A.C. Cesena
Encyclopedia
Associazione Calcio Cesena (tʃɛˈzeːna) is an Italian football
club based in Cesena
, Romagna
. The club was formed in 1940 and won the first promotion to Serie A
in 1973. Since then, the club have been in the Italian Premier League for a total of in 11 seasons, reaching the best achievement in 1976 with the 6th position in Serie A and a short run in the UEFA Cup. The other three promotions in serie A have been achieved in 1981, 1987 and 2010
, the last one after two consecutive promotion from the third league (Lega Pro) in 2009, and from Serie B
in 2010
, both won in the final game of the season. Currently the club is playing its 11th Serie A championship. The team's colours are white and black.
, the club held its own and finished a respectable 11th place in their debut season, repeating that finish the following year. In 1975–76, Cesena surprised everybody by finishing 6th and qualifying for the UEFA Cup
. The glory was short-lived and they would be relegated the next year.
A second promotion to Serie A followed in 1981 and finished a respectable 10th before being relegated once more in 1983, staying in Serie B for four years. After winning a play-off, they were back in Serie A for 1987–88 and enjoyed a four-year stay, being obdurate enough to just avoid relegation in this time.
After relegation in 1991, Cesena had another chance to return to Serie A in 1994. With players such as Alessandro Teodorani, Emiliano Salvetti
, Luigi Piangerelli
, Aldo Dolcetti
and Dario Hübner
, this was a team of considerable ability. However, they finished level on points with Padova, and lost a promotion play-off which would be a bitter blow for the club, who would suffer relegation to Serie C1 in 1997. Whilst promotion followed, a relegation play-off against Pistoiese
in 2000 would see them condemned to a four-year stay in the third division.
In the 2005–06 Serie B league
, Cesena surprisingly emerged as contenders for promotion to Serie A, ending in sixth place and being therefore qualified for the promotion playoffs. They escaped relegation the following season, but not in 2007–08.
Cesena first campaign in Serie C1, now rebranded Lega Pro Prima Divisione, started with former Foligno
boss Pierpaolo Bisoli
as new head coach. Throughout the season, Cesena quickly emerged as major contenders for direct promotion, and managed to take first place in the league on Week 33, with only one game remaining and a two-point advantage to challengers Pro Patria. On the final week of the season, Cesena's 0–0 draw with Verona
, coupled with Pro Patria's 0–0 draw with Padova
, gave the bianconeri the league title and direct promotion back to Serie B, after only one season in the Italian third tier. Cesena went to as 3rd in Round 33 1 point behind Brescia
in 2009–10 season. Cesena made second consecutive promotion after a 1–0 winning at Piacenza
and Brescia's 2–1 loss at Padova against Padova on 30 May 2010 and finished 19 years of absence from Serie A after finishing Serie B as runner-up.
Davor Jozić
Amarildo
Paulo Silas
Adriano Ferreira Pinto
Luis Jiménez Igor Budan
Massimo Agostini
Massimo Ambrosini
Marco Ballotta
Alessandro Bianchi
Roberto Bordin
Massimo Ciocci
Gianni Comandini Valerio Fiori
Alberto Fontana Dario Hubner
Graziano Pellé
Ruggiero Rizzitelli
Sebastiano Rossi
Luigi Turci
Daniel Pancu
Massimo Bonini
Papa Waigo Vladislav Đukić
Football in Italy
Football is the most popular sport in Italy. The Italian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup 4 times , trailing only Brazil . Italy's club sides have won 27 major European trophies, making them the most successful European nation in the subject of football...
club based in Cesena
Cesena
Cesena is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, south of Ravenna and west of Rimini, on the Savio River, co-chief of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It is at the foot of the Apennines, and about 15 km from the Adriatic Sea.-History:Cesena was originally an Umbrian...
, Romagna
Romagna
Romagna is an Italian historical region that approximately corresponds to the south-eastern portion of present-day Emilia-Romagna. Traditionally, it is limited by the Apennines to the south-west, the Adriatic to the east, and the rivers Reno and Sillaro to the north and west...
. The club was formed in 1940 and won the first promotion to Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
in 1973. Since then, the club have been in the Italian Premier League for a total of in 11 seasons, reaching the best achievement in 1976 with the 6th position in Serie A and a short run in the UEFA Cup. The other three promotions in serie A have been achieved in 1981, 1987 and 2010
2010–11 Serie A
The 2010–11 Serie A was the 79th season since its establishment, the first under a league committee separate from Serie B. It began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 22 May 2011...
, the last one after two consecutive promotion from the third league (Lega Pro) in 2009, and from Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
in 2010
2009–10 Serie B
The 2009–10 Serie B season is the seventy-eighth edition since its establishment in 1929. A total of 22 teams contest the league, 15 of which returned from the 2008-09 season, 4 of which have been promoted from Lega Pro Prima Divisione, and three relegated from Serie A.-Stadiums and...
, both won in the final game of the season. Currently the club is playing its 11th Serie A championship. The team's colours are white and black.
History
Founded in 1940, Cesena reached Serie B in 1968 and were promoted to Serie A for the first time in 1973. With players such as Pierluigi Cera and Gianluigi SavoldiGianluigi Savoldi
Gianluigi Savoldi was an Italian professional football player.His older brother Giuseppe Savoldi and nephew Gianluca Savoldi also played football professionally.-External links:...
, the club held its own and finished a respectable 11th place in their debut season, repeating that finish the following year. In 1975–76, Cesena surprised everybody by finishing 6th and qualifying for the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
. The glory was short-lived and they would be relegated the next year.
A second promotion to Serie A followed in 1981 and finished a respectable 10th before being relegated once more in 1983, staying in Serie B for four years. After winning a play-off, they were back in Serie A for 1987–88 and enjoyed a four-year stay, being obdurate enough to just avoid relegation in this time.
After relegation in 1991, Cesena had another chance to return to Serie A in 1994. With players such as Alessandro Teodorani, Emiliano Salvetti
Emiliano Salvetti
Emiliano Salvetti was an Italian football midfielderHe is best known for his time as a Cesena mainstay from 1996 to 1999, and again from 2004 to 2008. He scored 18 goals in Serie B 2005-06 season with them, one of the record for midfielder...
, Luigi Piangerelli
Luigi Piangerelli
Luigi Piangerelli is an Italian former football player.He was a key player for A.C. Cesena at Serie B. After Cesena relegated, he joined Lecce, which newly promoted to Serie A....
, Aldo Dolcetti
Aldo Dolcetti
Aldo Dolcetti was an Italian footballer who played as a central midfielder.Dolcetti began as a youngster at Juventus but spent a season at Novara before signing for Pisa in 1987. He was a central player for Pisa in two spells in Serie A, before brief spells with Messina and Lucchese...
and Dario Hübner
Dario Hübner
Dario Hübner , nicknamed Bisonte , is an Italian football player, in the role of striker.Hübner started his career in 1987-88 at Pievigina, in Interregionale, scoring 10 goals...
, this was a team of considerable ability. However, they finished level on points with Padova, and lost a promotion play-off which would be a bitter blow for the club, who would suffer relegation to Serie C1 in 1997. Whilst promotion followed, a relegation play-off against Pistoiese
A.C. Pistoiese
Unione Sportiva Pistoiese 1921 is an Italian association football club, based in Pistoia, Tuscany.At the end of the 2010-11 Eccellenza season, Pistoiese was promoted to Serie D....
in 2000 would see them condemned to a four-year stay in the third division.
In the 2005–06 Serie B league
Serie B 2005-06
This article contains information on the 2005-2006 season of Serie B, the second highest football league in Italy.-Final classification:-Results:...
, Cesena surprisingly emerged as contenders for promotion to Serie A, ending in sixth place and being therefore qualified for the promotion playoffs. They escaped relegation the following season, but not in 2007–08.
Cesena first campaign in Serie C1, now rebranded Lega Pro Prima Divisione, started with former Foligno
Foligno Calcio
Foligno Calcio is an Italian association football club, based in Foligno, Umbria.- History :The club was founded in 1928.Foligno currently plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione.-Squad of the season 2011-12:-External links:**...
boss Pierpaolo Bisoli
Pierpaolo Bisoli
Pierpaolo Bisoli is an Italian football manager and former midfielder.-Playing:Bisoli started his professional career in 1984 with Pistoiese, where he spent a total of three seasons. He then played for a handful of minor teams before to join Cagliari in 1991, becoming a mainstay for the Sardinians...
as new head coach. Throughout the season, Cesena quickly emerged as major contenders for direct promotion, and managed to take first place in the league on Week 33, with only one game remaining and a two-point advantage to challengers Pro Patria. On the final week of the season, Cesena's 0–0 draw with Verona
Hellas Verona F.C.
Hellas Verona Football Club is a professional Italian association football team, based in Verona, Veneto. The team's colours are yellow and blue and gialloblu is the team's most widely used nickname...
, coupled with Pro Patria's 0–0 draw with Padova
Calcio Padova
Calcio Padova is an Italian football club, based in Padua, Veneto. The club was founded in 1910. Padova is playing in Serie B, having last been in Serie A in 1996...
, gave the bianconeri the league title and direct promotion back to Serie B, after only one season in the Italian third tier. Cesena went to as 3rd in Round 33 1 point behind Brescia
Brescia Calcio
Brescia Calcio , known simply as Brescia, is the largest football club in the Lombard city of Brescia, where it was founded in 1911.In the 2009–10 season, in the return leg of the Serie B playoff final, they defeated Torino 2-1 at home , returning to Serie A after a 5-year absence...
in 2009–10 season. Cesena made second consecutive promotion after a 1–0 winning at Piacenza
Piacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
and Brescia's 2–1 loss at Padova against Padova on 30 May 2010 and finished 19 years of absence from Serie A after finishing Serie B as runner-up.
Current squad
Out on loan
Players aged 20 or under are considered to be Primavera (youth) squad players and should not be listedRetired numbers
| No. | Player | Nationality | Position | Reason | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | Tifosi | Not applicable | Reserved for the Cesena supporters | ||
| 21 | Defender Defender (association football) Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking.... |
Posthumous recognition. Died in a car accident on |
Notable former players
Walter SchachnerWalter Schachner
Walter "Schoko" Schachner is a football manager and former Austrian national player .As he always brought chocolate to the games when he was a boy, he got the nickname schoko...
Davor Jozić
Davor Jozic
Davor Jozić is a former footballer of Bosnian Croat ethnicity.Jozić started playing at a local club FK Igman Konjic and then he moved to FK Sarajevo where he played in 450 games. After came clubs such as Cesena, Club América, and Spezia...
Amarildo
Amarildo Souza do Amaral
Amarildo Souza do Amaral, better known as Amarildo is a former Brazilian footballer who played as a forward....
Paulo Silas
Paulo Silas
Paulo Silas do Prado Pereira, best known as Silas is a former Brazilian football player and is currently manager of the Qatari club Al-Arabi.-Career:...
Adriano Ferreira Pinto
Adriano Ferreira Pinto
Adriano Ferreira Pinto , or simply Ferreira Pinto, is a Brazilian football winger playing for Atalanta B.C.....
Luis Jiménez Igor Budan
Igor Budan
Igor Budan is a Croatian football striker currently playing with U.S. Città di Palermo in Italy.-Career:Budan played for his native NK Rijeka for two seasons before moving to Italy in 1999. He was one of the players transferred to Palermo from Venezia in 2002 by Maurizio Zamparini...
Massimo Agostini
Massimo Agostini
Massimo Agostini is an Italian football manager and former striker.-Player:Nicknamed 'the condor', he started his professional playing career with Cesena in 1982. In 1986 he signed for AS Roma, scoring a total of six goals in forty appearances throughout two seasons...
Massimo Ambrosini
Massimo Ambrosini
Massimo Ambrosini is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder and is the captain of Serie A club Milan. He is well known for his aerial ability and tackling.- Club career :...
Marco Ballotta
Marco Ballotta
Marco Ballotta is a retired Italian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.His senior club career spanned a quarter of a century, but Ballotta was never capped for the Italian national team...
Alessandro Bianchi
Alessandro Bianchi (footballer)
Alessandro Bianchi is a retired Italian professional football player.-Honours:* Serie A champion: 1988/89.* Supercoppa Italiana winner: 1989.* UEFA Cup winner: 1990/91, 1993/94.-External links:*...
Roberto Bordin
Roberto Bordin
Roberto Bordin Roberto Bordin Roberto Bordin (born 10 January 1965 in Zawiya, Libya is a retired Italian footballer.Bordin began his career in the lower leagues, playing for Sanremese, Taranto and Parma before joining Cesena with whom he won promotion to Serie A in 1987. He later played for...
Massimo Ciocci
Massimo Ciocci
Massimo Ciocci is an Italian professional football coach and a former player.-External links:*...
Gianni Comandini Valerio Fiori
Valerio Fiori
Valerio Fiori is an Italian former professional footballer, who played as a goalkeeper. He is currently a goalkeeping coach at Serie A club Milan.-Career:...
Alberto Fontana Dario Hubner
Dario Hübner
Dario Hübner , nicknamed Bisonte , is an Italian football player, in the role of striker.Hübner started his career in 1987-88 at Pievigina, in Interregionale, scoring 10 goals...
Graziano Pellé
Graziano Pellè
Graziano Pellè is an Italian footballer who plays for Parma F.C. in Serie A, as a centre forward.-Lecce:Born in San Cesario di Lecce, Province of Lecce, Pellè started playing for U.S. Lecce's youth teams, winning two Campionato Primavera titles and the Coppa Italia Primavera...
Ruggiero Rizzitelli
Ruggiero Rizzitelli
Ruggiero Rizzitelli is a former Italian football player, in the role of striker.-Club:...
Sebastiano Rossi
Sebastiano Rossi
Sebastiano Rossi is a retired Italian footballer who played as a goalkeeper.During a 21-year professional career, he appeared in 346 Serie A games, most notably representing A.C. Milan , with which he won 12 major titles, namely five national championships and the 1994 UEFA Champions...
Luigi Turci
Luigi Turci
Luigi Turci is a former Italian football goalkeeper. He retired after the 2006–2007 season. His last club was Cesena in Serie B. He is currently active as goalkeeping coach of Padova.-Football career:...
Daniel Pancu
Daniel Pancu
Daniel Gabriel Pancu is a Romanian footballer who currently plays for Liga I club Rapid Bucureşti.-Career:Pancu began his playing career at FC Politehnica Iaşi. He made his debut in the Romanian First Division in 1995. In the winter of 1996 he was transferred to Rapid Bucureşti for the sum of US$...
Massimo Bonini
Massimo Bonini
Massimo Bonini is a retired Sanmarinese footballer and coach, who played as a midfielder for Italian sides Bellaria Igea Marina, Forlì, Cesena, Juventus and Bologna....
Papa Waigo Vladislav Đukić
Achievements
- Serie C/Serie C1/Lega Pro:
- Winners (3): 1967–68, 1997–98, 2008–09
- Play-off Winners (1): 2003–042003–04 Serie C1Statistics of Serie C1 in season 2003/2004.-Serie C1/A:-Play-off:SemifinalFinal-Play-out:-Final Verdict:Arezzo and Cesena promoted to Serie BVarese, Pavia e Prato relegated to Serie C2...
- Coppa Italia Serie C:
- Winners (1): 2003–04
- Runners-up (1): 1997–98
- Prima DivisionePrima DivisionePrima Divisione was the name of the first level of the Italian Football Championship from 1921 to 1926. The competition was initially founded in opposition to the FIGC by the richest clubs of Northern Italy, which disagreed the old format of the championship, based on plethoric regional groups...
:- Winners (1): 1940–41
- Serie DSerie DSerie D is the top level of the Italian non-professional football association called Lega Nazionale Dilettanti. The association represents over a million football players and thousands of football teams across Italy. Serie D ranks just below Lega Pro Seconda Divisione , and is thus considered the...
:- Winners (1): 1959–60
- Promozione Regionale:
- Winners (2): 1952–53, 1956–57