20 years have passed since Laci's Scudetto, Stanković: Phenomenal team, we were destined to become champions

Fans of Italian football still remember May 14, 2000, when Lazio became champions of Italy for the second time in an incredible finish.

Before the last round, Lazio was second in the table with 69 points, two less than the leaders Juventus. The Sky Blues had to beat Reggina in Rome and are hoping for a Juventus upset against Perugia. Sven Goran Eriksson's team triumphed 3:0 and waited for news from "Renato Kurija", where the real drama unfolded.

Heavy rain fell that day in Umbria, soaking the field and making the game difficult. At halftime, the referee Pjerluigi Kolina came out to check whether there were conditions for the continuation and decided to play.

After four minutes of play in the second half, Calori scored a goal for Perugia and shocked the "old lady". The result did not change until the end and Lazio won the Scudetto.

The Lazio team consisted of top players - Negro, Mihajlović, Kouto, Sensini, Nesta, Konseisao, Stanković, Simeone, Manćini, Nedved, Salas, Bokšić, Ravaneli...

Mundo Deprotivo then published a headline with the caption - "God is from Lazio". Dejan Stanković also recalled that day and the emotions from "Olympics":

"Yes, God. That day someone "up there" was cheering for Lazio. I feel fulfilled thanks to that championship. God helped us because he sent a flood to Perugia. We were destined to be champions. Nervousness, tension, adrenaline. In the end match, 90.000 people stopped for an hour. I was in the dressing room, next to the TV. It was so tense that I couldn't take a shower. I stood in the corner and sweated. I lost three kilograms," recalls Stanković and continues under his breath.

"It was sunny in Rome, an unprecedented flood in Perugia, and then suddenly a boy ran into the dressing room and screamed with joy. I don't remember who I hugged first. We were champions of Italy. We were a phenomenal team, I always said that we could let's win everything."

The powerful team was formed by president Serđo Kranjoti.

"Mr. As soon as he arrived he called me to his office and said: let me talk to the boy of 24 billion lire. And he hugged me. Like two years later in the stands of the Olympics. I remember the open bus and the fans in Cirskus Maximus. We didn't want let's go from there, I was shocked by such passion," explains Stanković.

Lazio had the opportunity to become champion this season as well, but the coronavirus pandemic stopped football. Serie A is expected to resume on June 13.

"Inzagi is a great coach, his team plays well. He has excellent players, many could even play in the team from 2000. Imobile, Milinković Savić, Luis Alberto, Aćerbi. I hope they can win the Scudetto," Stanković said. .