President Series: Massimo Giovannini

Source Lazio Wiki

Massimo Giovannini was Special Commissioner of Lazio in a delicate phase of their history. He was a graduate in Economic Sciences and came from a family of Laziali.

In the 1960-61 season the Biancocelesti were struggling in Serie A but even more so off the field. Financial difficulties were strangling the club and on February 1 1961 the president Costantino Tessarolo resigned.

At this point, on February 10, Massimo Giovannini was made Special Commissioner by the President of the League Giuseppe Pasquale. Giovannini had already been a councillor at Lazio and knew the Biancoceleste world well. His main task however was to alleviate their economic problems.

In Serie A things went from bad to worse and Lazio were relegated. They fared better in the Coppa Italia but were beaten in the final by Fiorentina 0-2.

Giovannini started a strict austerity plan in an attempt to limit expenses.

Lazio sold 14 players (including Ugo Pozzan, Egidio Fumagalli, Franco Carradori, Franco Janich and Amos Mariani), sent a few out on loan (including Pierluigi Pagni) while Bob Lovati retired.

The main signings were Vincenzo Gasperi (Atalanta), Gianni Seghedoni (Bari), Diego Zanetti (Novara), Nello Governato (Como) and Graziano Landoni (Messina).

Lazio got through three different managers over the season; Paolo Todeschini (1-21), Bob Lovati (22-27) and Carlo Facchini (28-38). Lazio narrowly missed promotion by one point. The campaign was full of controversy as in March, in a game against promotion rivals Napoli, the Biancocelesti had a perfectly good goal by Seghedoni disallowed (the referee absurdly claimed it had not gone in at all). In the end the team that pipped Lazio to the Serie A post were Napoli.

Disappointment on the field but Lazio's finances had improved. On June 14 1962 Giovannini announced that Lazio's debt had been halved.

The Lazio board wanted to prolong the period in administration but the Italian League disagreed and imposed another partner Angelo Miceli to work by Giovannini's side for three months.

In the summer transfer market Lazio sold seven players (including 1958 cup final scorer Maurilio Prini), sent two out on loan and ended two other loans while only bringing back a few loans (including Pierluigi Pagni) and adding Paolo Bernasconi (Fanfulla).

More was done in the autumn session when Lazio added players such as defender Gianfranco Garbuglia (Sambenedettese), midfielder Giambattista Moschino (Torino-on loan) and forward Orlando Rozzoni (Udinese).

On September 27 1962 Ernesto Brivio took over as Lazio President. Giovannini and Miceli stayed on the board. Brivio however soon proved to be untrustworthy and eventually disappeared. Giovannini and Miceli were therefore heavily involved in the running of the club again.

Meanwhile on the field Lazio won promotion back to Serie A, first under Carlo Facchin (game 1-4) and then Bob Lovati (5-38) with Juan Carlos Lorenzo as technical director (5-38).

Giovannini then slowly diminished his involvement leaving the reigns to Miceli who worked as a Commissioner before being named President on December 12, 1963.

Giovannini died of a heart attack at only 51, on April 18 1974. Just under a month later Lazio would win their first historic Scudetto.

Giovannini was involved with Lazio in a particularly difficult period of their history. He worked in various roles and never turned down help for Lazio in turbulent financial times. His decisions and strategies were sometimes questioned but never his dedication to the club.

Sources

Lazio WIki