I Biancocelesti (The White and Sky Blues) I Biancazzurri (The White and Blues) Le Aquile (The Eagles) Gli Aquilotti (The Young Eagles) Capitolini (Capitoline)
Founded
9 January 1900; 125 years ago (1900-01-09), asSocietà Podistica Lazio
The club had their first major success in1958, winning the domestic cup. In1974, they won their first Serie A title. The 1990s were the most successful period in Lazio's history, with the team reaching theUEFA Cup final in1998, winning theUEFA Cup Winners' Cup andUEFA Super Cup in 1999, and clinching the Serie A title in2000. Due to a severe economic crisis in 2002 that forced presidentSergio Cragnotti out of the club along with several star players being sold, Lazio's success in the league declined. In spite of the lower funds, the club has won four Coppa Italia titles since then; in2004,2009,2013 and2019. Current presidentClaudio Lotito took charge of the club in 2004, filling the vacuum that had existed following Cragnotti's departure.
Lazio's traditional kit colours aresky blue shirts and white shorts with white socks; the colours are reminiscent of Rome's ancientHellenic legacy. Sky blue socks have also been interchangeably used as home colours. Their home is the 70,634[1] capacityStadio Olimpico in Rome, which they share withRoma. Lazio have a long-standing rivalry with Roma, with whom they have contested theDerby della Capitale (in English "Derby of the capital city" or Rome derby) since 1929.[5]
Despite initially not having any parent–subsidiary relation with the male andfemale professional team (that was incorporated as S.S. Lazio S.p.A.), the founding ofSocietà Sportiva Lazio allowed for the club that participates in over 40 different sports disciplines in total.[6]
Plaque commemorating the foundation of Lazio at Piazza della Libertà (Roma, Prati)
Società Podistica Lazio was founded on 9 January 1900 in thePrati district ofRome.[7] Until 1910, the club played at an amateur level until it officially joined theleague competition in 1912 as soon as theItalian Football Federation began organising championships in the center and south of Italy, and reached the final of the national championship playoff three times, but never won, losing in 1913 toPro Vercelli, in 1914 toCasale and in 1923 toGenoa 1893. In 1927, Lazio was the only major Roman club which resisted theFascist regime's attempts to merge all the city's teams into what would becomeRoma the same year. The club played in the first organisedSerie A in 1929 and, led by legendary Italian strikerSilvio Piola,[8] achieved a second-place finish in 1937 – its highest pre-war result.
The 1950s produced a mix of mid and upper table results, with a Coppa Italia win in 1958. Lazio was relegated for the first time in 1961 toSerie B, but returned in the top flight two years later. After a number of mid-table placements, another relegation followed in 1970–71.[9] Back to Serie A in 1972–73, Lazio immediately emerged as surprise challengers for theScudetto toMilan andJuventus in 1972–73, only losing out on the final day of the season, with a team comprising captainGiuseppe Wilson, as well as midfieldersLuciano Re Cecconi andMario Frustalupi, strikerGiorgio Chinaglia, and head coachTommaso Maestrelli.[10] Lazio improved such successes the following season, ensuring its first title in1973–74.[11][12] However, tragic deaths of Re Cecconi[13] andScudetto trainer Maestrelli, as well as the departure of Chinaglia, would be a triple blow for Lazio. The emergence ofBruno Giordano during this period provided some as he finished League top scorer in 1979, when Lazio finished eighth.[14]
SS Lazio team which won the club's firstscudetto in 1974
Lazio were forcibly relegated to Serie B in 1980, due to a remarkable scandal concerning illegal bets on their own matches, along with Milan. They remained in Italy's second division for three seasons, in what would mark the darkest period in Lazio's history. They would return in 1983 and manage a last-day escape from relegation the following season. The 1984–85 season would prove harrowing, with a pitiful 15 points and bottom place finish.
In 1986, Lazio was hit with a nine-point deduction (a true back in the day of the two-point win) for a betting scandal involving playerClaudio Vinazzani. An epic struggle against relegation followed the same season in Serie B, with the club led by trainerEugenio Fascetti only avoiding relegation to theSerie C after play-off wins overTaranto andCampobasso. This would prove a turning point in the club's history, with Lazio returning to Serie A in 1988 and, under the careful financial management of Gianmarco Calleri, the consolidation of the club's position as a solid top-flight club.[15][16]
The arrival ofSergio Cragnotti in 1992 changed the club's history, due to his long-term investments in new players to make the team aScudetto competitor. A notable early transfer during his tenure was the capture of English midfielderPaul Gascoigne fromTottenham Hotspur for £5.5 million. Gascoigne's transfer to Lazio is credited with the increase of interest in Serie A in the United Kingdom during the 1990s. Cragnotti repeatedly broke transfer records in pursuit of players who were considered major stars –Juan Sebastián Verón for £18 million,Christian Vieri for £19 million and breaking theworld transfer record, albeit only for a matter of weeks, to signHernán Crespo fromParma for £35 million.[17]
Lazio were Serie A runners-up in 1995, third in 1996 and fourth in 1997, then losing the championship just by one point to Milan on the last championship's match in 1999 before, with the likes ofSiniša Mihajlović,Alessandro Nesta,Marcelo Salas andPavel Nedvěd in the side, winning its secondScudetto in 2000, as well as the Coppa Italiadouble withSven-Göran Eriksson (1997–2001) as manager.
Alessandro Nesta, homegrown player and captain of Lazio 1999–2002
With money running out, Lazio's results slowly worsened in the years. In 2002, a financial scandal involving Cragnotti and his food products multinationalCirio forced him to leave the club, and Lazio was controlled until 2004 by caretaker financial managers and a bank pool. This forced the club to sell their star players and even fan favourite captain Alessandro Nesta. In 2004, entrepreneurClaudio Lotito acquired the majority of the club.[22] In 2006, the club qualified to the 2006–07UEFA Cup under coachDelio Rossi. The club, however, was excluded from European competitions due to their involvement in the2006 Italian football scandal.[23]
In the 2006–07 season, despite a later-reduced points deduction, Lazio achieved a third-place finish, thus gaining qualification to theUEFA Champions League third qualifying round, where they defeatedDinamo București to reach the group phase, and ended fourth place in the group composed ofReal Madrid,Werder Bremen andOlympiacos. Things in the league did not go much better, with the team spending most of the season in the bottom half of the table, sparking the protests of the fans, and eventually ending the Serie A season in 12th place. In the 2008–09 season, Lazio won their fifthCoppa Italia, beatingSampdoria in thefinal.[24]
In the2024-25 UEFA Europa League Group Stage, Lazio topped the 36-club table with a record of 6W-1D-1L (19 points), making €20.469 million.[29] They reached the Quarter-Finals of the competition after defeatingViktoria Plzen 3-2 on aggregate in theRound of 16, thus taking their total earnings to €20.8 million.[30]
Colours, badge and nicknames
First kit ever worn by the club
Lazio's colours of white and sky blue were inspired by thenational emblem of Greece, due to the fact that Lazio is a mixed sports club this was chosen in recognition of the fact that theAncient Olympic Games and along with it the sporting tradition in Europe is linked to Greece.[31]
Originally, Lazio wore a shirt which was divided into white and sky blue quarters, with black shorts and socks.[32] After a while of wearing a plain white shirt very early on, Lazio reverted to the colours which they wear today.[32] Some seasons Lazio have used a sky blue and white shirt with stripes, but usually it is sky blue with a white trim, with the white shorts and socks.[32] The club's colours have led to their Italian nickname ofBiancocelesti.[33]
Lazio's traditional club badge and symbol is theeagle, which was chosen by founding member Luigi Bigiarelli.[34] A symbol of theRoman legions and emperor, it was chosen to represent power and victory; it also identifies the club with its origin city.[35] Lazio's use of the symbol has led to two of their nicknames;le Aquile ("the Eagles") andgli Aquilotti ("the Young Eagles"). The current club badge features a golden eagle above a white shield with a blue border; inside the shield is the club's name and a smaller tripartite shield with the colours of the club.
Also on the Foro Italico lies theStadio dei Marmi, or "marble stadium", which was built in 1932 and designed by Enrico Del Debbio. It has tiers topped by 60 white marble statues that were gifts from Italian cities in commemoration of 60 athletes.
During the1989–90 season, Lazio and Roma played their games at theStadio Flaminio of Rome, located in the district Flaminio, because of the renovation works carried out at the Stadio Olimpico.
In June 2018, Lazio PresidentClaudio Lotito stated that the Biancocelesti "should be granted the same favour and treatment as Roma – the ability to also build a new stadium. He also added that "Lazio's stadium will be built before Roma's stadium."[37] In June 2019, Lotito was set to present the designs of a potential future stadium for Lazio, named the Stadio delle Aquile.[38] However, this did not occur for reasons unknown, and in July 2021, Lotito pivoted from the creation of the Stadio delle Aquile to the idea of moving the club’s home to a renovatedStadio Flaminio.[39]
In October 2022, Lotito provided an update on his Stadio Flaminio project, stating that he is "very attached" to the hope that Lazio will play there again, as having it as their home is "something that evokes our history and our roots."[40] In November 2022, Lotito discussed his plans for theStadio Flaminio at the ‘Sing a Song’ charity event at the Auditorium della Conciliazione in Rome. He stated that he "would like to increase the stadium from a capacity of around 18,000 to 45,000" and that "it is a problem" for Lazio to "remain without a stadium of their own."[41]
In September 2024, Lazio made concrete steps in their plans to own and renovate theStadio Flaminio. The club were looking to team up with a famous company named “Legend” that specializes in building and maintaining sports venues - they would then become the project manager and take care of the ticketing service, merchandising management, retail sales and the search to find a naming sponsor; withEmirates reportedly interested in the project. The total cost of the operation was said to be between €250 and €300 million.[42]
In December 2024, Lotito and his collaborators held a meeting with MayorRoberto Gualtieri and Councilor Alessandro Onorato at the Municipality of Rome in Campidoglio to present their project for the newStadio Flaminio.[43] He envisioned developing a state-of-the-art stadium with a capacity of 40,000 to 50,000 spectators and a retractable roof; he also outlined plans for the comprehensive redevelopment of the surrounding Flaminio district. He stated that the project was well-received, while revealing that acquiring the necessary paperwork could require another three years.[44] However, shortly after, "Roma Nuoto" received approval from the Conference of Services after threatening legal action following the long and unjustified delay in the process for their plans for the abandoned stadium; they envision a multi-sport facility for the future of theStadio Flaminio, including an Olympic-sized swimming pool, padel courts, and a hockey rink, thus competing with Lazio.[45]
In March 2025, Lotito officially deposited his proposal for the currently-defunctStadio Flaminio to the Municipality of Rome to become Lazio's new home. The Biancocelesti will be looking to finalize the bureaucratic procedures by the start of 2026 and are aiming to finish the renovation work by the summer of 2029.[46] There will be 50,750 seats, and renovating this ground - and the surrounding area - will cost them circa €438 million, as per Calcio e Finanza.[47]
Lazio is the sixth-most supported football club in Italy and the second in Rome, with around 2% of Italian football fans supporting the club (according toLa Repubblica's research of August 2008).[48] Historically, the largest section of Lazio supporters in the city of Rome has come from the far northern section, creating anarch-like shape across Rome with affluent areas such asParioli,Prati, Flaminio, Cassia andMonte Mario.[49]
Founded in 1987,Irriducibili Lazio were the club's biggestultras group for over 30 years. They typically create traditional Italian ultra displays during theDerby della Capitale (Rome Derby),[50] the match between Lazio and their main rivals,Roma. It is amongst the most heated and emotional footballing rivalries in the world,[51] such as where Lazio fan Vincenzo Paparelli was killed at one of the derby games during the1979–80 season after being hit in the eye by an emergency rocket thrown by a Roma fan.[52][53] A minority of Lazio'sultras used to useswastikas andfascist symbols on their banners, and they have displayedracist behaviour in several occasions during the derbies. Most notably, at a derby of the season 1998–99, laziali unfurled a 50-metre banner around the Curva Nord that read, "Auschwitz is your town, the ovens are your houses". Black players of Roma have often been receivers of racist and offensive behaviour.[54] After 33 years, the Irriducibili disbanded on 27 February 2020, citing "too much blood, too many banning orders, too many arrests."[55] Lazio's ultras now go by the nameUltras Lazio.[56] Lazio also have a strong rivalry withNapoli andLivorno, as well as withPescara andAtalanta. The club also maintains strong competitive rivalries withFiorentina,Juventus andMilan.
Conversely, the ultras have friendly relationships withInternazionale,Triestina andHellas Verona. Internationally, Lazio's fans maintain a long-standing strong friendship with the supporters of the Bulgarian clubLevski Sofia and as such, Lazio were invited to participate in the centenary football match honouring the birthday of the Bulgarian club.[57][58]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Ștefan Radu holds Lazio's official appearance record, having played 416 appearances. The record for total appearances by a goalkeeper is held byLuca Marchegiani, with 339 appearances,[66] while the record for most league appearances is held byAldo Puccinelli with 339.[66]
Officially, Lazio's highest home attendance is approximately 80,000 for a Serie A match againstFoggia on 12 May 1974, the match that awarded to Lazio their firstScudetto. This is also the record for the Stadio Olimpico, including matches held byRoma and theItaly national football team.[6]
Società Sportiva Lazio as a company
In 1998, duringSergio Cragnotti's period in charge as the chairman, Società Sportiva Lazio S.p.A. became alisted company: Lazio were the first Italian club to do so.[69][70] However, Cragnotti resigned as chairman in 2001, after a "huge hole in the budget" of the club.[71]
Claudio Lotito, the current chairman of Lazio, purchased the club from Cragnotti in 2004, but owned just 26.969% of shares as the largest shareholders at that time.[citation needed] It was followed by banking groupCapitalia (and its subsidiariesMediocredito Centrale,Banca di Roma andBanco di Sicilia) as the second largest shareholders for 17.717%.[72] Capitalia also hold 49% stake of Italpetroli (via Capitalia's subsidiaryBanca di Roma), the parent company of city rivalRoma (via Italpetroli's subsidiary "Roma 2000").[73] Lotito later purchased the minority stake from Capitalia.
As of 2018[update], Claudio Lotito owns just over two-thirds of theshares of Lazio.[74] Lazio is one of only three Italian clubs listed on theBorsa Italiana, the others beingJuventus and Roma.[70][75] In the past, Lazio was the only one with a single primary share holder (Lotito). However, following several capital increases by Roma and Juventus, they also are significantly owned by a shareholder. According toThe Football Money League, published by consultantsDeloitte, in the 2004–05 season, Lazio was the 20th highest earning football club in the world with anestimated revenue of €83 million;[76] the 2005 ranking of the club was 15th.[76] However, in 2016 ranking (the rank used data in 2014–15 season), Lazio was not in the top 20.[77]
Lazio was one of the few clubs that self-sustain from the financial support of a shareholder, and also consistently make an aggregate profit after every season. UnlikeInternazionale, Roma andMilan, who were sanctioned byUEFA due to breaches ofFinancial Fair Play, Lazio passed the regulations held by the administrative body with the high achievements. Lotito also received a prize that joint awarded byAssociazione Italiana Allenatori Calcio and DGS Sport&Cultura, due to Lazio's financial health.[78]
In 2017, the club renewed their sponsorship deal with shirt manufacturerMacron. It was worth €16 million a season, plus variables of about €9 million stemming from league and European competition finishes.[79]
In February 2022, Lazio announced that they had parted ways withMacron after 10 years.[80]Mizuno would become the team's new sportswear and technical gear provider, with the Biancocelesti receiving €20 million over the next five years as a result of their new agreement with the Japanese company.[81]
In March 2022, Lazio released their financial reports from June to December 2021 which showed a decrease in revenue (from €106.66 to €71.56 million) but an increase in profit (from -€0.12 million to €4.6 million) compared to the previous six months.[82]
In March 2025, Italian NewspaperIl Messaggero reported that Lazio could soon have their own docu-series onNetflix dedicated to the history of the club; from the foundation in 1900 all the way to the modern era. This multi-season series would not only focus on Lazio’s triumphs on the pitch, but also on the club’s elusive fanbase. Several legendary figures would appear in the series, including Giuseppe Signori, Miroslav Klose, and Paolo Di Canio.[83]
In March 2025, Lazio released their financial reports from June to December 2024 which yielded €87.5 million in overall revenues. On the other hand, the club reduced its costs from €97.2 million in the year prior to just under €87 million this time around.[84]
^"2004 Bilancio"(PDF).Capitalia (in Italian). Borsa Italiana archive. 28 February 2005.Archived(PDF) from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved12 March 2016.
Melli, Franco and Marco (2005).La storia della Lazio (in Italian). Rome: L'airone Editrice.ISBN88-7944-725-4.
Barbero, Sergio (1999).Lazio. Il lungo volo dell'aquila (in Italian). Graphot.ISBN88-86906-19-6.
Barraco, Egidio (1992).Nella Lazio ho giocato anch'io. Novantanni in biancoazzurro (in Italian). Aldo Pimerano.ISBN88-85946-09-7.
Bocchio, Sandro; Tosco, Giovanni (2000).Dizionario della grande Lazio (in Italian). Newton & Compton.ISBN88-8289-495-9.
Cacciari, Patrizio; Filacchione; Stabile (2004).1974. Nei ricordi dei protagonisti la storia incredibile della Lazio di Maestrelli (in Italian). Eraclea Libreria Sportiva.ISBN88-88771-10-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Chinaglia, Giorgio (1984).Passione Lazio (in Italian). Rome: Lucarini.ISBN88-7033-051-6.
Chiappaventi, Guy (2004).Pistole e palloni. Gli anni Settanta nel racconto della Lazio campione d'Italia (in Italian). Limina.ISBN88-88551-30-1.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
Filacchione, Marco (2002).Il volo dell'aquila. Numeri e uomini della grande Lazio (in Italian). Eraclea Libreria Sportiva.ISBN88-88771-08-5.
Martin, Simon (2006).Calcio e fascismo. Lo sport nazionale sotto Mussolini (in Italian). Mondadori.ISBN88-04-55566-1.
Melli, Franco (2000).Cara Lazio (in Italian). Rome: Lucarini.ISBN88-7033-297-7.
Melli, Franco (2000).Saga biancazzurra. La Lazio, Cragnotti, il nuovo potere (in Italian). Rome: Limina.ISBN88-86713-56-8.
Pennacchia, Mario (1994).Lazio patria nostra: storia della società biancoceleste (in Italian). Rome: Abete Edizioni.ISBN88-7047-058-X.
Recanatesi, Franco (2005).Uno più undici. Maestrelli: la vita di un gentiluomo del calcio, dagli anni Trenta allo scudetto del '74 (in Italian). Rome: L'Airone Editrice.ISBN88-7944-844-7.
Tozzi, Alessandro (2005).La mia Lazio. L'Avventura nel meno nove e altre storie biancocelesti (in Italian). Eraclea Libreria Sportiva.ISBN88-88771-14-X.
Valilutti, Francesco (1997).Breve storia della grande Lazio (in Italian). Rome: Newton & Compton editori.ISBN88-7983-859-8.
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