Top Lazio Stories' Favourites, Part Two
- Lazio Stories
- 23 hours ago
- 7 min read
We continue with the second part of the 20 Lazio Stories' favourite players that, for one reason or another, did not make it to the top 100. Our first part can be found here.
He is from a family of ardent Lazio fans who own a bar in Bracciano near Rome. He entered the Lazio youth sector at 11. He then joined Casalotti for a year at 14 and then at 15 joined the Pescara youth team before playing for Pescara for five seasons.
In 1989 he returned home to Lazio and stayed until 1996. In 2004 he also had a brief spell as assistant manager.
Cristiano Bergodi was a defender, he could play in all the defensive roles. He is 1.88 and 82 kilos, so strong physically. He was a solid man-to-man marker but with Galeone and Zeman also played in zonal 4-3-3 formations. He was a hardworking player, a strong tackler and good in the air.
At Lazio he fulfilled his dream of playing for his childhood club. He wore his heart on his sleeve and in derbies especially was a fan in a Lazio jersey. His verbal and physical battles with Roma's Giuseppe Giannini are epic. He played seven seasons for the Biancocelesti with 4 goals, the late equalisers against Fiorentina and Milan are memorable. He did not win any trophies for Lazio but won three derbies and was a fan favourite. He played with Alessandro Nesta, Paul Gascoigne, Beppe Signori and other greats, any Lazio fan's dream.
He played for Lazio from 1990 to 1993.
He arrived from Werder Bremen after winning the 1990 World Cup with West Germany and was a sign things were changing for the better at Lazio.
He was a centre-forward. He was not overly skilful but he was strong, brave and determined. He was a hard-worker and always gave his best. His main asset was his header. He had the incredible capacity of staying up in the air longer than his markers. Some say only John Charles had a superior elevation but he was also taller.
Riedle then went on to play for Borussia Dortmund where he won a Champions League, scoring a brace in the final, then Liverpool and Fulham.
Lazio fans remember "Air Riedle" fondly especially for his amazing aerial skills. Out of these top 20 favourites he is the one alongside Doll who possibly deserved to be in the top 100 all time.
Corino was at Lazio from 1991 to 1994.
Gigi Corino was a defender. He usually played in the middle, marking the opposition centre-forward. He was a tough, rugged defender who would give and take in equal measure. Apparently Gascoigne always wanted him on his side in training games, respecting his 'British' style of defending but also probably to avoid his hard tackles. Corino always gave 100% in every game and was a fan favourite.
Despite not being one of the most stylish or talented defenders he had his own chant, "Mi diverto solo se, solo se gioca Corino, gioca bene o gioca male lo vogliamo in nazionale" (something along the lines of, I only enjoy myself if Corino plays, whether he plays well or badly we want him in the national team). The chant was inherited years later by Guerino Gottardi.
Corino was only at Lazio for three seasons and was not always a regular but is still one of the more popular players to have worn the Lazio jersey. He himself, despite his origins, has become a hard core Lazio fan. In an interview he once quoted, "If I should die tomorrow, I would like to die in a Lazio shirt".
He was at Lazio from 1991 to 1994.
Thomas Doll is remembered fondly at Lazio. He was part of an era in which they were able to start attracting exciting foreign stars such as Doll himself.
He performed well in Rome, so well that there will always be a regret about how much more he could have given had it not been for his injuries. Doll was an attacking midfielder who played mainly on the right. He had an innate ability to jump his defender and had dribbling skills you rarely see nowadays. He was a dynamic player with great stamina and running abilities. He was also a generous, hardworking and brave player, never holding back in physical battles, this could also account for some of his injuries.
Lazio fans have only positive memories of Doll and the most common opinion is "Quanto era forte"(What a great player he was).
He was with Lazio from 1995 until he retired in 2004. He won a Scudetto, the Coppa Italia three times, the Supercoppa twice, the Cup Winners Cup and the UEFA Super Cup.
Gottardi is a cult hero at Lazio. He was a versatile player who could play in defence and midfield, both on the left and right. He was a hard working, reliable and diligent player who was always ready when you needed him.
His injury time winning goal against Roma which gave Lazio the third out of the eventual four wins over their bitter rivals is pure folklore. He was also decisive in Lazio's Cup final win over Milan in 1998 which brought the Biancocelesti silverware after 24 years.
He inherited Corino's chant, reserved not to the best player but to the most popular.
He was at Lazio from January 2010 to 2014. He won a Coppa Italia in 2013.
A tough but clean and classy defender. He was a pillar of Lazio's defence for almost four seasons. A humble, quiet character he led by example leaving the limelight to others. These characteristics inevitably appealed to the Lazio fans' DNA.
He will also be remembered as one of the heroes of May 26, 2013. He played the whole 95 minutes of the epic victory over old enemies Roma to lift the Coppa Italia.
He was at Lazio from January 2010 until he retired in 2014. He won a Coppa Italia in 2013.
He is 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 calm and authority and paired up well with Biava in particular but also with Stefan Radu.
A leader of Lazio's defence for four years and although he didn't play that particular game, he will forever be part of the 2013 Cup Final glory squad who conquered Rome on May 26.
The Nigerian was at Lazio from January 2011 to 2016. He won a Coppa Italia in 2013.
Onazi was a central midfielder. He was not particularly tall at 1,73 metres but was extremely dynamic. He was good at pressing and breaking opposition play. He was also capable of sudden attacking excursions using his speed and athleticism to throw himself into space (well sort of) which is an ability he could have used more in his career.
He is remembered with affection by the Lazio fans. He scored an epic and vital goal in Naples which gave Lazio a Champions League qualification and his legacy is immortal for playing 92 minutes of the winning 2013 derby cup final.
He will forever be one of the heroes who lifted the Coppa Italia "in faccia" (in the face) of their eternal rivals on May 26, 2013. "Onazi l'unico nazi che ci piace" forever.
He has been at Lazio since 2015. He has won a Coppa Italia (2019) and the Supercoppa twice (2017 and 2019).
The Spaniard started as a left full-back but has evolved into a centre-back.
For many years he was a reserve at Lazio and not particularly rated. However through hard work and dedication he has improved and conquered the Lazio fans' hearts.
He is now a solid central defender who can play with confidence from the back in a four-man defence. His many years in Rome have made him a true Laziale and he gives his heart and soul on the field.
He was at Lazio from 2021 to his retirement in 2026.
Pedro became a legend at Lazio for several reasons. Firstly he came from a year at Roma but found love and true belonging at Lazio. Secondly, despite having won everything at Barcelona and Chelsea plus a European Championship and World Cup with Spain, he arrived with humility and passion. Thirdly, Lazio fans fell in love with his class, performances and goals.
The Tenerife-born Spaniard played with desire and ambition despite his age and scored some memorable goals, including one in a winning derby, a last gasp winner against Porto and a penalty against Inter which practically handed Napoli the 2025 Scudetto (needless to say he is also popular in Naples).
He had his own fan chant, a song by Raffaella Carrà called "Pedro" which the fans sang to the heavens every time Pedrito scored. He will be missed. Gracias Pedro Pė, praticamente il meglio di Santa Fè.
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