The Uruguayan Connection

Uruguay is famous for its colonial-era districts in Colonia and Montevideo, Atlantic beaches, socially progressive society, beef production, Empanadas (meat pies), Chivito (little goat) and Yerba Mate but also for its football.

Uruguay have participated in 14 World Cups and won it in 1930 and 1950 (famously defeating Brazil 2-1 in the Maracanazo in the Maracanã). "La Celeste" have also won the Copa América 15 times (most recent 2011) and the Olympics twice (1924, 1928)

At club level the most successful teams are Penarol (52 titles) and Nacional (49 titles) both from Montevideo. Other teams include Danubio (4 titles), Defensor Sporting (4), River Plate F.C (4) and Montevideo Wanderers (3). Penarol have won the Copa Libertadores 5 times and Nacional 3 times.

Uruguay have had many great players, these include; Enzo Francescoli, Ruben Sosa, Alvaro Recoba, Diego Forlan, Edinson Cavani, Luis Suárez.

Hundreds of Uruguayans have played in Serie A and many for Lazio.

The debutant

Enrico Arioni III - forward, he was owned by Torino but in 1916-17 while doing his military service in Rome he played for Lazio.

1930's and 40's

Maximiliano Emilio Faotto - defender, he arrived from Palermo in 1937 (previously Nacional, Racing Montevideo and stayed until 1940.  He played 46 league games. He left for Napoli but returned to Lazio in 1940-41 and played another 7 league games.  He then joined Ascoli, Palermo and Nissena (Caltanissetta-Sicily).

He was a strong, rugged full-back and gave a good contribution to Lazio in his four seasons.

Raimondo Andreolo II - midfielder, he arrived for a trial in September 1939. Lazio were interested in signing him but the club who owned him asking price was too high. He won 1 cap for Uruguay.

Michele Andreolo - midfielder, he arrived from Bologna (who still owned him) and played the two Roman War League seasons (1943-44 and 1944-45). He played 26 games and scored 3 goals and Lazio won the league in 1944. He then joined Napoli, Catania and Forlì.

He won 1 cap for Uruguay, winning a Copa América in 1935, and 26 caps for Italy with 1 goal and won the 1938 World Cup with the Azzurri. He also won the Scudetto 4 times with Bologna.

An excellent midfielder with superb technique.

1950's and 60's

Agreste - forward, he arrived from Montevideo Wanderers in August 1951 for a trial but was not signed.

Homero Guaglianone - forward, he arrived from Montevideo Wanderers in 1960 and only stayed a few months. He played one league game and then joined Nacional. He then played for Montevideo again, Nueve de Octubre (Ecuador), Deportivo Galicia, Danubio Atlético Bucaramanga (Colombia) and Colón (Uruguay). He won 8 caps for Uruguay with 4 goals and won a Campeonato Sudamericano de Football in 1959.

1980's

Ruben Sosa - forward, he arrived from Real Zaragoza in Spain in 1988 and stayed until 1992. He played a total of 140 games and scored 47 goals. He left for Inter, then Borussia Dortmund, Logroñés, Nacional, Shanghai Shenhua, Nacional again and Racing Montevideo. He won 46 caps for Uruguay and scored 15 goals. He won the Copa América twice (1985, 1987).

A speedy attacking left footer "El Principito" was an excellent player and immensely popular at Lazio. Arguably Lazio’s best ever Uruguayan player.

Nelson Gutiérrez - defender, he arrived from River Plate (previously Peñarol and Atlético Nacional-Colombia) in 1989 and stayed one season. He played 17 league games with 1 goal. He left for Verona, then Logroñés, Peñarol and Defensor Sporting. He won 57 caps for Uruguay and won the Copa América twice (1983, 1987).

A central defender, he was a hard player but a bit slow for Serie A.

Rubén Fernando Da Silva - forward, he was signed from Danubio in 1989 but Lazio left him on loan with River Plate. He was then co-owned with Cremonese but never played and then left for Logroñés in Spain. He then had a good career in Argentina with River Plate again, Boca Juniors, Rosario Central and then Tecos de la UAG (Mexico) and Nacional and Danubio (Uruguay). He won 21 caps for La Celeste with 3 goals and won a Copa América in 1995 and was runner-up in 1989.

He never played for Lazio but later "El Polillita" proved to be a good player.

Fabian Pereira - midfielder, he arrived from Danubio in 1991 and was co-owned with Juventus but was loaned to Cremonese. He then went to Boca Juniors, Nacional, Peñarol and Huracán (Argentina). He played 27 times for Uruguay with 1 goal. He was runner-up in the 1989 Copa América.

2010- present day

Source Lazio Wiki

Fernando Muslera - goalkeeper, he arrived from Montevideo Wanderers via Nacional in 2007. He stayed four seasons, playing 113 games. He won a Coppa Italia and Supercoppa in 2009. He then left for Galatasaray in Turkey and stayed many successful years until the end of 2024-25 when he finally left and joined Estudiantes in Argentina (where Juan Sebastian Veron is president).

He has earned 133 caps for Uruguay and won a Copa América in 2011.

At Lazio he was young and was signed due to bureaucratic problems with Juan Pablo Carrizo. With the arrival of the Argentine a year later however Muslera soon won back his place. Muslera made brilliant saves but was also error prone. "Castoro" will always be remembered for his saves in the Coppa Italia penalty shoot-out against Sampdoria and his brilliant performance in the shock Supercoppa win over Inter in Beijing.

Sebastián Eguren - midfielder, he signed for Lazio in 2010 from Villarreal (previously Montevideo Wanderers, Danubio, Nacional, Rosenborg and Hammarby) but failed his medical (heart problems). He then continued his career with AIK (Sweden) Sporting Gijón, Libertad (Paraguay), Palmeiras, Colón (Argentina) and Nacional (Uruguay).

He won 52 caps for Uruguay with 7 goals and won a Copa América in 2011. He also has Swedish citizenship.

Italy's strict medical regulations prevented him from playing for Lazio.

César Pintos - defender, he arrived in 2010 from San Lorenzo (Argentina) and previously Defensor. He was immediately loaned to Getafe in Spain as Lazio had no more extra-community slots due to new Federation policy. He then played for Defensor, Kasimpaşa (Turkey), Tigre (Argentina), Defensor again, San Jose Earthquakes (USA), Liverpool Montevideo and CA Cerro.

Álvaro González - midfielder, he arrived from Nacional in 2010 (previously Defensor Sporting and Boca Juniors) and stayed until 2015. He played a total of 146 games with 7 goals and won the epic Coppa Italia against Roma in 2013 (he played the last 10 minutes). He went on loan to Torino, then Atlas (Mexico) and returned to Lazio in 2016-17 but without any appearances. He then returned to his homeland and played for Nacional, Defensor Sporting and La Luz.

He won 72 caps for Uruguay and scored 3 goals, winning a Copa América in 2011.

An untiring and athletic midfielder, he could also play at full-back. He was a player who always gave everything he had and was appreciated at Lazio.

"El Tata" was known for simulating a phone call to his grandmother using his football boot the few times he scored (one in the semi-final against Juventus in the cup winning campaign).

Gonzalo Barreto - forward, he arrived from Danubio in 2010. He played for Lazio U19s but was also part of the first team squad until 2014. He however never made his debut. He won a Primavera Scudetto and a Coppa Italia in 2013. He returned to Danubio, then Universidad de Concepción (Chile) and Sporting Luqueño (Paraguay).

He played 6 times for Uruguay U15s with 2 goals and 9 times for the U17s with 4 goals.

Emiliano Alfaro Toscano - forward, he arrived from Liverpool Montevideo in January 2012. "El Picaro" played 8 league games and then went on loan to Al-Wasl and Liverpool Montevideo before playing for various clubs in India. He won 1 cap for Uruguay.

Martin Cáceres - defender, he arrived from Verona (previously Defensor, Recreativo Huelva, Barcelona, Juve, Seville, Juventus again and Southampton) in January 2018 and stayed until January 2019. He played a total of 18 games with 1 goal. He returned to Juventus and then Fiorentina, Cagliari, Levante, LA Galaxy and Libertad (Paraguay).

He has won 116 caps for Uruguay with 4 goals and won a Copa América in 2011.

A strong central defender, he can also play in midfield. Lazio did not see the best of him.

Matías Vecino - midfielder, he arrived from Inter in 2022 (previously Central Español, Nacional, Fiorentina, Cagliari, Empoli and Fiorentina again). He has played 114 total games and scored 13 goals. He has 69 caps for Uruguay with 4 goals.

Official SS Lazio photo

"El Mate" is a versatile player who can play in various midfield roles. He can attack and defend and is good at well-timed runs into the area which accounts for his 43 career goals.