Episode Summary
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Phil Craig
Guest(s)
Release Date
29 February 2024
Duration
72 min
In this episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by regular guest Phil Craig to relive one of the most unpredictable triumphs in Italian football history — SS Lazio’s 1973–1974 Scudetto-winning season.
It was a time when football in Italy mirrored the country’s social tensions — passionate, political, and often combustible. Under the calm yet commanding leadership of Tommaso Maestrelli, Lazio transformed from Serie B strugglers to Serie A champions in just two years. Their 1973–74 side blended brilliance with volatility — a squad divided into cliques but united on the pitch.
At the heart of it all was Giorgio Chinaglia, the fiery, prolific centre-forward whose goals and temper defined the team’s identity. Alongside Luciano Re Cecconi, Mario Frustalupi, Felice Pulici, and Pino Wilson, Chinaglia led Lazio to their first-ever Serie A title, overcoming giants like Juventus and AC Milan through sheer force of personality and tactical cohesion.
Yet behind the glory lay chaos. The dressing room was notoriously split — players were known to bring firearms to training — and Maestrelli’s steady hand barely contained the internal feuds. The following years brought tragedy: Maestrelli’s untimely death, Re Cecconi’s accidental shooting in 1977, and the slow disintegration of one of Italy’s most colourful teams.
This episode explores the fine line between genius and madness — how Lazio’s Scudetto was not only a football triumph but a portrait of 1970s Italy: passionate, volatile, and unforgettable.
Takeaways
Lazio’s 1974 Scudetto was as dramatic off the pitch as on it.
Tommaso Maestrelli’s man-management was central to their unity.
Giorgio Chinaglia’s charisma and volatility defined the team’s image.
Their triumph reflected Italy’s wider social and cultural unrest.
Lazio’s legacy blends footballing excellence with human tragedy.
SS Lazio 1973–1974: Chaos, Glory, and Tragedy
The story of Lazio’s 1973–74 Scudetto is one of football’s great paradoxes — a tale of brilliance and bedlam, triumph and tragedy.
Under Tommaso Maestrelli, Lazio rose from the shadows of Serie B to claim their first-ever Serie A title, a feat that stunned Italian football. Their success came through balance — a watertight defence marshalled by Pino Wilson and Felice Pulici, the creativity of Mario Frustalupi, and the firepower of Giorgio Chinaglia, whose goals and temper made him both a hero and a headline-maker.
But Lazio’s greatness was inseparable from their chaos. The squad was famously split into rival factions, their training ground an arena of tension — with stories of players carrying firearms adding to the legend. Maestrelli’s calm authority kept them just on the right side of implosion, guiding them to glory through man-management as much as tactics.
The aftermath, however, turned tragic. Within a few years, Maestrelli had died from cancer, and Luciano Re Cecconi was accidentally shot dead in a prank gone wrong. The team that had once defied logic and lifted Rome into celebration unravelled as quickly as it had risen.
Lazio 1973–74 remain one of Italian football’s most compelling teams — brilliant, dangerous, and deeply human. Their story reflects the passion and madness of 1970s Italy: a time when football was raw, emotional, and unfiltered.
Half genius, half chaos — they will forever be remembered as the wild champions of Rome.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
Lazio’s rise under Tommaso Maestrelli
Giorgio Chinaglia’s leadership and temperament
Tactical balance and defensive strength
The divided dressing room and off-field chaos
The aftermath: tragedy and cultural legacy
Winning Lazio’s first-ever Scudetto in 1974
Chinaglia’s decisive goals vs Juventus and Milan
Maestrelli’s emotional leadership through chaos
The divided training ground with armed players
The tragic death of Re Cecconi in 1977
Maestrelli’s passing and the end of an era
Notable Manager
Tommaso Maestrelli
Notable Players
Giorgio Chinaglia, Luciano Re Cecconi, Mario Frustalupi, Pino Wilson, Felice Pulici, Vincenzo D’Amico, Luigi Martini, Franco Nanni, Giancarlo Oddi, Renzo Garlaschelli, Sergio Petrelli, Giancarlo Morrone
Style of Play
4-3-3 Formation, Compact Defence, Counter-Attacking, Vertical Transitions, Direct Play, Emotional Intensity
Lazio’s 1973–74 side were a team of contradictions — tactically disciplined yet emotionally volatile, defensive in shape yet explosive in transition. Under Tommaso Maestrelli, they deployed a 4-3-3 that morphed into a compact 4-4-2 when defending, combining Italian pragmatism with the freedom of expressive individuals.
At the core was Felice Pulici, an agile and commanding goalkeeper who organised a back line led by Pino Wilson and Sergio Petrelli. Lazio’s defence was famously resilient, conceding just 23 goals across the campaign — the best record in Serie A that season.
In midfield, Luciano Re Cecconi and Mario Frustalupi provided balance — one a tireless worker, the other a playmaker who dictated rhythm. Out wide, Vincenzo D’Amico offered creativity, while the focal point in attack was Giorgio Chinaglia — a force of nature whose combination of power, technique, and aggression made him one of Europe’s most feared forwards.
Maestrelli encouraged positional interchange and quick, vertical play, often springing counters through direct passes from deep. Lazio’s transitions were clinical, their defensive blocks suffocating, and their spirit unbreakable. What made them unique, however, was not just structure — it was personality.
This was a team that played with fury and conviction, where emotion often overrode logic — but when it clicked, it was unstoppable. Lazio 1973–74 were not just champions; they were a storm — raw, passionate, and unforgettable.
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