May 22, 1977: Catanzaro Lazio 1-2
- Lazio Stories
- 13 hours ago
- 7 min read
Lazio qualify for the UEFA Cup
By beating Catanzaro, the Biancocelesti reach fifth place and qualify for next season’s UEFA Cup
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth. Needing at least a draw in the last match of the season at Como, the Biancocelesti fell behind 2-0 after just 15 minutes. But then two goals, by Bruno Giordano and Roberto Badiani, gave them the vital point.
Lazio had started with Giulio Corsini as manager but following problems with the team, and Giorgio Chinaglia in particular, he was sacked and replaced by Tommaso Maestrelli. The maestro had been diagnosed with cancer in 1975, but apparently a new treatment had helped and he was able to go back to his job. He however got worse towards the end of the season so President Umberto Lenzini was forced to make a change for the following season. Maestrelli stayed on as technical director.
Brazilian Luis Vinicio was chosen. Vinicio had been manager at Napoli and he was the first in Italy to play the Dutch "Zona" (new deal) style of football, thus breaking away from the traditional man to man marking. Especially from his second year, with the arrival of defender Tarcisio Burgnich, Vinicio played the "total football" way. A revolution in Italy.
Lenzini, Maestrelli and Vinicio decided to avoid risks and to choose players that could adapt to the new style of play. In came second goalkeeper Claudio Garella (Novara), defender Dario Pighin (Palermo) and forward Renzo Rossi (Como). Also returning was midfielder Fernando Viola from his loan to Cagliari.
Lazio also scored a coup and signed the Roma captain Ciccio Cordova. Cordova in 1972 became Roma captain and was one of the more popular players, but he was linked to the past president Alvaro Marchini (he had married Marchini’s daughter Simona) and never got on with the new one, Gaetano Anzalone. After a disappointing 1975-76 season, Anzalone decided to get rid of the old players and start from scratch with a new, younger and more motivated team. Cordova was up for sale after 285 games for the Giallorossi in nine years. Anzalone sold him to Verona without saying anything to the player during the negotiations. Ciccio, heartbroken, felt betrayed by the club he supported and broke his contract with Rome thus becoming a free agent.
Nobody was interested in signing him and he risked having to quit football at 32. He really wanted to stay in Rome, so when Lazio knocked at his door, he took the opportunity and signed for the Biancocelesti. With this move he continued to play football, in the city he loved, and could be a thorn in Anzalone’s side. Perfect. Lazio had been looking for a playmaker ever since they disastrously sold Mario Frustalupi and Cordova was their ideal player. Not everybody at Lazio was happy, especially Luciano Re Cecconi, but the fans accepted him immediately.
Vinicio had introduced a few young players in the squad: Giordano, who had played well the previous year in Serie A both with and in place of Chinaglia, Lionello Manfredonia and Andrea Agostinelli.
The season was however marred by tragedy. On December 4 Maestrelli died. The Biancoceleste derby win was the last present his boys were able to give him.
Furthermore, on January 18, Luciano Re Cecconi was shot to death by a jeweller as he walked into his shop. He was only 28 years of age.
On the pitch Lazio had started well and beating Roma at the end of November they were third. But then they had stopped winning and finished the first half of the season in 6th place. It took them nine games to win again (4-1 vs Fiorentina).
Lazio were now in pole position to claim an incredible fifth place and UEFA Cup qualification. The table for the last European position read: Lazio and Napoli 29, Perugia 28, Genoa and Bologna 27. The last games of the season were Catanzaro-Lazio, Napoli-Fiorentina, Inter-Perugia, Torino-Genoa and Roma-Bologna. If Lazio won they would be automatically fifth since they had a better goal difference compared to Napoli (+5 for Lazio, +1 for the Neapolitans).
The match: Sunday, May 22, 1977, Stadio Comunale, Catanzaro
Catanzaro were already in Serie B but were determined to leave the top tier with a win. So they put their foot down on the accelerator right from the word go, pushing for the win.
Fortunately for Lazio, Felice Pulici was on one of his days where he saved everything, even the moving air. In the 11th minute he parried a great Adriano Banelli shot, in the 15th he managed to anticipate Sauro Petrini, in the 18th he was able to get a hand on a dangerous free kick taken by Giovanni Improta and palm the ball onto the post and a minute later saved a shot by Alberto Arbitrio.
Lazio were in trouble even though they had scored in the 12th with Bruno Giordano but it was inexplicably not given due to a very dubious off side. Then Luis Vinicio made a change at midfield, freeing Roberto Badiani and Gigi Martini of defensive duties and the Biancocelesti took hold of the game. And they scored. In the 23rd minute, Ciccio Cordova crossed, Paolo Ammoniaci headed the ball towards the centre of the box, Banelli tried to kick it away but missed and Renzo Garleschelli made it 1-0.
Five minutes later they doubled their score. Freekick for the Biancocelesti, Cordova touched the ball for Vincenzo D’Amico, big whack, slight deflection from Improta and it was 2-0 for Lazio.
Catanzaro back on the attack and Pulici back into action in the 31st minute when he fisted away an Arbitrio attempt and in the 36th when with a marvellous dive he neutralised a Massimo Palanca lob.
In the second half the Calabrian Giallorossi attacked but Lazio managed to put the game to sleep slowing down the pace. In the 77th minute blatant foul on D’Amico by Luigi Boccolini but the ref ignored it. Three minutes later Improta to Petrini, Pulici saved, Pietro Rondinelli tried a shot, Pulici saved again, ball back to Rondinelli who adjusted it with his hand and crossed, Palanca with a marvellous bicycle kick reduced the deficit.
But that was the last episode of an entertaining match and Lazio qualified for the UEFA Cup.
Who played for Catanzaro
Novembre, Silipo, Banelli, Arbitrio, Ranieri, Maldera, Petrini S., Improta, Sperotto (46' Rondinelli), Boccolini, Palanca
Substitutes: Pellizzaro G., Pierelli
Manager: Di Marzio
Who played for Lazio
Pulici F., Ammoniaci, Martini L., Wilson, Manfredonia, Cordova, Garlaschelli, Agostinelli A., Giordano, D'Amico, Badiani (58' Ghedin)
Manager: Vinicio
Referee: D’Elia
Goals: 23’ Garlaschelli, 28' Improta (og), 80' Palanca
What happened next
A great season for Lazio and the UEFA Cup qualification was a welcome surprise. Vinicio was able to mix experienced players with young ones and this was the positive result.
Three players had the most appearances this season: Badiani, Cordova and Pulici (34). Top scorer was Giordano with 13 goals overall.
Let’s talk about Massimo Palanca
Massimo Palanca was born in Loreto (Ancona), on August 21, 1951. He and his family (a brother and six sisters) lived in nearby Portorecanati.
At 12 he joined local club Portorecanati’s youth setup.
In 1970, at 19, he moved to Camerino in Serie D. He stayed three seasons playing 71 games and scoring 31 goals. His 18 goals in 1972-73 earned him the attention of Serie C clubs.
In 1973 he signed for Frosinone in the 3rd tier. He played 28 league games and scored 17 goals. The Ciociari finished 9th under former Lazio manager Umberto Mannocci (1964-66).
In 1974 Palanca moved south to Calabria and joined what would be his main club, Catanzaro. He stayed seven seasons. In the first the Giallorossi narrowly missed out on promotion, losing the playoff to Verona. The following year however they won a historic promotion to Serie A. In 1976-77 they were relegated but a year later won promotion again. In 1978-79 they finished a positive 9th in A (and reached the Coppa Italia semi-final), then 12th and 8th. Palanca was their shining star, in 231 appearances (96 in A) he scored 76 goals (37 in A).
In 1981 his performances earned him a move to Napoli. In Naples he did not repeat his previous form and played 29 games (23 in A) with 1 goal (Cesena). The Partenopei finished 4th (UEFA Cup) under Rino Marchesi. Apart from the manager, other Lazio connections were Filippo Citterio (1979-81), Claudio Vinazzani (1983-86), Oscar Damiani (1985-86) and Raimondo Marino (1986-89).
In 1982-83 he spent a season on loan with Como in Serie B. He played 20 league games and scored 2 goals. The Lariani missed out on promotion after a playoff, under Tarcisio Burgnich.
In 1983-84 Palanca was back with Napoli. He played 19 league games with 1 goal (Fiorentina in opener). The manager was first Pietro Santin and then Rino Marchesi and the Azzurri finished 11th. His teammates included future Lazio, Ciro Muro (1987-89).
Palanca then dropped a few leagues and joined Foligno in Serie C2. He stayed two seasons, playing 47 league games and scoring 18 goals. The Biancazzurri finished 5th, under Dante Fortini and 16th (relegated) under Luciano Aristei.
In 1986 he then made a return to the place he had been most successful, Catanzaro. He stayed another four seasons in Calabria. The "Regina del Sud", now in Serie C, won promotion and then finished 5th, 11th and 20th (relegated). He played another 136 games with 51 goals. His managers in his second spell included: Vincenzo Guerini, Tarcisio Burgnich, Gianni Di Marzio and Fausto Silipo.
He then retired in 1990 at 36. He had played 597 career games with 210 goals.
Palanca was a forward. He was short at 1.69 but was quick and had a wonderful left foot. His shoe size was a small 37. He became famous for his goals directly from the corner flag, 13!
At Catanzaro he is a legend. He was their star in the best years in their history. Famous home wins include Milan 1-0, Roma 1-0, Lazio 3-1 and 2-1, Napoli 2-0 while away Lazio 1-0 and Roma 3-1 He played 367 games for the Giallorossi and scored 137 goals (6 against Lazio). He was called “O Rey", "Piedino d'Oro", and "Piedino di fata". Top Italian sports journalist Sandro Ciotti once described his left foot as one of the best in Europe.
With his big bushy moustache and magic corner kicks he was one of standout players and characters of 70s and 80s football in Italy, especially in Catanzaro.
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