Alexi Lalas, a different man

Alexis Lalas: from a complete stranger to a guarantee of recognisability. All in just twenty years of history. It was 1994 when Panayotis Alexander Lalas landed in Italy to play for Padova: slippers, open shirt and a guitar. This is how the “weird” American presented himself in Italy. In fact, Lalas was the first American to play in our highest category. However, in spite of his good technical skills, Lalas is mainly remembered for his personality and his way of doing things, totally unusual if one thinks of the time when the American arrived in Serie A. Red hair (long) and goatee, equally long and equally red, he was noted for his extravagance and sincerity. In an interview in which he was asked about the reason of the beard – completely out of fashion in the 1990s – he said: “when I went to school I used to take the bus and the driver looked a very calm and serene guy and he had a long beard. I decided to have him as source of inspiration”. I never cut my beard, but I do get my hair cut: it was his coach Bora Milutinovic the one who gave him an out-out, normalizing Lalas both in the field and out of it.

 Alexi Lalas can certainly be considered as one of the most influential personalities of the last twenty years. After playing for Padova for two seasons, scoring his first goal in the historic victory against Milan, he returned home: it was in the late 1990s that the United States started the first US championship, the MLS. Lalas also participated in two world cups, the one one home-field in 1994 and the one in 1998. At the same time, he played guitar and recorded some records with his band. In conclusion, a man full of quality! We have chosen some of the most representative photos of the first “Italian” American: you’ll probably feel some nostalgia!