- This article first appeared on RB Jerseys, well worth a look if you’re looking for a vintage football shirt
In the summer of 1982, Lazio needed a shot in the arm.
Relegated two years previously after the Totonero scandal, the club had finished fourth and tenth in Serie B and president Gian Chiarion Casoni sought torefresh and regenerate their branding.
In 1981-82, plain adidas kits were worn, but big changes were afoot. Italian company Ennerre came in as the new manufacturers and they were to produce a set of kits that would become iconic – so much so that the look has been revived on three separate occasions, including the current season.
Electronics company Sèleco was the new sponsor and designer Otello Cecchi came up with a dramatic motif on behalf of Florence sports marleting firm Marksport, featuring a stylised eagle with its wings across the chest and sleeves.
It would appear that Cecchi came up with two options, with Lazio opting for the version with white on top and sky-blue on the lower section of the shirt, with the eagle in darker blue. In the opening game of the season, at home to Campobasso, white shorts were used but otherwise sky-blue shorts were favoured.
The changes would have the desired effect as Lazio finished second to Milan and secured promotion back to Serie A.
One variation on the long-sleeved home shirts was the fact that the section below the eagle wings and the cuffs remained white.
The numbering font was quite futuristic, featuring what we term a ‘skeleton shadow’.
Lazio were able to wear their home shirts in all but one league game, the second fixture of the season away to Como. A green and white version of the eagle kit was used.
Also available but not used competitively was a red and sky blue version, only seen in a friendly against the Italy U21s in March 1983:
As well as the outfield shirts, pleasingly the Lazio goalkeepers also carried the same design. A sky blue version, paired with an enigmatic bright orange, and a navy top had the wings on the sleeves too, while another navy variant and a grey shirt did not.
For 1983-84, Lazio were back in a more staid style, but the eagle remained on the new club crest.
The more recent usage points to it becoming a regular feature on the club’s kits and for that we are very happy.
Intrestingly, Lazio wore navy shorts (similar to the goalkeepers) with the usual home shirt in a Coppa Italia game against Napoli, but Napoli’s decision to wear their white away strip, with red/yellow pinstripes and a change pair of red socks, didn’t help matters. Incidentally, Lazio’s goalkeeper in this game is wearing the sky blue and orange shirt as above.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LixrYlaURQ
At the time Lazio were still in Serie B, and it could be argued that Napoli probably would have been better wearing their home strip – which at the time had navy rather than white shorts, before they switched back to the more traditional look later in the season. Maybe Lazio would have been better in green? Either way the referee allowed the game to continue.
Incidentally, the game was played at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome – if you’re wondering, as the Stadio Olimpico was hosting the Golden Gala athletics event.