Stadio Olimpico

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Construction began in 1928 under Enrico Del Debbio and was expanded in 1937 by Luigi Moretti. World War II interrupted further expansions; after the Liberation of Rome in June 1944, the stadium was used by the Allies as vehicle storage and for military competitions. After the war, CONI completed construction, and it opened on 17 May 1953 with a football game between Italy and Hungary. It changed its name to Olimpico in 1960, when Rome hosted the Summer Olympics. Before 1990, it was almost entirely unroofed, except for the Monte Mario Grandstand. In 1990, it was rebuilt and roofed for the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

In Their Own Story

On a cold evening in 1974, the Stadio Olimpico erupted as Lazio secured their first-ever Serie A title, a victory that seemed impossible just years prior. The stands were packed with fans celebrating alongside captain Giuseppe Wilson and striker Giorgio Chinaglia, whose goals had propelled the team to the top of the table. Decades later, in 1999, the same arena witnessed another historic night as Lazio defeated Manchester United to claim the UEFA Super Cup, adding to their European trophy cabinet that included the Cup Winners' Cup earlier that year. The roar of 70,634 fans filled the air when Senad Lulić scored the lone goal against rivals Roma in the 2013 Coppa Italia final, and again in 2019 when Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Joaquin Correa secured a 2-0 victory over Atalanta. These moments are etched into the concrete of the Olimpico, where every whistle blow carries the weight of history.

Reader's Guide

The Olimpico is located in northwestern Rome in the Foro Italico sports complex. It has been home to S.S. Lazio and A.S. Roma. Ciro Immobile has scored the most goals at the stadium (120). It hosted the 1968 and 1980 European Championships, the 1990 FIFA World Cup, group stage and a quarter-final of the 2020 European Championship, two European Cup finals (1977 and 1984), two UEFA Champions League finals (1996 and 2009), and the Coppa Italia final since 2008. It also hosted the 1960 Olympics, the 1974 European Athletics Championships, the 1987 World Championships in Athletics, the 1975 Universiade, and the 2024 European Athletics Championships. It has hosted the Golden Gala since 1980 and the Italian rugby union team in the Six Nations Championship since 2012.

Did You Know?

• The stadium was originally called Stadio dei Centomila (Stadium of the 100,000) due to its planned capacity.
• The record for highest attendance for a musical event was set in 1998 at a concert by Claudio Baglioni.
• The stadium was used by Allied troops for vehicle storage after the Liberation of Rome in 1944.

Founding and Early Struggles

Established on January 9, 1900, in Rome's Prati district as Società Podistica Lazio, the club initially operated at an amateur level before joining official league competitions in 1912. During these early decades, Lazio frequently challenged for national supremacy but suffered heartbreaking defeats in championship playoffs against Pro Vercelli, Casale, and Genoa between 1913 and 1923. A defining moment of resilience occurred in 1927 when Lazio refused the Fascist regime's mandate to merge with other Roman teams, thereby preserving its identity while rivals formed AS Roma. The club debuted in the inaugural Serie A season in 1929 and achieved a historic second-place finish in 1937 under striker Silvio Piola. Despite these highs, the post-war era brought instability; after winning their first major trophy, the Coppa Italia, in 1958, the team faced relegation to Serie B in 1961 and again in 1970-71, marking a turbulent prelude to future glory.

The Cragnotti Era and Golden Decade

The arrival of president Sergio Cragnotti in 1992 fundamentally transformed the club's trajectory through aggressive investment. His tenure is defined by record-breaking transfers that reshaped Serie A's global profile, including Paul Gascoigne from Tottenham Hotspur for £5.5 million, which significantly boosted British interest in Italian football. Subsequent signings of Juan Sebastián Verón, Christian Vieri, and Hernán Crespo, who briefly held the world transfer record at £35 million, assembled a star-studded squad. Under manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, this era yielded unprecedented success: a third-place finish in 1995-96, a narrow Scudetto loss to Milan in 1998-99, and the ultimate triumph of winning the Serie A title in 2000 alongside a domestic double. This period also saw Lazio conquer Europe by securing the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 1999, cementing their status as a continental powerhouse before financial troubles eventually forced Cragnotti's departure.

Tribulations and Resilience

Lazio's history is punctuated by severe scandals that threatened its very existence. In 1980, the club was forcibly relegated to Serie B due to a match-fixing scandal involving illegal betting, marking what many consider their darkest period. After three seasons in the second division, they returned to Serie A but faced another crisis in 1986 when a nine-point deduction was imposed for further betting irregularities involving player Claudio Vinazzani. Led by coach Eugenio Fascetti, the team fought an epic battle against relegation to Serie C, surviving only through dramatic playoff victories over Taranto and Campobasso. This struggle proved a turning point; under the prudent financial management of Gianmarco Calleri starting in 1988, Lazio stabilized as a top-flight entity. Although economic crises later forced the sale of key stars in 2002, ending their golden run, the club demonstrated enduring resilience by continuing to win four Coppa Italia titles between 2004 and 2019 despite operating with reduced funds under president Claudio Lotito.

Identity, Rivalry, and Legacy

Beyond trophies, Lazio's identity is deeply rooted in Rome's ancient Hellenic heritage, reflected in their traditional sky blue shirts, white shorts, and socks. This distinct visual identity sets them apart in a city dominated by the fierce Derby della Capitale against AS Roma, a rivalry contested since 1929 that defines Roman football culture. Unlike many modern entities focused solely on football, Società Sportiva Lazio was founded as a multi-sport organization capable of participating in over 40 different disciplines, although its professional football team operates separately as an S.p.A. entity. The club shares the iconic Stadio Olimpico with their rivals, creating a unique atmosphere where two giants coexist within the same 70,634-capacity venue. Their legacy extends to being the first Italian club listed on the Piazza Affari stock market in 2000, symbolizing their evolution from a local sporting society into a major commercial and cultural institution with a global fanbase.