Top 100 Players in Lazio History: Positions 61-70
- Lazio Stories
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
We are almost half way for our Top 100 Lazio players and today we have positions 61-70 which include heroes of the -9 season and some extremely talented players.
Antonio Elia Acerbis arrived at Lazio in 1986 and was one of the protagonists of the famous -9 season.
He was a formidable left-wing midfielder. He had speed, he could dribble, he had stamina and determination. The fans loved him and he always played his heart out.
He never spoke to the press with the exception of a first press conference at the beginning of his stay. At the end of it he said “ok folks, this is the last you will hear from me. You know what you need to know about me, I won’t be talking to you any more”. The journalists present could not believe it and didn’t. But Acerbis no longer spoke to the press, he kept to his word, and probably because of this, became a fan favourite.
He played for Lazio from 2017 to 2022.
Brazilian international, Leiva was primarily a defensive midfielder although he was sometimes also used as a central defender. A phenomenal tackler and physically tough he would consistently break up the opposition possession and as Italians say “cucire” (sew/ link) between defensive and attacking play.
He made a dream debut in the Supercoppa in a 3-2 last gasp victory over Juventus and soon established himself as an indispensable part of Lazio's midfield under Simone Inzaghi. He was also the youngest player to win the prestigious “Bola de Ouro” (Golden Ball, an award given to the best player in the Brazilian league) and a Liverpool legend with 346 appearances and 7 goals in ten years.
Rubén Sosa, Uruguayan International, arrived at Lazio in 1988 and was one of the first foreign players to come to Lazio on their return to Serie A.
He was not an imposing forward and his physique was slightly on the stocky side but he was a complete forward, able both to score goals and to set them up. Sosa was agile and quick, with explosive acceleration. Added to his speed and creativity he had a powerful and accurate left foot.
At Lazio he was adored. Four years of high-level performances and a steady flow of goals, including three in derbies, make him a club legend. His era would mark the transition between the ordeals of Serie B and the glory years of European limelight and trophies.
He played for Lazio from 2013 to 2018 and from 2021 to 2024.
Felipe Anderson is probably one of the most exciting players ever to have worn the Lazio jersey. Enormously talented, with great potential, he is able to do some of the most incredible things on the pitch but also to switch off completely and be almost catatonic in the same game. In time, he greatly improved this aspect and his second stint in Rome he became a lot more reliable.
The height of his stay, and possibly his career, was in 2014. He was devastating at times, able to dribble past in speed four or more defenders and score. This mode occasionally did return but less frequently.
Felipetto is a marvellous right winger who could play along the entire wing in a 3-5-2 but also up front and occasionally played as falso nueve.
Won gold at the Olympic Games with Brazil in 2016.
The Magician, as he was called in Rome, is probably one of the most talented midfielders ever to play for Lazio.
A difficult player to manage though. He needs a lot of mental help to maximise his enormous potential.
The Spaniard arrived in 2016 and it took an entire season for him to get mentally ready for Serie A and find space in the team. Then his potential exploded in 2017-18 and he became a fundamental player for Inzaghi. He was however inconsistent and some seasons he did not do well. But when he did, it was a joy to watch.
He had a few problems adapting to Maurizio Sarri’s football but he managed, improved physically, in speed and was fundamental in Lazio reaching an historical second place in the 2022-23.
Centre forward, he played for Lazio in the 1954-55 season after six seasons for Juventus where he became a legend with 189 games and 124 goals winning the scudetto twice.
He is probably one of the best Danish players of all time and certainly one of Juve’s best.
He won the Olympic bronze in 1948.
He arrived at Lazio at the end of his career and he was marred by injury that did not allow him to train properly. Still, he gave everything he could to the team. He was perhaps not all that skilful, but always knew how to be in the right place at the right time, and that is fundamental for a centre forward.
He played for Lazio from 1986 to 1992.
Another hero of the -9 season, Pin was a central midfielder. He could play in the heart of the pitch or in front of the defence. An extremely dynamic player, had an excellent sense of position and astute tactical geometry. He was clean and technically precise with the knack of always making himself available for his teammates whether it was for defending or constructing an attacking move, always seemingly to have the time to make the right decision. A reliable player rarely missing games through injury or suspension.
Stankovic was a superb player, solid and versatile.
He was a central midfielder but could also play externally or behind the strikers.
He was a player who could do everything, attack and defend. He had a cracking shot, good aerial abilities, positioning and timing.
The Serb was every manager's ideal player, skilful, a good tackler, hardworking and could also score goals. He came to Lazio in 1998 and left in January 2004.
He won a Scudetto, a Coppa Italia, Italian Supercoppa twice, a Cup Winners Cup and a European Supercup. Six trophies in six years.
He played from Lazio from 1992 to 1996
Aron Winter was an elegant, classy player who had both quality and quantity.
He was a central midfielder with excellent athleticism, intelligence and vision.
Apart from his technique, he had a strong personality and was a model professional. He usually played left-sided central midfield, a box-to-box player confirmed by his high goal scoring rate for Lazio. He was also versatile and was deployed as full back and even centre-back for the Netherlands.
Gualtieri arrived in Rome in 1940 from Argentina and stayed the entire decade.
He was a very good midfielder. Tall, excellent technique, he had a great vision of the game. He also had a cracking shot and was an excellent header of the ball which allowed him to score lots of goals.
He arrived during World War II but unlike many of his compatriots, he stayed in Rome and was fundamental in the winning of the Roman War Championship in 1943-44.
He was skipper for quite a number of years and even took on the role of player-manager for a few games in the 1945-46 season.
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