The manager was Adelio Moro (with Mircea Lucescu as T.D) and the "Rondinelle" (Little Swallows) won the league. Saurini played 36 league games with 10 goals (Lecce, Modena, Casertana, Pisa, Palermo, Bologna, Modena, Messina, Taranto, Cesena) and 4 in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Palermo). His teammates included future Lazio, Luca De Paola, Luca Luzardi and former Lazio, Sergio Domini.

He stayed in Brescia one more year, in Serie A. The Biancazzurri were relegated after a playoff (Udinese 1-3). Saurini played 15 league games with 3 goals (Foggia, Roma x2). His teammates included former Lazio defender Luca Brunetti (1986-'88) and future Lazio Scudetto winner Paolo Negro (1993-2005).

He came back to Lazio briefly in 1993 and made four appearances before being sold to Atalanta in Serie A in November. The manager was first Francesco Guidolin (1-11) and then Cesare Prandelli (assisted by Andrea Valdinoci who had a manager license). The Orobici were relegated and Saurini played 14 league games with 3 goals (Roma, Foggia, Genoa) and 1 game in Coppa Italia.

He stayed on in Serie B and the Nerazzurri bounced straight back up to Serie A under Emiliano Mondonico. Saurini played 23 league games with 9 goals (Lecce, Ancona, Palermo, Cosenza, Chievo, Como, Pescara, Perugia, Fidelis Andria), 2 games in Coppa Italia and 2 games in the revived Anglo-Italian Cup with 2 goals.

In 1995-96 he returned to Brescia in Serie B. The "Leonessa" (The Lioness) finished 16th under Lucescu-Moro (1-24) and then Edy Reja (25-38). Saurini played 23 league games with 5 goals (Pescara, Fidelis Andria, Salernitana, Cosenza, Avellino). His teammates included former Lazio, Maurizio Neri (1991-'93), Luca Luzardi (1992-'94) plus future Lazio, the Filippini brothers (2004-‘05) and Roberto Baronio (on and off from 1996-2010).

In 1996-97 Saurini played for Palermo in Serie B. The Rosanero were relegated under Ignazio Arcoleo and then Giampiero Vitali. Saurini played 34 league games and scored an impressive 16 goals (Brescia, Castel di Sangro x2, Ravenna, Lecce, Reggina, Chievo, Empoli, Ravenna, Lucchese, Cremonese, Bari, Cosenza, Chievo x2, Genoa) plus a game in Coppa Italia with a goal (Ravenna).

In 1997 he joined Padova in Serie B. The Euganei were relegated under first Giuseppe Pillon and then Mario Colautti. Saurini played 20 games with 5 goals (Torino, Perugia, Chievo, Foggia x2). His teammates included, legendary Lazio defender, Cristiano Bergodi.

He stayed with the Patavini in C1 under Adriano Fedele but suffered another relegation. Saurini played 21 games with 7 goals. One of his teammates was current Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi.

In 1999-2000 he played a season in Umbria with Gualdo in Serie C1. It was however a fourth consecutive relegation experience for Saurini. The managers were Enrico Nicolini, Ignazio Arcoleo and finally former Lazio keeper, Massimo Cacciatori. Saurini played 26 league games with 6 goals.

His last club between 2000-2003 was US Oratorio Calcio (from Calcio- Bergamo) in Eccellenza (5th tier) one year and Serie D the following two.

At almost 35 he then retired.

He then started a coaching career. He was Brescia's Primavera's (U19's) manager for four years, between 2008-‘12. He then spent five years with Napoli's Primavera, 2012-‘17. In 2023 he collaborated with the coaching staff at Reggiana and currently has the same task at Vicenza.

From 2019-‘20 he has also been part of the commentary teams for the televised U19 league games.

Saurini was a forward. He was a classic old-style centre-forward. At 1.88 and 77 kilos he was a strong player and good in the air. He was also a reliable penalty taker. He played 40 games in Serie A with 7 goals and 136 in Serie B with 45 goals.

He only played for Lazio for one season. He played 15 games with 1 goal for his boyhood club. He later fulfilled every Laziale's dream by scoring three goals against Roma (a brace in a 3-2 away win for Brescia in 1992 and the equaliser in a 1-1 home draw for Atalanta in 1994).

Lazio Career

Season	Total appearances (goals)	Serie A	Coppa Italia	UEFA Cup
1990-91	11 (1)	11 (1)	-	-
1993-94	4	1	2	1
Total	15 (1)	12 (1)	2	1

Sources

Wikipedia