Football mourns Giorgio Chinaglia
Sunday, April 1, 2012
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Giorgio Chinaglia, named the greatest player in the history of S.S. Lazio during the club's centenary celebrations, has died at the age of 65 following a heart attack in Florida.
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Former S.S. Lazio and Italy striker Giorgio Chinaglia has died at the age of 65 following a heart attack in Florida.
Chinaglia, who started his career in Wales with Swansea City AFC, joined Lazio in 1969 and was a key member of the side which clinched the Scudetto in 1973/74, scoring 24 goals. He then led the Italy attack at the 1974 FIFA World Cup, when the Azzurri failed to progress beyond the group stage.
Scorer of four goals in 14 games for his country, 'Long John' Chinaglia ended his playing career in the United States with New York Cosmos between 1976 and 1983, playing alongside the likes of Franz Beckenbauer and Pelé and winning four league titles.
In 2000, Chinaglia was inducted into the United States National Soccer Hall of Fame and was named the greatest player in Lazio's history during the club's centenary celebrations. He also had a brief spell as president of the Rome-based side in the early 1980s.
