The 1960s: The First Seasons of Serie B
The 1960s did not start brightly for Lazio. They finished their 1960-61 campaign in a record low 18th place, last, and were relegated alongside Napoli and Bari.
Their first season in B, 1961-62, ended in grave disappointment as they missed out on direct promotion back to the top flight by a solitary point. The following season made up for that though, as they were promoted back to A with a third placed finish. Their coach of the day was an Argentine, Juan Carlos Lorenzo, and Lazio's tight defence ensured a credible 8th place finish in 1964 with a paltry 21 goals scored and a stingy 24 conceded. A 3-0 away win over Juventus was a highlight of the season.
The club was soon hit by a financial crisis, and the presidency of the club was taken up by Umberto Lenzini, an Italian American, who made a significant impact upon the history of the club. Lazio were soon relegated back into Serie B and despite being expected to challenge for promotion, they could only manage a poor 11th place. Juan Carlos Lorenzo returned to the bench which he had left four years earlier, and with some new signings, he led Lazio to win Serie B in 1969. Stars of the side in those years included midfielder Nello Governato, who later went on to work as a manager for the club.
Read more about this topic: History Of S.S. Lazio
Famous quotes containing the word seasons:
“I say this because there is an uneasiness in things just now. Waiting for something to be over before you are forced to notice it. The pollarded trees scarcely bucking the wind and yet it’s keen, it make you fall over. Clabbered sky. Seasons that pass with a rush.”
—John Ashbery (b. 1927)