Mario Mereghetti

Mario Mereghetti was born in Ossona (Milan), on May 2, 1938.

Source Lazio WIki

He grew up in the Inter youth sector before joining the first team squad in 1955.

He was with the top squad for five years but never really broke through into the first team. Between 1955 and 1960 he made 10 league appearances with 1 goal (Milan in 3-5 defeat). The Nerazzurri finished 3rd, 5th,11th, 3rd and 4th. His managers included Giuseppe Meazza, Luigi Ferrero (Lazio 1955-56), Jesse Carver (Lazio 1956-57, 1961), Giuseppe Bigogno (Lazio 1951-53) and Inter legend Aldo Campatelli.

In 1960 he joined Udinese on loan and played more regularly. He made 25 league appearances and scored 7 goals (Sampdoria x2, Padova x2, Torino, Atalanta x2) under Giuseppe Bigogno and the Bianconeri finished 14th. The Friulani stayed up after playoff with Lecco on away goals (0-0, 3-3 with one goal by Mereghetti). His teammates included Lazio connections Massimo Giacomini (1963-64) and a young Dino Zoff (manager 1990-94, 1997, 2001) plus Osvaldo Bagnoli who would win a scudetto with Verona as manager in 1985.

His performances earned him a return to Inter in 1961-62. He played 15 league games and 3 in the Fairs Cup under Helenio Herrera and the Nerazzurri finished 2nd. He played alongside greats such as Giacinto Facchetti, Armando Picchi, Mariolino Corso, Sandro Mazzola, Gerry Hitchens and Luis Suárez. In a Lazio connection Lorenzo Bettini was also in the squad (1955-57).

In 1962 Mereghetti joined Atalanta. He stayed in Bergamo for four seasons. The Dea finished 8th, 11th twice and 14th. In 1963 the Nerazzurri won the Coppa Italia (Torino 3-1), their first historic trophy. Mereghetti played 125 league games with 9 goals (Sampdoria, Juventus home and away, Venezia, Bologna twice, SPAL, Varese, Foggia) and 10 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Cagliari). His managers included Paolo Tabanelli (cup triumph), Ferruccio Valcareggi and Ettore Puricelli.

In 1966 he joined Lazio. The manager was Umberto Mannocci but Mereghetti had difficulty getting into the team and left in the autumn without making any league appearances, only one in Coppa Italia. The main strikers were Juan Carlos Morrone and Vito D'Amato but the Biancocelesti also had Carlo Sassaroli and Romano Bagatti. It was a negative season anyway and Lazio were relegated, under Maino Neri who replaced Mannocci in November.

Mereghetti joined Varese in Serie B. The Biancorossi were promoted and he then stayed another two seasons in Serie A with 8th and 14th places (relegated). He played 21 league games with 2 goals (Sampdoria, Inter in 1-0 win). His managers were Pietro Magno, Bruno Arcari and Armando Picchi. His teammates included Lazio connections Antonio Renna (1964-66), Paolo Ferrario (1960-61, 1961-62) and Vincenzo Gasperi (1961-66).

Mereghetti's last club was Lecco where he played between 1969 and 1971. The Manzoniani were in Serie C and finished 2nd and 8th. His manager was Luciano Lupi for both seasons and he played 25 league games and scored 7 goals before retiring.

Mereghetti was a forward but played more for his fellow strikers than for himself. He never really made it at Inter but was successful at Atalanta where he was in the team that won their first ever silverware (the second came in 2024 in Europa League). He played a total of 196 games in Serie A and scored 19 goals.

At Lazio he only stayed a few months and was never really given a chance before moving on.

Lazio Career

Season	Coppa Italia Appearances
1966-67	1

Sources

Wikipedia