Giorgio Chinaglia was born in Carrara, Tuscany in 1947, but in 1955, he moved to Cardiff, Wales with his parents, because of unemployment in Italy following World War II.

When he was 13 years old, by which time his father had bought an Italian restaurant in Cardiff, Chinaglia was spotted scoring a hat trick for Cardiff Schools, and joined Swansea Town in the Football League Third Division in 1962.

With Lazio from 1969-1976, Chinaglia scored 98 goals in 209 matches, and helped Lazio win its first Italian title (Scudetto) in 1974, and later became Lazio's president. The Lazio striker also represented Italy in the 1974 World Cup.

In 1976, he joined the Cosmos and played alongside Pele and Franz Beckenbauer. Chinaglia was the all-time leading scorer in the North American Soccer League. He scored 262 goals in his eight seasons with the Cosmos. He became a naturalized US citizen in 1979 and was inducted into the Soccer Hall of Fame in 2000.

Sad news came through that Giorgio Chinaglia has passed away in Florida at the age of 65 of complications from a heart attack.

Rest In Peace Giorgio, and thank you for all you have done for Lazio.

LazioLand Team