Claudio Lotito has done it again: in addition to Lazio, Reggina is now his
Claudio Lotito doubles down—again. As of Friday, the Lazio owner is also the owner of Reggina, a historic Italian soccer club that is currently relegated to Serie D. This is not the first time the Rome-based executive has held a co-ownership stake in his career, however, as between 2011 and 2021 he and Marco Mezzaroma took over Salernitana, another fallen giant that was also playing in Serie D at the time. He sold the club to Ugo Marchetti and then to Danilo Iervolino only after the Campania-based team’s promotion to Serie A.
The announcement was made by Francesco Cannizzaro, mayor of Reggio Calabria, who posted a photo on Instagram alongside Lotito and Nino Ballarino, now the former owner of Reggina. “Habemus RHEGIUM. Reggio Calabria is once again looking to the future with renewed enthusiasm and the ambition that its history deserves,” wrote the mayor, also adding the hashtag #AdessoReggina.
It’s important to note that, compared to the Salernitana era, the rules are changing: starting in the 2028–2029 season, co-ownership will no longer be permitted, even for two clubs both competing in professional leagues. If the Calabrian club returns to Serie C by that season, therefore, Lotito would have to further divest his ownership stake. Unless, by that date, he sells Lazio instead—which, as a statistical curiosity, won its most recent Scudetto on May 14, 2000, defeating Reggina 3-0 at the Stadio Olimpico.
The news comes at a time of great upheaval at Lazio as well, where Lotito is busy on multiple fronts. On the coaching front, the Biancocelesti have recently officially announced Gennaro Gattuso as their new head coach, called upon to take over from Maurizio Sarri after a complicated season. The Calabrian coach has reportedly already outlined his transfer priorities—a center back, a center forward, and an attacking midfielder—with Lotito said to have guaranteed him the arrival of four or five new players, though this is contingent on the necessary player sales to generate liquidity.
Reggina, meanwhile, remains a club with strong sentimental appeal for several key figures in Italian soccer. Among the most illustrious former “Amaranto” players is Francesco Acerbi, who wore the Reggina jersey early in his career before moving on to, among others, Milan, Sassuolo, Lazio, and finally Inter, with whom he won two league titles. The defender, who became a free agent after leaving Inter on June 30, is currently on the market, and several Serie A clubs have already expressed interest in him.
He is not the only prominent name linked to the Calabrian club’s recent history. Bernardo Corradi, who was just named Sampdoria’s head coach, also wore the Reggina jersey during his playing career, as did Marco Baroni, who served as Reggina’s coach and is now preparing to take on a new challenge on the Hellas Verona bench with the goal of promotion to Serie A. This common thread demonstrates just how much the club from the Strait has served, over the years, as a crossroads for important careers, and how it is now, under Lotito’s new ownership, trying to find its way back to the big leagues.
