Giorgio Chinaglia, a renowned Italian footballer, was born in Carrara, Tuscany, Italy. However, his early life took a different turn as he grew up in Wales, where he began his football career with the local club, Swansea City.
As his skills and talent flourished, Chinaglia made the move back to Italy, joining Massese and Internapoli, two semiprofessional teams, before ultimately landing a spot in the prestigious Serie A league with Lazio, one of Rome's two professional football teams.
Wearing the iconic number 9 jersey, Chinaglia played for seven seasons with Lazio, starting in 1969, during which he became a fan favorite and led the team to its first-ever championship title. His impressive performance earned him the league's top scorer title, and he also represented the Italian National Team, earning 14 caps and scoring four goals.
In 1974, Chinaglia made headlines by scoring a goal in the Rome derby and taunting the Curva Sud, Roma fans, who were famously passionate about their team. He continued to excel on the pitch, playing in the 1974 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
In 1976, Chinaglia made the bold decision to leave his original team, Lazio, to join the North American Soccer League (NASL) and the New York Cosmos. This move was unprecedented, as many foreign stars, including the legendary Pelé, had joined the NASL, but Chinaglia was one of the first to leave his original team in the prime of his career.
Chinaglia's success in the NASL was nothing short of remarkable, as he scored 192 goals in 213 games, leading the league in scoring four times and becoming the all-time leading scorer. In 1981, he was awarded the NASL Most Valuable Player Award.
After his successful stint in the NASL, Chinaglia returned to Rome, Italy, in 1983 to become the Owner/President of Lazio for two years. Although his presidency was marked by less success, his legacy as a player remains unforgettable, and he left a lasting impact on the fans of Lazio and the football world at large.
