November 7 1976: Lazio Perugia 1-0
Eagles leapfrog Griffins
A rare Captain Wilson goal gives Lazio win as they overtake Umbri in table
The season so far
Lazio had finished 13th the previous season. It had been a difficult season due to Tommaso Maestrelli's illness. Lazio had started the season with Giulio Corsini in charge but he had clashed with the old guard players especially Giorgio Chinaglia and left in early December.
At this point Maestrelli surprisingly returned seemingly in better health. Lazio however struggled all season and in April Chinaglia left to play for the New York Cosmos. Lazio ultimately avoided relegation in a dramatic last game of the season 2-2 draw at Como.
This season Maestrelli was replaced by Brazilian Luís Vinicio. The main new players were: keeper Claudio Garella (Novara), defender Dario Pighin (Palermo), midfielders Franco "Ciccio" Cordova (in a rare deal with Roma), Fernando Viola (Cagliari) and forward Renzo Rossi (Como).
Leaving were: keeper Avelino Moriggi (Novara), defender Sergio Petrelli (Anconitana), midfielder Sergio Borgo (Pistoiese) and forward Giovanni Carlo Ferrari (Cagliari).
The season started with the Coppa Italia in August-September. Lazio had won 2 (Novara 3-2 at home and Catania 3-1 away) and lost 2 (Atalanta 1-2 away and Milan 1-2 at home) and were eliminated.
In Serie A, despite losing the opener (Juventus 2-3 at home), Lazio were doing well. After losing their debut the Biancocelesti had won 2 (Fiorentina 1-0 away, Bologna 3-0 at home) and drawn 1 (Sampdoria 0-0). Lazio were currently 5th on 5 points.
Perugia had finished a positive 8th the previous under Ilario Castagner. It was the beginning of "Il Perugia dei miracoli". The Griffins had beaten Lazio 2-0 at home but lost 0-1 in Rome. Their other wins included Juventus 1-0 at home and Roma 2-1 away while they drew away at both Milan and Inter. The top scorer was Mario Scarpa with 6 league goals.
This season Castagner was confirmed. The main new signings were: Comunardo Niccolai (Cagliari, after 222 league games), Antonio Ceccarini (Catania), midfielder Livio Pin (Chioggia) plus forward Giordano Cinquetti.
Leaving Perugia were: defender Bruno Baiardo (Pisa) and Giancarlo Raffaelli (Rimini), midfielders Giuseppe Picella (Pistoiese) and Paolo Sollier (Rimini) plus forwards Maurizio Marchei (Sambenedettese) and Sergio Pellizzaro (Rimini).
The Umbri were currently 4th on 6 points after 3 wins and 1 defeat (Milan 1-2 away on debut). They therefore came from 3 consecutive wins (Foggia, Cesena and Genoa).
In the Coppa Italia in August-September the Biancorossi had been eliminated after 2 wins (Modena 3-0 and Sampdoria 2-1 at home), 1 draw (Cagliari 0-0 away) and 1 defeat (Vicenza 0-1 away).
An interesting game today between two clubs who were surprisingly high up in the table.
The match: Sunday, November 7, 1976, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
A grey afternoon in Rome and the field was heavy due to the rain that had fallen in the morning. The crowd was about 40,000.
Lazio were without Vincenzo D'Amico and Luciano Re Cecconi while Perugia had midfielder Livio Pin unavailable.
The first twenty minutes were characterised by injuries more than shots at goal. Early on Walter Novellino came out worse for wear from a challenge with Lionello Manfredonia, he soldiered on but was not as lively as usual. In the 20th minute Michele Nappi pulled a muscle while clearing the ball and was replaced by Mauro Amenta.
The first half was balanced even though it was Lazio who had the better chances. In the 36th Bruno Giordano went close and in the 38th Ciccio Cordova weaved his way past several defenders but his shot was saved by Roberto Marconcini.
The first period after the break saw the visitors on top. Felice Pulici had to save on Antonio Ceccarini (and had four stitches on his lip as a result) and on Giordano Cinquetti while Amenta had a shot go over the bar.
In the 67th minute Lazio replaced Renzo Garlaschelli with Renzo Rossi. The change of Renzo's preceded a period of intense pressure from the Biancocelesti.
In the 78th minute their efforts were rewarded. Cordova shot and Franco Vannini cleared but hit Giordano and the ball spun up for Pino Wilson to volley a shot which hit the left post and went in, 1-0.
Perugia pushed for an equaliser and piled up corners. The last ten minutes were very stop and start with lots of fouls. Roberto Badiani suffered bruised ribs but managed to hold out.
Perugia attacked and Pulici saved a dangerous header but it was Lazio who had the biggest chances on the break but Giordano, one-on-one with the keeper, poked the ball just wide and a Badiani attempt was cleared near the goal line by Comunardo Niccolai. Final score: Lazio 1 Perugia 0.
A hard-fought and even game which Lazio just managed to edge. Perugia had confirmed to be a solid and well-organised team but Lazio had got the all important and decisive goal.
Lazio were now up to 4th on 7 points.
Perugia were down to 5th on 6 points.
Who played for Lazio
Pulici, Ammoniaci, Martini, Wilson, Manfredonia, Cordova, Garlaschelli (67' R.Rossi), Agostinelli, Giordano, Viola, Badiani
Manager: Vinicio
Who played for Perugia
Marconcini, Nappi (21' Amenta), Ceccarini, Frosio, Niccolai, Agroppi, Scarpa, Curi, Novellino, Vannini, Cinquetti
Substitutes: Malizia, Berni
Manager: Castagner
Referee: Panzino
Goal: 78' Wilson
What happened next
Tommaso Maestrelli died on December 2 1976.
Yet another tragedy hit Lazio on January 18, 1977. One of their star players Luciano Re Cecconi died tragically at 28. He was shot by a jeweller in a shop in north Rome. Initially it seemed it may have been a prank gone wrong and that Re Cecconi had jokingly simulated a hold up, pretending to have a gun in his coat pocket.
This has since been challenged, especially by his teammate Pietro Ghedin who was with him at the time. It emerged that the jeweller possibly just panicked, he had already shot at someone before and was on edge, while the Lazio player had done nothing suspicious at all. It did not help that the jeweler did not follow football and so did not recognise "Cecco" who had even played for the national team. The sad fact remains that Re Cecconi died at 28.
On the field Lazio had a good season and finished 5th on 31 points (UEFA Cup), helped by young rising stars from the academy Bruno Giordano, Lionello Manfredonia and Andrea Agostinelli. After today Lazio won 7 (including derby 1-0 and Inter 2-1 at home), drew 10 and lost 8 (including 0-2 at Perugia). The top scorer was Giordano with 13 goals (10 in A).
Perugia finished 6th on 39 points, their highest ever. The Umbri then won 6 (including Milan 3-1 and Roma 3-0 at home), drew 11 (including Juventus at home and Inter away both 1-1) and lost 8. The top scorer was Franco Vannini with 9 league goals.
These were Perugia's best years and in 1977-78 they finished 7th and in 1978-79 went unbeaten and finished 2nd, then 7th again before a relegation and decline.
On the down side, on October 30 1977, Renato Curi collapsed and died from Cardiac arrest during a game against Juventus. The Perugia stadium now bears his name.
Ilario Castagner would one day be Lazio manager (1980- Feb '82) but was unlucky just missing out on promotion.
The 1976-77 Serie A was won by Juventus for the 17th time while Serie B awaited Sampdoria, Catanzaro and Cesena. Milan won the Coppa Italia defeating Inter 2-0
Let's talk about: Aldo Agroppi
Aldo Agroppi was born in Piombino (Livorno), on April 14, 1944. He made his name both as a player and later as a manager.
His youth clubs were Piombino, Torino and Genoa.
In 1960-61 he played 3 league games for Piombino in Serie D.
In 1961 he signed for Torino but played for their youth teams for three years.
In 1964-65 he was loaned to Genoa in Serie A. He played 2 games in Coppa Italia with 1 goal (Monza). The Rossoblu, first under Paulo Amaral and then Roberto Lerici, finished 16th and relegated. He often played with the U19s and won the prestigious Viareggio youth tournament. One of his teammates at Genoa was former Lazio player Massimo Giacomini (1963-64).
In 1965-66 he spent a season at Ternana in Serie C on loan. He played regularly, making 26 league appearances with 6 goals. The Umbri finished 3rd, first under Mario Caciagli (Lazio assistant manager 1958-60) and then Oreste Cioni.
In 1966-67 he was loaned to Potenza in Serie B. He played 35 league games with 4 goals. The Lions finished 6th under Alfredo Manichelli. The squad included future Lazio keeper Rosario Di Vincenzo (1967-72).
In 1967 Agroppi finally returned to his parent club Torino. He would remain eight seasons. He played 281 games (212 in A) and scored 20 goals (15 in A). The Granata finished 7th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 2nd, 6th, 5th and 6th. In 1968 and 1971 they won the Coppa Italia and in 1970 lost in the final group stage.
His managers were Edmondo Fabbri (two seasons, 1 Coppa Italia), Giancarlo Cadė, Beniamino Cancian (1 Coppa Italia), Gustavo Giagnoni (two and a half seasons) Fabbri again (a season and a half). The squads included Lazio connections; Giambattista Moschino (Lazio, 1962-63, 1971-73), Carlo Facchin (1971-72), Claudio Garella (1976-78). He left the season Torino won their 7th Scudetto (1975-76).
In 1975 Agroppi joined Perugia in Serie A and stayed two seasons. He played 45 games and scored 2 goals (Inter and the winner against Roma in 2-1 away win). The Griffins finished 8th and 6th under Ilario Castagner.
He then retired at 33.
He earned 5 caps for Italy.
He then started a long coaching career. He began in the Perugia youth academy.
In 1980-81 he was with Pescara in Serie B and finished 6th.
In 1981-82 he finished 3rd with Pisa in Serie B and won promotion.
In 1982-83 he was back in Perugia and finished 11th in B.
In December 1983 he took over at Padova in Serie B but resigned in February (W4, D5, L1).
In 1984-85 he returned to Perugia in Serie B. The Biancorossi just missed out on promotion finishing 4th.
In 1985 he reached Serie A. He was in charge at Fiorentina and finished 5th. His time in Florence however was overshadowed by problems with the Ultras who accused him of lacking respect for the captain Giancarlo Antognoni. Agroppi was even attacked and beaten up outside the ground and had to be rescued and defended by Daniel Passarella.
At the end of the season he was accused of being involved in the Totonero-bis betting scandal and suspended for 4 months. The game in question was from the 1984-85 season at Perugia.
This episode marked the beginning of his decline.
In 1987-88 he was sacked in January at Como in A (W2, D5, L6). The Lariani eventually finished 10th under Tarcisio Burgnich.
In January 1990 he took over at Ascoli in A but the Bianconeri were relegated.
In January 1993 he replaced Gigi Radice at Fiorentina in A but was sacked himself in April (W2, D6, L7). La Viola were eventually relegated.
This was his last coaching job as he then concentrated on punditry. He became a very outspoken commentator known for his strong criticism of many aspects of modern football and for his "Anti-Juventus" stance.
Agroppi was a midfielder. He had a good career with Torino and was one of the pillars in the late 1960s and early 1970s period which saw the Granata return to be competitive after struggling for many years following the 1949 Superga air crash tragedy. He won the Coppa Italia twice and was in the squads which included players who would go on to win the 1975-76 Scudetto (such as Luciano Castellini, Roberto Mozzini, Nello Santin, Claudio Sala, Roberto Salvadori, Renato Zaccarelli, Ciccio Graziani and Paolino Pulici).
As a manager his biggest satisfaction was a promotion to Serie A with Pisa (1982) and a UEFA qualification with Fiorentina (1986).
In 2011 he suffered a heart attack but survived. Aldo Agroppi died on January 2, 2025 in Piombino.
Sources
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