24-1-1947. Italian international striker Giorgio Chinaglia was born on this day in 1947. Chinaglia was born in Carrara in Tuscany in Italy, but moved to Cardiff in South Wales as a child when his family emigrated to find work. He made his debut for South Wales rivals, Swansea, aged 17. He made only six League appearances for the Second Division club before moving home to Italy.
Chinaglia had to complete compulsory national service on returning to Italy. He played for Massese and Internapoli in Serie C while in the army. He was unable to play at a higher level for three years because he had played proffessionaly outside Italy. Following this period he moved to Rome club Lazio.
He scored a goal every other game in his seven years at Lazio and helped the club to their first of two League championships in the 1973-74 season. He is third highest scorer for the club with 123 goals behind Giuseppe Signori (127) and Silvio Piola (148). He was named Lazio’s greatest player during the club’s centenary celebrations in 2000.
In 1976, aged 29, Chinaglia moved to the New York Cosmos playing alongside Pele and Franz Beckenbauer. He was a hit among the stars scoring 193 goals in 213 games in the NASL and was League top scorer four times.
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giorgio_Chinaglia
Photo: James F. Clay (Cardiff docks) Daniel Dionne (New York)
