June 11, 1933: Wacker Vienna-Lazio 1-1 (U14s)
- Lazio Stories
- Jun 11
- 6 min read
The legendary feat of the young Lazio boys in Vienna
This is a story which has never been forgotten at Lazio.
Also on this day:
Lazio had only recently started an under 14s youth team. In 1932 it was the Austrian manager Karl Stürmer who decided it was time Lazio should try and groom some talent of their own. Stürmer was also the manager who had beaten Roma for the first time ever (mind you the Giallorossi were only founded in 1927).
The "microbi" (microbes) as the young lads were called trained twice a week, learning tactics and sportsmanship. They started to do well with positive results around Italy.
It was a great honour when only a year later in 1933 Lazio's U14s were invited to Vienna by the great Hugo Meisl (the man behind the Austrian "wunderteam" of the 1930's, one of the best sides in the world at the time) to play a friendly against the Wacker boys team. The event would take place before an international match between Austria and Belgium.
The Wacker boys were older and physically a lot stronger. They were an excellent team and accustomed to winning with margins of several goals. Nobody gave the Lazio boys much chance today.
The Lazio party left by train and were seen off by a small crowd.
There were 50,000 spectators present at the Prater. The first event had been an athletics meeting between Austria and Czechoslovakia, now it was the Lazio boys' turn, a daunting atmosphere for them.
The game consisted of two halves of twenty-five minutes. Physically it looked like a mismatch as the Lazio boys were all between 11 and 13 but the big crowd soon realised they could play football.
In the 7th minute Lazio surprisingly took the lead. Armando Longhi had a shot parried by Stümbod and Alessandro Capponi was the quickest on the rebound and put Lazio ahead.
The "Knirpse" (little kids) were under shock but piled forward using their extra height and weight to force Lazio on the defensive. Their biggest chance came on a free kick when midfielder Jarolim hit the crossbar.
Lazio however held their own and were quicker but also looked more skilful than the hosts. Halftime came with Lazio unexpectedly 1-0 up.
In the second half the Viennese equalised in the 5th minute when Jarolim poked the ball in a crowded area and beat Corrado Giubilo.
Those who now expected an onslaught would be disappointed as Lazio, despite defending more, put on a fine performance and held on for a 1-1 draw.
The crowd took these little Italian kids to heart and they were applauded enthusiastically off the field. They had made up for the difference in age and strength by being more agile and playing with good technique, keeping the ball on the ground with accurate passes. The Viennese were surprised and impressed.
The Italian minister in Vienna was also impressed and proud and he went down to the changing rooms to compliment the Lazio boys on their positive and brave performance.
The international game then ended with a 4-1 Austrian win but the general consensus was that the boys' game had been more entertaining
On their return to Rome they were welcomed as heroes by a big crowd at Termini station, with the first team present too. The following day the local newspapers gave ample space to the Lazio boys' feat. They became forever known as the "pulcini" (chicks) of the Prater.
It is a story which has never been forgotten at Lazio.
Who played for Wacker Vienna
Stumböd (Reichsbund), Luttig, Lindner, Günther, Marschall, Buchberger, Wintler, Bollatfchel, Reitermaner, Jarolim, Aucharstn
Who played for Lazio
Giubilo, Giovanardi (26' Bartoli), Palombini, Di Santo, Cobelli, Palma, Mancini, A. Longhi I, Vettraino, O. Longhi II, Capponi
Referee: Sigmund
Goals: 7' Capponi, 30' Jarolim
Some of the boys went on to play for Lazio:
Corrado Giubilo - 47 games
Italo Cobelli - 1 league game (died prematurely at 21)
Armando Palma - 1 league game
Giuseppe Mancini - 48 games (10 goals)
Armando Longhi - 23 games (9 goals)
Luigi Vettraino - 64 league games (14 goals), 9 Coppa Italia games (4 goals)
Alessandro Capponi - 27 games (10 goals)
Also in today' squad:
Renato Ferrarese - 35 games
Alessandro Ferri - 140 games (1 goal)
Vittorio Dagianti - 28 games (5 goals)
Elvezio D'Orazi - 9 league games (2 goals)
Vettraino, Ferrarese, Ferri, Dagianti and D'Orazi would then also play in the winning derby of 1940 when on May 26 Lazio defeated Roma with an Enrique Flamini goal.
Let’s talk about Alessandro Capponi
Alessandro Capponi was born in Rome on August 13, 1919.
In 1932 he joined the Lazio youth sector. In 1933 he was part of the boys team that travelled to Vienna and who were applauded off the field by 50,000 spectators after a 1-1 draw (Capponi goal) with the highly rated Wacker boys team.
In 1936 he joined the first team squad in Serie A. The manager was Hungarian József Viola and Lazio finished 2nd. Capponi played 2 league games with 1 goal (the winner in a 2-1 home win against Lucchese) and 1 game in Coppa Italia. His goal against Lucchese made him Lazio's youngest ever Serie A scorer as he was only 17 and 4 months.
In 1937-38 he only played for the reserves in the Prima Divisione (13 games and 4 goals). The Lazio first team finished 8th under Viola.
In 1938-39 he played more, making 6 league appearances. The manager was Viola for the first 19 games and then Luigi Allemandi and Lazio finished 10th.
In 1939-40 the manager was Hungarian Géza Kertész and Lazio finished 4th but Capponi made no appearances.
In 1940 he joined Ferrara (SPAL) on loan for two seasons. The Estensi were in Serie C and finished 5th and 2nd. Capponi played 32 league games and scored 5 goals. The manager was Paolo Mazza in both seasons.
In 1942 he returned to Lazio. The Biancocelesti had Austrian Alexander Popovic as manager and finished 9th. Capponi only made 1 league appearance, against Venezia.
In 1943-44 the war interrupted football at national level. It continued however at local level. In Rome a Roman War League was set up with 10 teams participating including Lazio and Roma. Lazio won the tournament with 14 wins and 2 draws. Capponi played 9 games and scored 7 goals under manager Dino Canestri. He also played a game in the four-team tournament organised after the league. Lazio finished 3rd but were the only team not to add players from other clubs.
In 1944-45 Lazio finished 2nd in the Roman War League, still under Canestri. The Biancocelesti won once against Roma 2-0 but lost the other clash 0-1. Capponi played 6 league games with 2 goals plus 1 game in the Roman Cup.
In 1945-46 national football restarted but was divided into a northern league and a centre-south one. Lazio finished 7th in the latter, first under Canestri, then Salvador Gualtieri and finally Tony Cargnelli. Capponi made no appearances.
In 1946 he left Lazio but stayed in the capital and joined Alba Trastevere. The Albini were in group C of Serie B but were relegated. Capponi played 9 league games with 2 goals.
Capponi then played one last season with Sora (Frosinone) in group P of Serie C before retiring. The Bianconeri finished 11th and were relegated.
He however continued at amateur level for a couple more years, turning out for Virtus Spoleto and then Trionfalminerva.
Capponi was a midfielder who played mainly on the left wing. He was a talented player and, in his youth, many predicted a high-level career. It did not materialise but he was in the Lazio squad for nine seasons, playing 26 league games with 10 goals. He had the satisfaction of becoming champion of Rome in 1944.
In his time at Lazio he played alongside greats such as: Giacomo Blason, Uber Gradella, Alfredo Monza, Francesco Antonazzi, Umberto Busani, Bruno Camolese, Romolo Alzani, Luciano Ramella, Giuseppe Baldo, Salvador Gualtieri, Enrique Flamini, Aldo Puccinelli and the legendary Silvio Piola.
Alessandro Capponi died in Rome on September 9, 2009. He was the last survivor of the "pulcini" who 76 years earlier had so impressed at the Prater.
Lazio Career
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