Lazio’s history is marked by figures who have deeply influenced the club’s destiny. Some are celebrated, others forgotten, and still others intentionally overshadowed. Among these, Ugo Longo holds a special place: not for trophies or proclamations, but for performing the most difficult and least flashy act of all — saving Lazio from bankruptcy during one of the most dramatic moments in its history.

Longo, a high-profile criminal lawyer, became president in January 2003, when the collapse of the Cirio group and Sergio Cragnotti’s exit left the club in a devastating economic crisis. Unpaid salaries, tax debts, and the concrete risk of failing to register for the next season: Lazio was on the verge of collapse.

Why Ugo Longo was fundamental for Lazio

His importance isn’t just an opinion: it’s a documented and recognized historical fact.

1. He prevented the 2003 bankruptcy

Longo took charge of a club that was technically in shambles and managed to stabilize it through rigorous, transparent, and competent management.

• He promoted a capital increase of €120 million, which was essential to ensure business continuity.
• He coordinated the entry of small shareholders, who through the Lazionista association raised over €1.5 million from more than 5,000 Lazio families.

Without these operations, Lazio would not have been able to register for the 2004/2005 season. This is a historical point that is non-negotiable.

2. He transformed Lazio into a public company

With the exit of the Cragnotti family, Longo led the transition toward a more open corporate model, less dependent on a single owner and more oriented toward sustainability.

3. He defended Lazio even after his presidency

Despite leaving office in 2004, he continued to provide legal assistance to the club, including during the 2006 Calciopoli scandal.

4. He is remembered with affection by those who lived through those years

Lazio itself, in its official communications, continues to remember him as a central and respected figure.

Why calling him “that thing” is unacceptable

During the conference on the Stadio Flaminio, current president (or manager) Claudio Lotito dismissed Ugo Longo as “coso” (“that thing”), an expression that is not only disrespectful: it is historically false.

Reducing Longo to “that thing” means:

• erasing the role of the man who prevented Lazio’s disappearance;
• denying the dignity of a professional who put his reputation at the service of the club;
• rewriting history for convenience, downplaying those who operated before the current management.

It’s not a matter of fandom or club politics: it’s a matter of historical truth and respect.

Ugo Longo was not a passing president, nor a name to be forgotten. He was the ferryman who allowed Lazio to survive, to register for championships, and to continue existing as a professional club.