The official name of the Lazio soccer club S.S. Lazio is Societa Sportiva Lazio or the Lazio Sporting Society. Most probably don’t realize that the soccer club is actually only one component of a larger and more comprehensive sporting society. Although the soccer team remains the most famous component of the Lazio sporting society, S.S. Lazio remains true to its name and fields a number of athletes and teams from rugby and field hockey to swimming and cycling.

Where did S.S. Lazio originate?

S.S. Lazio was formed on January 9, 1900 and was thus the first club to import “football” to Rome from England on an official basis. The club, first named Società Podistica Lazio, was established in Rome’s Piazza della Libertà - a place Laziali can now find a plaque commemorating the event. The club’s founder was a military officer named Luigi Bigiarelli.

Why Lazio and not Rome?

The founders of S.S. Lazio sought to give the club a larger, more comprehensive name and thus chose Lazio instead of Rome. Lazio is the region surrounding and including the city of Rome whose origins stretch back to the ancient Roman province of Latium. Moreover, the name Roma was already in use by a popular gymnastics club in the city.

Why blue and white?

The team’s founding principles were declaredly the Olympic ideals of competition, fairness and human achievement through sport. In order to pay homage to these ideals, the founders chose blue and white - the colours of the Greece and the birthplace of the Olympics.

Why the Eagle?

The eagle is the official symbol of the Roman Empire and a symbol of Rome since antiquity.

For a more comprehensive history of the club please see the official website www.sslazio.it