October 9 1938: Lazio - Livorno 2-1
A pleasant cruise with a rocky mooring
Lazio go two goals up and all seems plain sailing but then have to fend off a Mullet attack
The season so far
The previous season Lazio had finished 8th in Serie A. The manager was Hungarian József Viola. Lazio had won 11 (including Torino 6-0, Fiorentina 5-0 and Atalanta 4-0), drawn 10 (including Juventus away and Roma 1-1) and lost 9 (including second derby 1-2). The top scorer was Silvio Piola with 15 league goals.
This season Viola stayed on. The main new signings were defender Luigi Allemandi (Venezia) and midfielder Luciano Ramella (Pro Vercelli).
Leaving Lazio were: midfielders Benedetto Stella (Fiorentina), Giuseppe Viani (Livorno) and forward Anfilogino Guarisi (Corinthians). Lazio were sad to see "Filò" leave (he would however be back briefly in 1938).
So far the Biancocelesti had played 3 games and won 1 (Genova 1893 2-1 at home), drawn 1 (Ambrosiana Inter 1-1 away on debut) and lost 1 (recently 1-2 away at Bari). Lazio were currently 8th on 3 points.
Livorno had finished 12th the previous season. They had three different managers: Mario Magnozzi (1-3), Ulisse Uslenghi from Uruguay (4-5) and Gyula Lelovics from Hungary (6-30). The Amaranto had won 8 (including derbies with Fiorentina 2-1 away and Lucchese 2-1 at home and Lazio 1-0 at home), drawn 8 and lost 14 (including Lazio 0-3 away). The top goal scorer was Angelo Pomponi with 8 league goals.
This season the manager was still Lelovics. The main new signings were: goalkeeper Porthus Silingardi (Cosenza), defender Alberto Rosso (Alessandria), midfielders Giuseppe Viani I (Lazio) and Umberto De Angelis (Manfredonia) plus forwards Vinicio Viani (Fiorentina), Ugo Conti (Fiorentina) and Aurelio Zennaro (SPAL).
Leaving were: goalkeeper Rodolfo Agostino (Genova 1893), defender Armando Bertagni (retiring), midfielders Francisco Garaffa (Red Star Belgrade) and Dino Gifford (Modena) plus forwards Angelo Pomponi (Lucchese-on loan), Raggio Montanari (Modena), César Bortolo (Sanremese) and Luigi Casalino (Biellese).
The goalkeeper Attilio Bulgheri had played one game for Lazio on loan in May 1938. He came on for the second half of a friendly derby game won 3-0 by Lazio against Roma.
In Serie A Livorno too had won 1 (Bologna 3-1 at home), drawn 1 (Torino 1-1 at home) and lost 1 (Bari 0-2 away on debut). They were 8th with Lazio on 3 points.
A clash between two teams who had a similar start to the season. Lazio however came from a defeat but played at home.
The match: Sunday, October 9, 1938, Stadio P.N.F, Rome
A warm and sunny day attracted about 10,000 spectators to the ground in the Flaminio/Parioli area of Rome.
Lazio were missing attacking midfielder Bruno Camolese.
Livorno were without midfielder Mario Stua.
Livorno started off stronger and Lazio seemed content to sit back and absorb the pressure. The Amaranto threatened in the 5th minute with a Mario Zidarich shot which Giacomo Blason blocked in the top hand corner.
Lazio replied in the 7th minute when Giuseppe Baldo took a freekick, Silvio Piola headed towards youngster Luigi Vettraino who blasted a shot which Attilio Bulgheri saved superbly into corner with one hand.
The Tuscan guests gradually relented and Lazio decided to step their game up and gained a series of corners.
In the 18th minute a good Umberto Busani-Giovanni Costa combination was finished off by the latter but went well wide.
In the 21st minute another freekick this time by Luciano Ramella was again headed on by Piola but Giovanni Riccardi hammered his first time shot off target.
In the 25th minute Lazio took the lead. Vettraino crossed and Silvio Piola headed into the middle, a scramble ensued and the ball fell to Busani who hit it but sideways where the oncoming Giuseppe Viani hammered the ball not over the bar but into the roof of the his own net, 1-0.
Lazio now looked as if they could pile on the goals. In the 29th minute Piola bicycle kicked just over the bar and in the 30th Vettraino was denied by an acrobatic Bulgheri save but possibly more theatrical than difficult.
On the half hour Vettraino and Riccardi swopped positions and after only a few minutes the Piedmontese midfielder hit the crossbar.
Livorno then had a penalty appeal for a Benedicto Zacconi handball but to no avail.
Lazio then had to tamper with their setup again as Baldo pulled a muscle so wing-forward Busani took his position and the Tuscan-born midfielder hovered around on the wing.
In the last minute of the first half Piola had only the keeper to beat but as he was about to shoot Riccardi got in the way and the chance went amiss. Half time: Lazio 1 Livorno 0.
The second half started like the first with Livorno on the front foot. In the 49th minute Zidarich tested Blason from long range.
As in the first half however Livorno's upper hand was shortlived and in the 53rd minute Lazio doubled their lead. Vettraino for Piola on the right and the forward squared to a revived Baldo who took the ball a couple of metres sideways and then beat Bulgheri, 2-0.
Lazio insisted with another Piola bicycle kick and a much more dangerous Vettraino belter which Bulgheri did well to save.
Livorno then had a foray on the break but Vinicio Viani's effort was well wide.
Lazio continued to threaten with Piola whose shot was blocked by Bulgheri and Baldo who hit the side netting.
In the 67th minute, slightly against the run of play, Livorno reopened the contest. On a freekick floated into the area aptly named Angelo Arcari rose up and headed past Blason, 2-1.
Lazio reacted positively and tried to restore their two-goal cushion. In the 69th minute Piola hit the side netting and a few minutes later Costa hit a shot which crossed the goalmouth without Vettraino or a now visibly slowed down Baldo being able to get a touch.
From a near 3-1 to near 2-2 as a couple of minutes later Ugo Conti put in a good cross which Blason managed to slap away just before Giacomo Neri could have an easy tap-in.
Lazio then did get a third with Vettraino but it was disallowed for a previous foul on the keeper.
In the last five minutes Livorno went all out for an equaliser. In the 86th minute Arcari had a shot deflected behind for a corner by Ramella and in the 90th minute Viani unmarked in front of Blason vollyed straight into the keeper's arms.
In the minute of added time Lazio made sure the ball was more in the stands than on the pitch and brought home a hard-fought victory. Final score: Lazio 2 Livorno 1.
A strange game. Lazio had deserved the win which at times had seemed a formality but then at the end they had to hold on to by the skin of their teeth. Baldo got the second goal but had been visibly limited by his injury. Lazio's best player had been the ever active 18-year old Vettraino but Ramella, Costa and Zacconi had also played well.
Livorno had held their own. At times it seemed they would be swept away but they continued fighting and in the end almost came away with a point.
Lazio leaped up to joint 4th with Ambrosiana Inter on 5 points. Lazio's next game was away to Bologna.
Livorno were joint 11th with Modena and Juventus on 3 points. The Amaranto would now play Novara at home.
Who played for Lazio
Manager: Viola
Who played for Livorno
Bulgheri, Rosso, Del Buono, Arcari II, Viani I, Lombatti, Neri, Arcari IV, Viani II, Zidarich, Conti
Manager: Gyula Lelovics
Referee: Bertolio
Goals: 25' Viani I (og), 53' Baldo, 67' Arcari II
What happened next
Lazio finished 10th. After half the fixtures they were 5th but then faded and from fixture 20 Luigi Allemandi took over from Viola. In the remaining games after today the Biancocelesti won 9 (including derby 2-0 away), drew 5 and lost 12 (including Bologna 0-2 away and the home derby 1-3). The top scorer was Piola with 9 league goals
In the Coppa Italia they beat Atalanta 1-0 at home but then lost 1-2 to Milano away in the last 16.
Livorno ended up 15th and relegated. From fixture 22 Lelovics was replaced by Pietro Piselli. In the next 26 games after today they won 8 (including Juventus 1-0 and Roma 3-1 at home), drew 5 (including Milano 2-2 away and lost 13 (including Novara 0-2 and Lazio 2-3 at home). The top scorer was Vinicio Viani with 11 league goals.
Livorno would bounce straight back up again the following year and stay until 1949. In 1942-43 they finished 2nd in Serie A. After 1949 they would not reappear in Serie A again until 2004-05. They are currently in Serie C.
In the Coppa Italia they beat Salernitana 2-1 at home but then in the last 16 lost to Ambrosiana Inter 0-1 at home (a.e.t)
Serie A champions in 1938-39 were Bologna for the 5th time. Livorno went down with fellow Tuscans Lucchese. The Coppa Italia was won by Ambrosiana Inter who beat Novara 2-1.
A brief history of Livorno
Unione Sportiva Livorno were founded in 1915 with a merger between Virtus Juventusque and SPES Livorno. It was originally not a popular decision as the two local clubs had a strong rivalry.
Early days
Due to WW1 they only started official games in 1919-20 in the Tuscan section of the top flight. In the 1920's they competed in the regional top tier and in 1929-30 qualified for the first ever single national Serie A.
In the 1930s Livorno went up and down between Serie A and B (winning Serie B in 1932-33 and 1936-37). Their best position in A was 8th in 1933-34.
In the early 1940s they were in A until the war interrupted national sporting activities. In 1942-43 they obtained their highest ever finish with a 2nd place, under manager Ivo Fiorentini. They were only one point behind champions Torino.
Later history
After the war they stayed in A for four seasons before a decline. In the next 15 years (1949-64) they spent 11 seasons in Serie C and 4 in B.
From 1964 to 1971 they found some stability in Serie B but never fighting for promotion.
In 1971-72 they were relegated to C again and in 1982-83 to C2. They came straight back up again and were in C1 until 1989. In 1987 they won the Serie C Coppa Italia (Campania Puteolana 3-1 on aggregate).
In 1988-89 they went down to C2 again. In 1990 they became Unione Calcio Livorno.
In 1991 they were excluded from professional football due to financial problems and started from Eccellenza (5th tier) as Associazione Sportiva Livorno Calcio.
By 1997 they were back in C1 and by 2002 in Serie B (in 2001-02 they won Serie C).
In 2003-04 they finished 3rd in B under Walter Mazzarri and won promotion to Serie A. They stayed four seasons (8th, 6th, 11th and 20th). In 2006-07 they took part in the UEFA Cup and reached the round of 32 (Espanyol 1-4 on aggregate), their best results were a 1-0 away win at Auxerre and a 1-1 away draw at Partizan Belgrade (with 87th minute equaliser by goalkeeper Amelia).
The Amaranto won promotion again in 2012 -13 under Davide Nicola but only stayed up one season.
There followed a decade which saw them between B and C until in 2021 when they fell to Serie D.
Livorno again had financial problems and were renamed Unione Sportiva Livorno 1915 and started from Eccellenza. By 2025 they were back in Serie C (winning Serie D Scudetto in 2024-25). They are currently in Serie C.
Round up
A patchy history. Livorno had good years until WW2 with many seasons in Serie A and a 2nd place in 1943. There followed 60 years of Serie B, C, C2 and even amateur football. The Tuscans had another good period in the mid to late 2000s. In total they have played 18 seasons in A (+11 pre-1929), 27 in B (twice winners), 32 in C (three times winners), 7 in C2 and 6 in semi-professional or amateur leagues. They played one campaign in Europe in 2006-07
Players
Livorno have had many great players in their history. These include Mario Magnozzi, Mario Stua, Costanzo Balleri, Mauro Lessi, Armando Picchi, Renato Bellinelli, Miguel Vitulano, Igor Protti, Cristiano Lucarelli, David Balleri, Marco Amelia, Andrea Luci, Giorgio Chiellini, Alessandro Diamanti.
The top 10 for appearances are: 421 Andrea Luci, 369 Mauro Lessi, 280 Mauro Magnozzi, 278 Igor Protti, 259 Paolo Silvestri, 242 Mario Stua, 238 Renato Bellinelli, 229 Ostilio Capaccioli, 218 Alessandro Lambrughi, 215 Paolo Lami
The top 10 goalscorers are: 130 Igor Protti, 128 Mario Magnozzi, 111 Cristiano Lucarelli, 68 Federico Dionisi, 56 Paulinho, 55 Daniele Vantaggiato, 54 Francesco Tavano, 46 Bruno Graziani, 45 Enio Bonaldi, 44 Teresio Piana
A possible top X1 could be: 1) Bellinelli 2) Balleri 3) Chiellini 4) Lessi 5) Picchi 6) Luci 7) Vitulano 8) Mario Stua 9) Lucarelli 10) Protti 11) Magnozzi
Managers
The first managers were Attilio Fresia and Pietro Piselli.
Some of their more important managers have been Ivo Fiorentini (2nd place in A in 1943), Renzo Milani (undefeated C2 winners in 1984), Osvaldo Jaconi (promotion to B in 2002), Walter Mazzarri (promotion to A in 2004) and Davide Nicola (promotion to A in 2013 ).
Others include: Gyula Lelovics, Karl Stürmer, József Viola, Mario Magnozzi, Guido Mazzetti, Carlo Parola, Roberto Donadoni, Carlo Mazzone, Walter Novellino.
Colours and names
Livorno's colour is "amaranto" (maroon or amaranth red) which is the colour of the town banner and flag. The classic shirt is maroon with some black and gold with maroon shorts and socks. The club logo is USL or ASL in a circle, nicknamed "dollaro" locally.
The clubs nicknames are "Labronici" (natives of Livorno), "Triglie" (Red mullet fish) or simply "Amaranto".
Playing fields and stadiums
Livorno first played on the Villa Chayes pitch. It was used from 1915 to 1933 and held about 6,000 fans.
In 1933 the new stadium in the Ardenza area was inaugurated although it was only completed in 1935. It held 20,000 and was originally called the Edda Ciano Mussolini (1933-45). It then became known as the Stadio Comunale (1945-89) and in 1990 Stadio Armando Picchi (the former Livorno player and manager who was also part of the great Inter 1960s team). It is often however still referred to as L'Ardenza. It now has a capacity of 14, 267.
Fans
The first organised groups were Ultras Livorno in 1976 and Ultras Fossa in 1977. In 1999 they merged and formed the Brigate Autonome Livornesi (BAL).
Today the main groups are: Prima Linea 1915, Brigata Seleuco Trionieri and Frenetici 1915
Livorno organised fan base are traditionally radical left-wing. Their main friendships are with Pescara, Ternana, Atalanta, Virtus Verona and Empoli. Abroad they have ties with Olympique Marseille, AEK Athens, Celtic Glasgow and Adana Demirspor.
Their arch rivals are nearby Pisa. They are also enemies with other Tuscans: Siena, Arezzo, Lucchese and Fiorentina (although the latter were once friends). The various groups also have bad blood with Lazio, Roma, Brescia, Bologna, Ascoli, Verona, Catania, Palermo, Massese and Carrarese.
Modern day
Livorno are currently in Serie C. The manager is former player and legend Cristiano Lucarelli. The club is Brazilian owned with the president being Joel Esciua.
Head to Head with Lazio
The Amaranto and Biancocelesti have played 46 times, 36 in Serie A, 6 in Serie B, twice in First Category and twice in the Coppa Coni.
First game: Lazio Livorno 1-2 on Sunday, May 22, 1921 for the First Category Interregional Semifinal Group
First Lazio Home win: Lazio Livorno 2-1 in in Coppa CONI on Sunday, July 8, 1928
First Lazio Away Win: Livorno Lazio 0-2 in Serie A on Sunday, February 10, 1935
Latest Lazio Home Win: Lazio Livorno 2-0 in Serie A on Sunday, December 15, 2013
Latest Lazio Away Win and last match played: Livorno Lazio 0-2 in Serie A on Sunday, April 27, 2014
Total Lazio Wins: 26 (20 home, 6 away)
Total Draws: 5 (all in Livorno)
Total Livorno Wins: 15 (3 in Rome, 12 in Livorno)
Best Lazio Win and Match with greater number of goals: Lazio Livorno 6-1 in Serie A on Sunday September 30, 1934
Worst defeat: Livorno Lazio 4-0 on Sunday, June 15, 1930, in Serie A
Sources
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