Gottardi was by no means a star player, but gave everything he had every time he came on. His goal against Roma in the 1998 Coppa Italia and the impact he had in the final made him a Lazio legend.
Gottardi was born in Bern on December 18 1970 to Italian immigrants. He started playing football in the youth teams of BSC Young Boys and he continued to the A team playing his first professional season in 1989-90. He moved to Neuchatel Xamax in 1991 and stayed there for four years. In the summer of 1994 he went on loan to Juventus for a summer tour but was not confirmed.
Lazio bought him in 1995 as an alternative on the right wing and he stayed with the club until his retirement in 2004. He never became a regular first team player but was always very useful in whatever position he played. He will be remembered for his last minute goal against Roma in the Coppa Italia derby of 1998 but more specifically for being the player who changed the course of events in the final of Coppa Italia against Milan. Lazio were losing and had to score three goals. He came on in the second half and changed the course of the match. He was devastating and unstoppable for the Milan players and led the Biancocelesti to glory.
He did not play much but was vital when he did, as during the 2000 derby when he played exceptionally well helping Lazio win the match coming from behind. That game was fundamental for Lazio and reduced the deficit from Juventus to six points. Gottardi also scored in the Champions League in Madrid in 2001 against Real.
He played 144 games for Lazio (84 in Serie A, 32 in Coppa Italia, 10 in Champions League, 5 in the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, 11 in the UEFA Cup and 2 Super Coppa finals) and scored five goals (one in Serie A, two in Coppa Italia, one in Champions League and one in the UEFA Cup).
He won eight trophies for Lazio: a scudetto, the Coppa Italia 3 times, a UEFA Cup Winners Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and the Super Coppa twice.
When he stopped playing he continued to collaborate with Lazio in the youth teams before quitting football altogether and concentrating on his businesses.
“I really enjoyed myself. I was lucky, honoured to have participated in a similar adventure”, he said to the Corriere della Sera in 2021.
The fans used to chant “Mi diverto solo se, solo se gioca Guerino” (rough translation: I enjoy myself only if Guerino plays), for the Lazio hero and legend Guerino Gottardi, and they still do to this day.
Lazio Career
Season | Total games (goals) | Serie A | Coppa Italia | Champions League | Cup Winners Cup | UEFA Cup | Super Coppa |
1995-96 | 23 | 20 | 2 | - | - | 1 | - |
1996-97 | 24 | 18 | 3 | - | - | 3 | - |
1997-98 | 33 (4) | 19 (1) | 8 (2) | - | - | 5 (1) | |
1998-99 | 22 | 13 | 3 | - | 5 | - | 1 |
1999-00 | 19 | 5 | 7 | 7 | - | - | - |
2000-01 | 8 (1) | 3 | 2 | 2 (1) | - | - | 1 |
2001-02 | 8 | 5 | 3 | - | - | - | - |
2002-03 | 6 | 1 | 3 | - | - | 2 | - |
2003-04 | 2 | - | 1 | 1 | - | - | - |
Total | 144 (5) | 84 (1) | 32 (2) | 10 (1) | 5 | 11 (1) | 2 |
Sources
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