Top 100 Players in Lazio History: Positions 31-40
- Lazio Stories
- 9 hours ago
- 7 min read
Scudetto heroes, -9 heroes and Brazilians in the positions 31-40 in our top 100 Lazio players as we gradually move towards the first ten.
He was with Lazio from 1997-2000.
He won a Scudetto, the Coppa Italia twice, a Supercoppa, a Cup Winners Cup and a UEFA Super Cup. He was a defensive midfielder, a solid, hard tackling, ball winning player of strong temperament. He only scored two goals for Lazio but they were both spectacular especially the first away at Parma, possibly one of the best in Lazio history. Almeyda was very popular at Lazio but unfortunately, he was sacrificed in the deal that brought Hernan Crespo to Lazio from Parma in 2000.
He had previously played for River Plate (3 league titles and a Cop Libertadores) and Sevilla. After Parma (a Coppa Italia) his clubs included Inter, Brescia, Quilmes, Lyn Oslo and River Plate.
He earned 40 caps for Argentina with 1 goal (Brazil). He won silver at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.
As part of the Scudetto and glory years Almeyda is considered one of the greats. A hard-working, water carrier in a squad of superstars.
He played for Lazio from 1998-2000 and again from 2003-Jan 2004
He won a Scudetto, a Coppa Italia, a Supercoppa, a Cup Winners Cup and UEFA Super Cup. He was a strong right winger who could attack and defend but his speciality was pushing down the right flank and putting in good crosses for the strikers, both Vieri and Salas benefitted from his assists. He too was sadly sold to Parma in 2000 to buy Crespo.
After Parma his clubs included Inter, Porto briefly (where he had also been before Lazio, 3 league titles, a Cup and Super Cup), Standard Liege, Al-Qadisiya and PAOK.
He earned 56 caps for Portugal with 12 goals (including an incredible hat-trick against Germany in Euro 2000).
He was a protagonist of Lazio's trophy winning phase and very popular. He has remained a Lazio fan so maybe he will return as coach one day.
He played for Lazio from 2000-2007.
He won a Coppa Italia and a Supercoppa. He was a superb goalkeeper; he had no weaknesses and due his strength he was able to make miraculous saves. This physical prowess earned him the nicknames, "Tyson" and "Il Cinghialone" (big wild boar). In 2007 at 37 he won his third AIC award for best keeper of the season but he was a top keeper for twenty years.
He had previously played for Roma, Verona, Juventus (3 league titles, a Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa twice, a Champions League, a UEFA Cup, a UEFA Super Cup and an Intercontinental Cup) and Inter.
He earned 31 caps for Italy and won the World Cup in 2006.
After retiring he worked for Lazio as Club Manager from 2016-2021. There is now talk of him returning
He played for Lazio from 1967-68, 1969-70 and then continuously from 1971-75.
He won the historic Scudetto of 1974. He was a tough, man-to-man marking centre-back, gritty, strong with good timing and aerial skills, not a pleasure to be marked by. He formed a formidable defensive partnership with Pino Wilson. He was the only Roman in that league title winning team, he is nicknamed "Tufello" (the popular area of north-east Rome where he comes from).
He was then sold to Cesena with Mario Frustalupi in exchange for Paolo Ammoniaci and Francesco Brignani...probably one of the worst transfer decisions in Lazio history.
He was called up for an Italy training session in February 1974 but coach Valcareggi then chose Juventus player Sergio Morini to take to the World Cup in Germany. A decision which caused a lot of controversy in Rome. Oddi therefore never played for Italy.
After retiring Oddi returned to Lazio and between 1984 and 2001 worked as assistant manager (1984, 1986-1994 and 2001) and in the youth academy.
A Lazio fan, he won a Scudetto with his childhood club and still today is part of the Lazio world, regularly speaking on the local radio stations about his beloved club.
He played for Lazio from 1999-2003.
He won a Scudetto, a Coppa Italia, a Supercoppa and a UEFA Super Cup. He was a tough box to box midfielder. A charismatic leader with physical resistance, "garra" (fighting spirit) and good attacking forays (102 career goals).
He had previously played for Vélez Sarsfield, Pisa, Sevilla, Atlético Madrid (a league title and Copa del Rey) and Inter (a UEFA Cup). After Lazio he returned to Atlético Madrid and then Racing Club back in Argentina.
He earned 106 caps for Argentina with 11 goals and won the Copa América twice.
He then became a top manager tying his name in particular to Atletico Madrid (since Jan 2011 winning 2 league titles, a Copa del Rey, a Super Cup, the Europa League twice, the UEFA Super Cup twice and going close to the Champions League).
At Lazio "El Cholo" is a legend. He was the heart and soul of the incredible comeback with his never surrender attitude which enabled the Biancocelesti to win their second scudetto. His goals, particularly the winner away at Juventus made the dream possible.
He was at Lazio from 1985-87 and was part of the -9 season heroes.
It was his winning header in the dramatic playoff against Campobasso on July 5 1987 that enabled Lazio to avoid relegation to Serie C. Poli was an agile and quick attacking midfielder who played mainly on the right wing. He was then unexpectedly and much to his disappointment sold to Bologna.
Despite playing only two seasons in Serie B, Poli will forever be a hero with all Lazio fans. Without his goal who knows how Lazio's history would have evolved or if it would have continued at all...
He played for Lazio from 1931-36 and 1938.
He was a diminutive winger, exceptionally fast with superb ball control, his specialities were crosses and assists but he also possessed good shooting skills himself.
He had previously played for Corinthians (3 league titles) and in 1938 returned to the" Timão" and then Portuguesa Santista and Palestra Itália (future Palmeiras).
Despite being Brazilian born (4 caps with 1 goal) he had an Italian mother and from 1932-34 he played for Italy. He earned 6 caps with 1 goal (Greece) and won the World Cup in 1934 (the first Lazio player in history).
An exceptional player, one of the most exciting and inventive in Lazio history.
He was at Lazio from 2010-Jan 2014.
He won the legendary 2013 Coppa Italia against Roma. He was a midfielder who was creative, skilful, used both feet and had outstanding shooting abilities. He was a complete player, not particularly quick but able to press, defend, put in the last pass and also score goals. In those years he was by far Lazio's most entertaining player.
He previously played for São Paulo (2 league titles), then Inter, Juventus (a league title and a Coppa Italia), China, São Paulo again and Sport Recife. His best years however were with Lazio.
He earned 28 caps for Brazil with 2 goals (Gabon and France).
Hernanes is remembered fondly at Lazio, his skills, shots, freekicks, celebratory somersaults and May 26 will remain in the history books.
He was with Lazio from 1971-1979.
He won the 1974 Scudetto as a protagonist playing 28 games. He was a modern full-back who could defend but also push forward. His athleticism and tireless runs earned him the nickname "Zatopek" but he was also called "Il Comandante" for his passion for piloting planes.
He previously played for Lucchese, Siena and Livorno, all in his home region of Tuscany. After the tragic death of his close friend and teammate Luciano Re Cecconi he lost motivation and at 29 went to play briefly in the States and Canada before retiring.
He won 1 cap for Italy. He was one of the Lazio players who could have been called up for the 1974 World Cup but he broke his collarbone on the day Lazio won the Scudetto.
At Lazio he will forever be remembered as being part of the 1974 heroes. A team all Laziali can reel off in their sleep.
He was at Lazio from 1985-87.
Fiorini is an absolute legend at Lazio and his goal against Vicenza is one of the most iconic if not most important in their history. Having started the season with a nine-point docking, on June 21 in the last game Lazio needed a win to avoid relegation to Serie C and with only eight minutes remaining Fiorini turned on himself and poked the ball in. In front of the biggest home crowd ever, its celebration caused the loudest noise ever recorded at the Olimpico. Lazio then went to a playoff, stayed up and their history continued. All thanks to Fiorini.
He was a centre-forward, not particularly skilful or mobile but generous, hard-working and able to score goals (106 league goals).
His previous clubs include Bologna, Rimini, Brescia, Foggia Piacenza and Genoa. He later played for Venezia-Mestre, Siena and Ternana. A classic journeyman but a cult hero at Lazio. "Il Gol di Fiorini" is folklore at Lazio.
Fiorini sadly passed away prematurely at 47. At Lazio he will live eternally.
Next up positions 21-30 on July 18.
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