Lazio team of the decade 2000-2010.

Lazio Team Of The Decade 2000-2010
As we approach 2010, Goal.com's Stefano Federici selects his Lazio best XI from the past decade...

It certainly has been an eventful decade on the blue side of the capital. After celebrating their centenary just nine days into the new millennium, Lazio completed a league and cup double capping off their most successful season in the club’s 100 year history.

The Biancocelesti went on to become one of the finest clubs in European football in the years that followed, but after some bad moves on the transfer market the decline of Sergio Cragnotti era eventually followed.
The Cirio financial crisis in 2002 saw Lazio near the brink of extinction but following a rescue plan by Ugo Longo, Rome’s oldest club managed to stave off the administrators and underwent a massive downsizing.

Following a period of re-structuring under new president Claudio Lotito, the Biancocelesti finally ended the noughties on a high as they lifted the Coppa Italia and put five years of drought behind them.

After an extremely eventful decade for Rome’s first club, Stefano Federici looks back at the key protagonists as he selects his best XI Aquilotti from the past ten years...

Angelo Peruzzi (2000-07)

Arriving in 2000 on the back of Lazio’s recent league and cup double, the former Inter and Juve keeper ousted the already reliable Luca Marchegiani between the sticks. After taking his place as the Lazio No.1 Peruzzi remained a loyal Aquilotti servant for seven hard years. Amidst financial difficulties and an uncertain future, the Viterbo native provided a rare security for the Biancocelesti.


Massimo Oddo (2002-07)

A loyal servant and Lazio captain, Oddo arrived from Verona in the wake of Alessandro Nesta’s transfer to Milan. In the latter part of his five year stint in the capital Oddo proved to be a driving force for the Biancocelesti as he pushed up and down the flank. The Italian was quite handy in front of goal and even managed to net an impressive seven times in his final full season in Rome.


Alessandro Nesta (1985-2002)

Arguably one of Lazio’s greatest players of all time, the Roman native was a crucial element in Sven Goran Eriksson’s scudetto winning side at the turn of the millennium. An idol among the Curva Nord faithful ‘SandroKan’ grew from the Lazio youth ranks to become one of the greatest defenders of all time. Nesta had a graceful elegance on the field and the Biancocelesti captain proved just as honourable off the pitch when made his €30m move to Milan; in order to save the club from the administrators.


Sinisa Mihajlovic (1998-2004)

The fiery Serb was brought to Lazio at the beginning of the Sven Goran Eriksson era and he instantly became a hit in the capital with a number of stunning free-kick displays. Whilst he may not have been the most accomplished defender, his ability to turn games on set-pieces gave Lazio an added dimension that their rivals simply couldn’t match. His most memorable display came in December 1998 when he managed to score a hat-trick of free-kicks against former club Sampdoria at the Olimpico.


Giuseppe Favalli (1992-2004)

With 401 appearances for Lazio during his tenure in the capital Favalli is undoubtedly one of the most underrated Lazio players of the last decade. Whilst never a big hit with the Azzurri, Favalli gave Lazio an undeniable consistency that eventually saw him merit the captain's armband after the departure of Sandro Nesta.


Sergio Conceição (1998-2000 & 2003-04)

Whilst the Portuguese winger may not have enjoyed the lengthiest of spells in the capital, he certainly made a big impact on the team during his time at Lazio. With an incredible crossing ability from the flank, Conceição provided Lazio with an ability to strike quickly on the counter-attack and Salas and Boksic gladly cashed in on his precision. The decision to offload him and Matias Almeyda to Parma (part of the deal which saw Crespo move the other way) has often been debated as a fundamental reason behind Lazio’s failure to build on their scudetto success of 2000.

Diego Simeone (1999-2003)

‘El Cholo’ became an instant hit with the Lazio faithful following his move from Inter in 1999. After going so close to the scudetto before his arrival, Simeone was instrumental in the league triumph a year later. Often remembered for his gutsy, never say die attitude, his finest moment was a headed winner against Juventus in their own back yard. That victory put a massive dent in the Bianconeri’s march to the title and Lazio eventually overtook at the last to seal off a historic second scudetto.


Pavel Nedved (1996-2001)

After being spotted by Lazio following an impressive Euro 96’ with the Czech Republic, Nedved arrived on the Italian scene to begin what would be a glittering career on the peninsula. The Czech star was a hit with the fans for his impressive performances against arch-rivals Roma. However his finest moment with the Biancocelesti is undoubtedly scoring an 84th minute dazzler in the Cup Winners Cup final. Ironically after spending a further eight seasons with Juventus following his move in 2001, Nedved never managed to surpass the honours he won in just five spectacular years in the capital.


Juan Sebastian Veron (1999-2001)

Despite his brief time in the capital ‘La Brujita’ spent arguably his best two years of his career donning a Lazio jersey. As Lazio’s most regular player in their scudetto triumph, Veron only missed out on three occasions and he was arguably the key component that enabled Sven Goran Eriksson’s side to avenge the lost title from the previous season. With an ability to provide a killer final ball, the Argentinean will never be forgotten for his free-kick winner against Roma back in March 2000.



Tommaso Rocchi (2004 - )

A surprise inclusion given the competition in the forward department, Rocchi has edged the likes of Roberto Mancini, Marcelo Salas and Hernan Crespo purely on a statistical basis. The Veneto native has scored 68 league goals with the Biancocelesti and currently sits sixth in the all time Lazio scoring records. After surpassing Renzo Garlaschelli in sixth place last season, the former Empoli man underlined his outstanding service to the club during a difficult period of transition. With ‘TommyGol’ set to end his career in the capital, he has the potential finish amongst the likes of Bruno Giordano and Giorgio Chinaglia and remain among Lazio folklore for eternity.


Mauro Zarate (2008 - )

Despite his only recent arrival at the capital club, ‘The Zarate Kid’ has already gone a long way to securing legendary status in the Eternal City. Deemed not a champion by a certain No.10 on the other side of the Tiber, Maurito responded in magnificent fashion with a phenomenal strike just four minutes into the derby. ‘El Pibe De Haedo’ went on to have the last laugh when he scored an almost carbon copy goal in the Coppa Italia final against Sampdoria gifting Lazio their first taste of silverware in half a decade. If he continues where he left off last season, Zarate could well be an early contender for Lazio’s team of the decade next time around!







Peruzzi

Oddo - Nesta - Mihajlovic - Favalli

Conceição - Simeone - Nedved

Veron

Rocchi - Zarate


Rocchi and Zarate ?

Interesting debate, I'm sure most of us would pick a similar team but everyone would have their own choices. There is no question that Zarate may be in such a team in the future, however surely for the past we have to look to Crespo purely for the volume of goals, Salas for his passion, power and bullet headers or Pandev for his introduction of pure quality at a low point for the club. I'd also put Stankovic in ahead of Conceicao, not because he was a better player neccessarily, but he was influential for a long period and actually improved at a time when the squad was being cut of it's star players. He was also involved in the 2004 Coppa and however badly he left, was still a player who performed perhaps above his natural ability for us. Special mention to Simeone, surely one of our best ever transfers as a makewight in the Vieri deal, I certainly never expected as much from him. That run of headed goals towards the Scudetto is one of my best memories from the decade. How I long for a defence like that again!

I wholeheartedly agree Ed with pretty much everything you said there. Conceicao and Zarate are two of my favourite Lazio players in recent time but how they are in that side I'll never know...

When you read that line-up from the gk, your mind is ticking and saying "yes, yeah, he's a good choice, definatly" then you get to rocchi & maurito up forward, and you say "WTF?"

Definatly Crespo hands down has a spot up front, Rocchi on the bench at best & maurito? well, i love him, but he's still got some goals to score before i start comparing him to Crespo, Salas, Mancini, Pandev & Rocchi as a Lazio champion.

Stam!

zoran wrote:

Stam!

Exactly the name that came to my mind. But over Sinisa?

Trequartista wrote:

zoran wrote:

Stam!

Exactly the name that came to my mind. But over Sinisa?

over favalli ?

fiore-stankovic over cocnceicao

phantomm1976 wrote:

fiore-stankovic over cocnceicao

True, Rocchi & Zarate is a tad ridicolous! Crespo for sure. Maybe Salas?

I pretty much agree with that line up although.....

In the midfield, Stankovic, Almeyda and Fiore could also have been included in that team.

The defense is pretty good. All deserve their spots - especially Nesta and Favalli. Maybe Couto or Stam could have been in there but Mihajlovic fully deserves his spot.

The strike force of Rocchi and Zarate is a bit weird. Tommaso is surely up there, but at the moment I also don't think Maurito should be there. Crespo had a good goal scoring record for Lazio. I would have opted for Salas and Rocchi.

I think the goal keeper spot was obvious, although Marchegiani was also brilliant for us.

I would include Paolo Negro over Oddo, he was an underrated servant to us.

If it's from 2000 onwards, I would leave out Salas, he did his best work before 2000. Probably have Crespo or at least Pandev over Zarate at the moment.

Same goes for Conceicao and Almeyda, they both left in 2000 so they can't have done enough in 6 months to justify their selection. The rest looks pretty good.

Mine would be very similar: Peruzzi, Negro, Nesta, Mihaijlovic, Favalli, Simeone, Nedved, Veron, Stankovic, Rocchi, Crespo.

I find it hard to include players like Zarate/Nedved/Veron whose impact spans all of a season. Crespo is dubious enough too.

Zauri, Dabo (for both spells), Pancaro, Pandev, Ledesma, Couto, Stam, maybe even Lopez should be considered. For me, Fiore, Stankovic, Nesta, Peruzzi and Simeone should be dead certs.

i think we can have Fiore, stankovic, Lopez, salas & crespo,... instead of rocchi & conceicao.
especially i choose Lopez & Crespo:D Crespo scored lots of goal & have important role & lopez, it`s true that he was not good as valencia but he scored too many goals & more important that he was the best passer of the calcio, as i remember one season he give 15 pass that made goals

Goal.com are idiots.


First eleven of the century (based on how they did at Lazio not after or before).


------ Zarate ----- Crespo -------

Nedved - Simeone - Veron - Poborsky

Favalli --- Nesta -- Miha --- Stam

------------ Peruzzi ---------------

Holy fck that is one well balanced eleven.

Zarate gets a place in the team of the decade after only one season?

Yes, he had a lot of fantastic goals, he was the big positive topic of our season, but...

We should wait until end of 2010 to talk about "real" decade, and there are always questions to be considered, how many games/ good/bad performances? Behaviour on/outside the pitch? Love/dedication for La Lazio? Respect towards the fans? They way they left those who are not still here? If we only talk football achievment (how good they are when best) on pitch and not considering everything else then I would field :

Peruzzi
Negro, Nesta, Mihajlovic, Favalli
Simeone, Almeyda
Conceicao, Veron, Nedved
Crespo

On bench: Marchegianni, Oddo, Stam, Stankovic, Fiore, Zarate, Rocchi

Stam must be in the team. In the last decade he was as good as Nesta if not better for Lazio. Nesta played 2.5 seasons or 3 if u include 1999. His final season was not great 2001/2002 - if u remember him being subbed off against Roma at halftime after he was at fault for I think 4 goals. Mihajlovic really was not a great defender. At least not after our scudetto year. We have a short memory about how much we used to criticise him. Oddo was possibly our best player in his last seasons. So Oddo has to pip Miha's free kicks and stay in the team. The other two are definates Nesta and favalli.

Up front Salas had a magnificent 1998/1999 and great 1999/2000 but from there was just decent. Inzaghi scored some goals in champions league. Boksic was average as was Ravanelli. I cant believe they talked about Mancini on goal.com if I remember what I read a few weeks ago.. Lopez had some bad seasons and a few good ones in the end so I wouldnt choose him. Crespo is our number one, no questions asked. Then it is very tough between Rocchi/Pandev/Zarate. I have to choose Zarate just because of the amount of assists and importance of the copa italia goal. And PERUZZZZIIIIII

Midfield is easy Nedved, Simeone, Veron...... but then right wing?? I reaklly dont know. Conceicao, Poborsky, Foggia even??? I think I have to agree with centro and it is Poborsky. He did wonders for our team when he arrived.

Stam would have merited a place in the line up but only as a CB and considering there were already two superior servants to Lazio he didnt make it. Crespo and Lopez will never be seen in the same light as Rocchi. They joined Lazio purely for financial reasons and still never managed to push Lazio to scudetto glory..We won the scudetto before Crespo's arrival and his transfer cost Lazio futher success given they let Almeyda an Conceicao leave as part of the deal.

Maurito single handedly put Lazio back on the map last season. For this reason he fully deserves his place in the team of the decade. Bearing in mind for much of the decade Lazio have been in the shadows and finally we are starting to take our worthy place back at the forefront of the Italian game. Had Zarate not arrived last summer Lazio would not have the bright future that we are all looking forward to right now.

As for Stankovic between himself and Simeone the choice is simple...Stankovic took many years to show his best stuff for Lazio and was then on his way to Inter just a season after becoming a real reference point in the team.

Yours truely

Stefano Federici, Laziale DOC

I cannot see how anyone could rate Mihajlovic better than Stam after the turn of the century. If not he was first choice over Oddo anyway. It is not crespo's fault that lazio gave two players for him. Did u miss the 2nd half of crespos debut season when zoff implemented the 4-4-2. He scored more than a goal per game and was arguably the best 6 months of any lazio striker ever imo. Overall 39 goals in 54 games = 72% scoring rate. Rocchi's BEST season was 16 in 36 a total of 44%. So sure he was here for money but damn he was 3 times the player. Zarate was great and has a fantastic future ahead but 26 goals in 32 games for crespo vs 13 in 35 for zarate. hmmmmmmm. Zarate and Crespo up rfont no doubt.

My Lazio team of the decade 2000-2010

Peruzzi

Oddo---Nesta---Mihajlovic---Favalli

S.Conceicao---Stankovic---Simeone---Nedved

Zarate---Pandev

Subs: Crespo,Marchegiani,Couto,Negro,Rocchi,Poborsky

Coach : (I hate it even as I write it) Roberto Mancini

Nice pick Indian Eagle! :)

However, i was wondering how you feel about Verón?

ooooops.... forgot to add Veron on the bench....

indian_eagle wrote:

ooooops.... forgot to add Veron on the bench....

And you forgot that Poborsky was the best right wing Lazio ever and I really do mean EVER had!!

To top it of you put oddo instead of Stam in defense

centrocampista wrote:

indian_eagle wrote:

ooooops.... forgot to add Veron on the bench....

And you forgot that Poborsky was the best right wing Lazio ever and I really do mean EVER had!!

To top it of you put oddo instead of Stam in defense

It's an opinion Centro....personally I'd put Negro over the 2 of them.

Giolazio wrote:

centrocampista wrote:

indian_eagle wrote:

ooooops.... forgot to add Veron on the bench....

And you forgot that Poborsky was the best right wing Lazio ever and I really do mean EVER had!!

To top it of you put oddo instead of Stam in defense

It's an opinion Centro....personally I'd put Negro over the 2 of them.

That´s because you are crazy.