Maurilio Prini was born on August 17, 1932 at Sieci di Pontassieve near Florence.
He started playing football in his local team to then sign for Empoli in Serie C where he played a couple of years. In 1952 he moved to Florence. In 1955-56 the Manager, Fulvio Bernardini, needed a left winger to substitute injured Claudio Bizzari. He chose Prini who interpreted the role in a way that had not been seen before. He was very fast so was able to cover both the attack and defence. In every match he went up and down the left flank, helping out any teammate that needed cover. A tactical revolution which paid off as Fiorentina won the 1955-56 scudetto, reached the final of the European Cup in 1956-57 and won the Grasshoppers Cup in 1957.
The formula of the latter was an interesting one. Six teams participated: Austria Wien, Nice, Schalke 04, Fiorentina, Dinamo Zagreb and Grasshopper Club Zurich. It was a group tournament with home and away games held over five years. It hence started in 1952 and finished in 1957.
In total he played 65 league games in Florence and in 1958 he signed for Lazio. He immediately won the Coppa Italia, scoring the winning goal in the final. It was the first silverware for the club.
He stayed for five years at Lazio playing 86 games in a difficult period for the club which had no money and in the end was relegated to Serie B in 1961.
In 1962 he signed for Prato in Serie C and the club was promoted to the second tier. He stayed another year before playing his final two years with Sangiovannese in Serie D.
Prini also played for Italy participating in the tour of Argentina and Brazil in 1956 with three appearances.
After retirement he became a manager and coached a number of minor teams.
He died in Florence on April 29, 2009.
Lazio Career
Season | Total appearances | Serie A | Serie B | Coppa Italia | Cup of the Alps |
1957-58 | 6 | - | - | 6 | - |
1958-59 | 29 (4) | 26 (3) | - | 3 (1) | - |
1959-60 | 30 (4) | 27 (2) | - | 1 | 2 (2) |
1960-61 | 18 (1) | 14 (1) | - | 4 | - |
1961-62 | 3 (2) | - | 2 (1) | 1 (1) | - |
Total | 86 (11) | 67 (6) | 2 (1) | 15 (2) | 2 (2) |
Sources