Lazio’s Greatest-Ever Veteran Performers | OneFootball

Lazio are no strangers to snapping up the odd veteran, but the recent displays from 37-year-old winger Pedro defy belief. The former Barcelona man is seemingly getting better with age, and his blistering display in the recent 5-1 drubbing of Monza was arguably his finest performance of the campaign. Starting for the first time in Serie A in almost two months, the Spaniard netted twice and was a constant thorn in the opposition’s side, creating openings left, right, and center for himself and his teammates.

The victory brought to an end the Biancocelesti’s recent inconsistent run. Thanks to Pedro’s brilliance, Lazio notched back-to-back victories for the first time since November, catapulting them back into contention for a spot in the Champions League – at least, that is what online sports betting sites believe. The latest Serie A sports betting odds currently price the capital city outfit as a +200 contender to finish in the top four, only behind Atalanta (-850) and Juventus (+120).

But Pedro’s recent displays got us thinking, which other veterans have shone during the twilight of their careers at the Stadio Olimpico? Let’s take a look.

Miroslav Klose

When Miroslav Klose arrived at Lazio in 2011, many thought his best years were behind him. At 33, the German forward was already a legend for his exploits on the international stage, but he had never truly shone at club level. He had netted just 12 goals across the two prior years spent with Bayern Munich, and many of the Laziali thought that his best days may well have been behind him despite another stellar showing at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

However, what he accomplished during his five-year stint at Lazio – his longest run with any single club in his entire career – proved he wasn’t just a star of the past. He bagged his first goal for the club just 12 minutes into his debut, opening the scoring in a 2-2 draw against AC Milan. A month later, he wrote his name into the club’s folklore forever when he netted a 93rd-minute winner in the Derby della Capitale against cross-city rivals Roma.

Klose had an uncanny knack for delivering in the toughest moments, scoring 63 goals in 171 appearances for Lazio across all competitions. Throughout all five of his seasons wearing the famed sky blue, he was a constant presence in the scoring charts, reaching double figures on three occasions and bagging seven goals in his final season at the ripe old age of 38. And as if his legacy wasn’t already secured, he was also part of the Lazio team that defeated Roma in the 2013 Coppa Italia final.

Stefano Mauri

Stefano Mauri’s name is synonymous with loyalty. Spending the majority of his career at Lazio, the Italian attacking midfielder became the backbone of the team, wearing the captain’s armband throughout his later years and leading by example. Joining the club in 2006 from Udinese, he would go on to play 303 games throughout a decade-long stint at the Olimpico, scoring 48 goals in the process.

Whether deployed as a central midfielder, an attacking playmaker, or even on the wings, the former Brugherio youngster was the engine that kept the Lazio midfield ticking. His emergence as one of the best players in the country came in the 2010/11 season, when he racked up three goals and six assists in his first seven starts, resulting in national team manager Cesare Prandelli calling him up to the Azzurri set up.

Twice winning the Coppa Italia, Mauri’s finest moment in a Lazio shirt came in March 2012 when he returned from four months out injured to score a stunning winner against rivals Roma. The following year, he downed the Giallorossi once again, before another stint on the sidelines due to a match-fixing inquiry.

Mauri made yet another comeback in February 2014 at the ripe old age of 34, and he ended the campaign by netting three times in his final three games, resulting in the club offering a one-year contract extension. Lazio wouldn’t regret their decision, and the attacking midfielder helped himself to nine goals in 29 starts, the best return of his career.

Tommaso Rocchi

Tommaso Rocchi may not be the most high-profile name in Lazio’s history, but few players matched his consistency and commitment during his time at the club. Arriving in 2004, Rocchi spent eight years in the sky blue, scoring 105 goals in 293 appearances, good enough for sixth in the all-time top scorers list.

The pressuring striker was a fan favorite for his relentless work ethic. He wasn’t the tallest or the fastest, but his footballing intelligence and unwavering determination made him an incredible forward. While Rocchi had many standout games, Lazio fans will never forget his hat-trick against Treviso in 2006 or the volley he scored against Real Madrid in the Champions League group stage that same year.

Throughout his latter years, the veteran striker wore the captain’s armband, and he led by example on the pitch. His goals lifted Lazio to a 2009 Coppa Italia triumph, and his presence in attack inspired confidence throughout the Stadio Olimpico terraces.