Top five players to play for both AS Roma and Lazio

The Derby Della Capitale is one of the most iconic fixtures in Italian football

The Derby Della Capitale is one of the fiercest rivalries in world football – but that hasn’t stopped some brave players from crossing the dividing lines and playing for both clubs. Here are five examples. Considered to be the most hostile and fiercely contested local derby in Italian football since its introduction on December 8, 1929, the Derby Della Capitale is a derby never short of incident.

5. Angelo Peruzzi

The Italian goalkeeper started his career with Roma in 1986 but would go on to have more success elsewhere later on. Peruzzi initially spent three senior seasons with the red side of Rome, making only a handful of appearances, before being loaned to Hellas Verona in 1989 at the tender of 19.  His achievement earned him a recall to Roma however his return to Roma was to come to a swift end as the custodian was banned for doping. After that, he concluded his career with a seven-year spell at Lazio. He played 192 times for the Biancocelesti, much more than he did for Roma. One of the finest goalkeepers ever, he was even in the squad for Italy’s 2006 World Cup triumph.

4. Arne Selmosson

Arne Selmosson makes our list as the only man in history to score in the Derby Della Capitale for both Lazio and Roma. He scored 30 goals in total for Roma over a three-year spell. Lazio came calling and Arne remained there from 1955 to 1958, scoring 31 goals in 81 games before making a direct switch across the Capital to Roma. The big Swede was a prolific goal scorer throughout his career.

3. Fulvio Bernardini

Fulvio Bernardini is the only person to date to have not only represented both sides of Rome at the playing level but also as a manager.  Bernardini had a large influence on Roma and was renowned for his fantastic technical ability. Despite starting his playing career at Lazio, he arrived at Roma after a spell with Inter and found his home. With Lazio, Bernardini became the first ever Rome native to play for the Italian national side. Managing both Roma and Lazio and even guiding Lazio to their first ever major honour, the Coppa Italia in 1958.

2. Siniša Mihajlovic

He was actually a fantastic footballer known for his dead-ball specialism. Mihajlovic served two years with Roma, taking one of their three foreigner spots in the first team, and playing at both left-midfield and left-back, he made 54 Serie A appearances for the Romans. Siniša left Roma in 1994 following a trophy-barren spell to join Sampdoria prior to making the big switch to Lazio in 1998 where he would spend six legendary seasons.  During his time with Lazio Mihajlovic inspired the side to a number of honours including; the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1998–99, the UEFA Super Cup in 1999, two Coppa Italia and two Super Coppa Italia while chipping in with an excellent return of 32 goals.

1. Attilio Ferraris IV

The very first player to represent both Rome clubs, He was Roma’s first captain and first Italian international. He was part of the Roma side that won the club’s first trophy (the Coppa CONI) in 1928, and he added a World Cup medal to his personal collection in 1934. However, after Ferraris’ triumph with the national team in ’34, he blotted his Roma reputation by becoming making the aforementioned direct switch to rivals Lazio for two relatively unsuccessful seasons that saw him appear just 39 times for the club.