Paul Gascoigne & Giuseppe Wilson: Two UK Legends Who Graced Lazio

Nowadays, it is odd to read any transfer rumour linking British players with moves outside the Premier League. England, undoubtedly, has the top league competition in the world of football, and it is a rare occurrence that an Englishman opts to play elsewhere in Europe.

It has not always been the case. For example, the Italian league – Serie A – was considered the strongest in the world in the 1980s and 1990s and the one that all the talented players gravitated towards. Even English players dreamed of playing on Italian soil.

Lazio is not the most decorated team in Italy, but it is still a club with very long and beautiful traditions. Over the years, the club has experienced its short stints of glory, and it was during these periods that the Eagles managed to attract some of the best footballers of their generations, including the Brits.

This article will consider two great Britons who had the privilege of wearing the sky-blue jersey with the Lazio logo – the notorious Paul Gascoigne and the eternal captain Giuseppe Wilson.

Paul ‘Gazza’ Gascoigne: the Prince Who Never Was

Gazza was on top of the world in the early 1990s, playing for Tottenham Hotspur, when he suffered a knee injury. Due to that injury, Paul Gascoigne was sidelined for the entire 1991/92 campaign. The fact that he got his move to Lazio in 1992 must have felt like hitting the jackpot, a feeling best experienced by checking out the best options at legalcasino.uk/casinos/new/. So, despite all odds, the Englishman moved to Italy for £5.5 million while also receiving a massive signing bonus and hefty salary offer.

However, Gazza’s three seasons in Italy were nothing short of a disaster. There are many reasons for this, some of which are straightforward – after his serious injury, the England international struggled to regain his prime in a short period. The fact that he had to adapt to a different culture and different league (the most tactically advanced and disciplined at the time) did not help either.

Another important factor was Gascoigne’s eccentric personality, as his clashes with the press and coaches did not come as a surprise. Additionally, a superbly talented and creative attacking midfielder, Gazza was never about grinding or hard work.

The Brit had little to show for his three years spent at Lazio when his move to Rangers for £4.3 million was confirmed. In those three seasons, Gazza dealt with inconsistent displays, excessive weight, and conflicts with coaching and club staff. He left Rome with only six goals in 46 total appearances. Although his later career would have its ups and downs, his time at Lazio was certainly his lowest point.

Giuseppe ‘Pino’ Wilson: The Perfect Captain

The story of Giuseppe Wilson is the complete opposite. The British defender was a nobody when he arrived at Lazio but eventually entered the club’s history books.

Wilson was born in England to a British father, a soldier, and an Italian mother. When Giuseppe was young, the family moved to Naples, where Wilson would grow and spend most of his playing career.

Pino had modest beginnings in football as his parents insisted on him pursuing a career in law. Nevertheless, his passion for football was very strong, and the Wilsons could reach a compromise where Giuseppe enlisted in a fourth-division club but promised to continue his studies.

Wilson progressed together with his club Internapoli and almost reached Serie B. He caught the eyes of the Lazio staff, and in 1969, he made the jump from Serie C to Serie A, arriving in Rome. The Brit hit the ground running at Lazio, but it did not save the club from suffering relegation in his second season.

However, the England-born Italian decided to stick with Lazio through thick and thin, and this would pay off in the end. The Eagles got promoted back to Serie A immediately, as the arrival of coach Tommaso Maestrelli in 1971 put the team through a radical transformation. A modest club at first, Lazio became title contenders soon after, and in 1973/74, Lazio finally lifted the Scudetto. Their first, ever and only second to date.

Wilson played a crucial role as a libero during this period. An irreplaceable starter, he was hailed for his discipline, tactical awareness, class, and leadership. He was made captain by Maestrelli and had an impeccable reputation among the fans, many of whom still remember him to this day. He departed Lazio in 1980 with 395 appearances and eight goals behind his back.

PS: While he was born in England, Pino never played for the Three Lions. Instead, he had three caps for Italy and even featured at the 1974 World Cup.