Top 11 2010s

Sources: Lazio Wiki, SS Lazio, other

In this decade Lazio played with an array of formations, from the classic 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 and, towards the end of the 2010s under Simone Inzaghi, the 3-5-2.

As a consequence, we have chosen a group of players who could be chosen for various types of formation, some for all three, others perhaps more apt for a single type.

Federico Marchetti is one of the heroes of the 2013 historic Rome derby Coppa Italia final. Lazio triumphed 1-0 and Marchetti's save onto the crossbar from a Francesco Totti freekick shortly after the Lazio goal (the unforgettable 71st minute) has taken on legendary status. Marchetti was a strong and agile goalkeeper. He is 1.90 metres but quick and explosive in his reactions. He is considered one of the best keepers of his generation. He was also one of the bravest, being extremely courageous when coming off his line to face potentially dangerous situations. He made 194 appearances. No other keeper could be taken into consideration for the 2010 decade.

Dušan Basta must be the choice at right back. At Lazio he was well liked for his hard-working ethic and his versatility. At his peak he simply never stopped running, giving the proverbial 101%. He played 116 games for Lazio and won two trophies and, not least, scored in a winning derby. He would also be perfect in a 3-5-2.

The two central defenders, whatever the tactical set up, must be Giuseppe Biava and André Dias.

Biava was an excellent defender. He was not particularly tall (1.80) but was nevertheless good in the air. He was an elegant and intelligent player. He was clean and precise, his main asset being his reading of the game and his timing. He was not flamboyant or showy, he played straight backed and was quick and accurate in his tackling. He scored goals too, 23 in 587 games, one an epic acrobatic “Ibra like” scorpion strike for Palermo in 2006. He was no superstar though, a quiet presence, he was rarely interviewed or in the headlines, but he will always be one of the unsung heroes at Lazio.

Dias will be remembered as a quality defender, one of the best in recent history. At 1.84 for 80 kilos, he was extremely strong and had an excellent sense of position. He was not particularly quick but had good timing and was a solid tackler. He commanded the defence with authority and paired up well with Biava. He made 131 appearances for Lazio with 6 goals, some of them of vital importance.

At left back, but also as central defender in a 3-5-2, Stefan Radu. He was a left back who loved to play centrally but never did so until Lazio started playing with three at the back. But on the left wing he was very good. He could cross the ball, good at defending, he also had a very powerful shot though he did not use it very often. One of his specialties was on corner kicks where he would place himself on the front post and head the ball backwards hoping for somebody to score. He had just one major flaw: he lacked those eyes in the back of the head that many good defenders have. But he is the player who has made the most appearances for Lazio  in the history of the club: 427.

In a 4-4-2 as right wing, we have a choice between Antonio Candreva and Felipe Anderson.

Felipe Anderson is probably one of the most exciting players ever to have worn the Lazio jersey. At the same time, he was also one of the most frustrating players ever to have worn the Lazio jersey. Enormously talented, with great potential, he could do some of the most incredible things on the pitch but also to switch off completely and be almost catatonic in the same game. But particularly in his second stint in Rome, he became much more reliable. An immensely popular player, he had great skills, was very fast, and scored some incredible goals. He was also good defensively since Simone Inzaghi often gave him the entire right wing to cover in his 3-5-2. Felipetto could play anywhere. On the wing, at midfield, behind the strikers or alongside a single striker. Under Maurizio Sarri he was even centre forward. He made 326 appearances for Lazio and scored 58 goals.

Antonio Candreva was a fantastic right winger, ideal in a 4-4-2 but he could also have quite comfortably played as a winger in a 4-3-3 or even behind the forwards. He arrived in February 2012 and in a short time conquered the hearts of managers and fans. He had dribbling skills,  a powerful shot, stamina, power and was fast. His departure was a bit controversial but there is no doubt that he was one Lazio’s best players of the mid 2010s.

Marco Parolo was a physical, reliable, hard-working, box to box midfielder. He was not a particularly quick player but had good timing, positioning and at 1.83 metres was useful in the air. He had defensive qualities as well as powerful and accurate shooting abilities. His number 16 shirt could be seen in all areas of the field. He was versatile and could be deployed in various positions including right-sided winger or wing back or even as central defender on some occasions.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, the sergeant as the Lazio fans call him, is probably one of the greatest midfielders Lazio have ever had. Even though he is a big man, he is not slow. Very powerful and skilful, he has great timing that allows him to score many goals. He played 341 games for Lazio and scored 69 goals, the all-time foreign player with most goals in the history of the club. Perfect for any line-up.

Lucas Leiva is 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 to link the defensive and attacking play. At Lazio he can be considered a huge success. His name may not have been sung to the heavens like Ciro Immobile or Milinkovic-Savic, but he gained immense respect with the fans. Some pundits claim that, seeing what Lazio paid for him and what he gave back in return, Leiva can be considered one of Lazio's best buys ever.

Cristian Ledesma was part of the historic team that won the Coppa Italia against Roma in 2013. In the final he suffered an injury and had to be substituted. During the celebrations he hobbled towards Curva Nord to celebrate, helped by historic team manager Maurizio Manzini. A great midfield player, a-la Lucas Leiva, he had vision, leadership, could offer great assists and had a powerful shot, as Roma experienced on Sunday December 10, 2006, in the 44th minute of the derby. He played 318 games for Lazio with 14 goals in nine years.

Luis Alberto is probably one of the most talented players ever to play for Lazio. An amazing player, with exceptional skills, similar to Juan Sebastian Veron in a way, meaning that at times he is able to switch the light on and anything could happen. Amazing with the ball, great dribbler, good shot, perhaps he lacked a little power but since he played alongside Milinkovic-Savic there was no need for that. His main flaw was his head. Too many downers to be at the very top, but let’s face it, the level was still pretty high.

Senad Lulic’s goal in the Coppa Italia derby made him a legend. But even without that goal he must be considered one of the best players ever to have worn the Lazio jersey. A spectacular left winger, Lulic played in all positions on the left flank, attack, midfield, defence, but was also the dominator of the whole left wing in a 3-5-2 formation. He could shoot, cross, defend and he scored some great goals in his ten years with Lazio. He always played on the left despite being right footed.

Miro Klose arrived towards the end of his career when in Germany everybody thought he was finished. He certainly was not. He played five seasons for Lazio. Lots of ups and a few downs. No discussion on how good he was, but at times he gave fans the feeling that the German national team and the World Cup had priority. He consistently missed at least a couple of months a year due to injury, often in the worst possible moments. But when he was on the pitch, he did what he was famous for: scoring goals. His passion for fishing (he was often spotted in nearby Lake Bracciano) gave him the nickname “Goal Fisher”. He made 171 appearances with 63 goals in five seasons, winning the legendary Coppa Italia against Roma. He currently still holds the record of number of goals scored in the World Cup (16).

When he retired, in came Ciro Immobile. It is enough just to list what he achieved:

• player who has scored most goals for Lazio in all official competitions (207)

• most goals for Lazio in Serie A (169), UEFA Cup/Europa League (16) and UEFA competitions (26).

• Lazio player, along with Beppe Signori, who has been Serie A top scorer most times (3).

•  one of three players to have won the trophy for top Serie A scorer with two different teams.

• player, together with Gonzalo Higuain, to have scored most goals in a season in Serie A.

• first Italian Serie A player to have scored at least 25 league goals three times; player in activity with most goals scored in Serie A.

What else can we say? He could score in every way: headers, acrobatically, volleys, outside the box, left or right foot. He was not always pretty, but he was lethal. There will probably never again be a centre-forward who can score so consistently.

Keita Balde was a very exciting player who could change the course of a match in a second. Powerful, fast, good dribbler, at Lazio he was an ideal partner for Immobile and could have been very good in a 4-3-3. It was a real pity that he did not fulfil all his potential once he left the Biancocelesti.

Summing up

4-4-2

Marchetti

Basta, Dias, Biava, Radu

Felipe Anderson/Candreva, Parolo, MS, Leiva/Ledesma, Luis Alberto, Lulic

Immobile, Klose

4-3-3

Marchetti

Basta, Dias, Biava, Radu

MS, Leiva, Luis Alberto

Felipe Anderson, Immobile, Keita

3-5-2

Marchetti

Dias, Biava, Radu

Basta, Parolo/Leiva, MS, Luis Alberto, Lulic

Felipe Anderson/Klose/Keita, Immobile