Piacenza Calcio
Encyclopedia
Piacenza Calcio is an Italian association football
club based in Piacenza
. The club was formed in 1919 and currently plays in Italian Lega Pro Prima Divisione B. The team's colors are red and white, prompting one of the team's nicknames, the Biancorossi. They are also known as the Papaveri (Poppies), and the Lupi (Wolves).
The club won the Anglo-Italian Cup
in 1986. The highest they have ever finished in their home league is 12th in Serie A
, which they have achieved twice in 1997/1998 and 2001/2002. They spent much of their history in the lower divisions, suffering relegation in four of their first six Serie B seasons. They first reaching Serie A in the early nineties, and have been relegated to Lega Pro Prima Divisione.
Piacenza has been known in the past for its strong reluctance to use foreign players, using a team made up exclusively of Italians for most of its Serie A seasons; at present however there are some foreign players, generally European
.
and was introduced into the college system along with cycling, gymnastics, archery
and other sports. The spark that helped ignite football in the city was a student tournament in 1908. The football competition was played out between teams from various cities, and the team from Collegio Morigi from Piacenza were the victors.
The early football played in the city was limited to "friendlies" until Piacenza Calcio was founded in 1919 with the first club president as Giovanni Dosi. Dosi was an ambitious manager, taking control of every social
, technical
and administrative aspect of the club, with the sole focus at bringing the club into the national championship under the FIGC.
In their first season, the club played 12 games. Their opponents included; Parma
, Reggiana
, Spal, and prominent local side Bologna
. The season was a great start for Piacenza, who only lost one game (1–0 to Bologna) gaining promotion to Prima Categoria
. The first championship winning squad included the players Fontana, Armani, Meani, Sala I, Marelli, Paleari, Cella, Galimberti, Bossola, Giiumanini, Boselli, Ronchetti, Ventura, Sala II, Raina, Ziliani I, Ziliani II, Avogadri, Sala III and Antonini.
After spending much of the club's early life in the regional leagues, they entered into Serie C
for the 1935–36 season, coming close to gaining promotion into Serie B
during 1938 but lost out to Fanfulla
.
in 1948. During 1952 for the second time the club was close to promotion but lost out again, this time to Cagliari
.
The club were punished for illicit sportsmanship in 1956 and were relegated to Serie D
. This proved to be quite a heavy blow for the club as they would continue to yo-yo between Serie C and D until 1964. Piacenza finally returned to Serie B
in 1969, under coach Tino Molina and president Vincenzo Romagnoli.
, 1975–76
and 1987–88
to 1988–89.
The 1993 side contained players such as midfielder Daniele Moretti, winger Francesco Turrini
and forward Giampietro Piovani
. They spent 1993–94 holding their own in mid-table and were on the fringes of a place in the UEFA Cup, but were unfortunate to be relegated on the final day. The club wisely chose to retain Cagni and most of his squad, and they would achieve promotion as Serie B champions in 1995.
The following five years saw the club win many supporters with its all-Italian lineup and successful battles against relegation. In 1997 the club acquired legendary hard man defender Pietro Vierchowod
. Despite his advancing years, Vierchowod proved an outstanding purchase, more than holding his own in defence and even scoring decisive goals in the relegation battle. Relegation in 2000 was followed by an instant return to Serie A for two years with outstanding form shown by players like midfielder Enzo Maresca
.
The club has since remained in Serie B without threatening to mount a promotion challenge. On the final day of the 2006–07 Serie B season, the team needed a victory to force a Serie B promotion playoff, but were held to a draw, and thus the top 3 gained automatic promotion.
which they lost due to Albinoleffe's higher league position. Barring any teams going out of business, they will be playing in the 2011-12 Lega Pro Prima Divisione.
Serie B
Serie C
Seconda Divisione
Emilian
Championship:
(*) Finished equal first position but lost play-off game to A.C. Fanfulla 1874
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 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...
. The club was formed in 1919 and currently plays in Italian Lega Pro Prima Divisione B. The team's colors are red and white, prompting one of the team's nicknames, the Biancorossi. They are also known as the Papaveri (Poppies), and the Lupi (Wolves).
The club won the Anglo-Italian Cup
Anglo-Italian Cup
The Anglo-Italian Cup is a defunct European football competition that was played intermittently between 1970 and 1996 between clubs from England and Italy. Founded by Gigi Peronace in 1970, following the success of the Anglo-Italian League Cup, it was played as a professional tournament until 1973...
in 1986. The highest they have ever finished in their home league is 12th in 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...
, which they have achieved twice in 1997/1998 and 2001/2002. They spent much of their history in the lower divisions, suffering relegation in four of their first six Serie B seasons. They first reaching Serie A in the early nineties, and have been relegated to Lega Pro Prima Divisione.
Piacenza has been known in the past for its strong reluctance to use foreign players, using a team made up exclusively of Italians for most of its Serie A seasons; at present however there are some foreign players, generally European
European ethnic groups
The ethnic groups in Europe are the various ethnic groups that reside in the nations of Europe. European ethnology is the field of anthropology focusing on Europe....
.
History
From the late 19th century football had begun gain popularity in PiacenzaPiacenza
Piacenza is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy. It is the capital of the province of Piacenza...
and was introduced into the college system along with cycling, gymnastics, archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
and other sports. The spark that helped ignite football in the city was a student tournament in 1908. The football competition was played out between teams from various cities, and the team from Collegio Morigi from Piacenza were the victors.
The early football played in the city was limited to "friendlies" until Piacenza Calcio was founded in 1919 with the first club president as Giovanni Dosi. Dosi was an ambitious manager, taking control of every social
Social
The term social refers to a characteristic of living organisms...
, technical
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
and administrative aspect of the club, with the sole focus at bringing the club into the national championship under the FIGC.
In their first season, the club played 12 games. Their opponents included; Parma
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
, Reggiana
A.C. Reggiana 1919
Associazione Calcio Reggiana 1919 is an Italian association football club, based in Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna. The club was founded in 1919 as A.C. Reggiana and refounded in July 2005 as Reggio Emilia F.C., but it was renamed A.C. Reggiana 1919 soon after the start of the 2005–06 season. The...
, Spal, and prominent local side Bologna
Bologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
. The season was a great start for Piacenza, who only lost one game (1–0 to Bologna) gaining promotion to Prima Categoria
Prima Categoria
Prima Categoria is the name of a level of football in Italy. It is considered to be the eighth level in the Italian football league system and is organized by the National Amateur League by the Regional Committees. Each individual league winner within the Prima Categoria level progresses to their...
. The first championship winning squad included the players Fontana, Armani, Meani, Sala I, Marelli, Paleari, Cella, Galimberti, Bossola, Giiumanini, Boselli, Ronchetti, Ventura, Sala II, Raina, Ziliani I, Ziliani II, Avogadri, Sala III and Antonini.
After spending much of the club's early life in the regional leagues, they entered into Serie C
Serie C
The Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico , commonly known as Lega Pro , is the governing body that runs the third and fourth highest football divisions in Italy, the Prima Divisione and Seconda Divisione respectively. It also includes the sole professional club of San Marino...
for the 1935–36 season, coming close to gaining promotion into 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...
during 1938 but lost out to Fanfulla
A.C. Fanfulla 1874
Associazione Calcio Fanfulla 1874 is an Italian association football club located in Lodi, Lombardy. The club name comes after Bartolomeo Fanfulla from Lodi, an Italian knight who took part to the challenge of Barletta in 1503....
.
Post-World War
After World War II, Piacenza competed in Serie B for the first time, competing there for two seasons before falling back down to Serie CSerie C
The Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico , commonly known as Lega Pro , is the governing body that runs the third and fourth highest football divisions in Italy, the Prima Divisione and Seconda Divisione respectively. It also includes the sole professional club of San Marino...
in 1948. During 1952 for the second time the club was close to promotion but lost out again, this time to Cagliari
Cagliari Calcio
Cagliari Calcio is an Italian football club based in Cagliari, Sardinia. The club was formed in 1920 and currently plays in Italian Serie A, having spent a large part of recent years mainly in Serie A and Serie B....
.
The club were punished for illicit sportsmanship in 1956 and were relegated to Serie D
Serie D
Serie 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...
. This proved to be quite a heavy blow for the club as they would continue to yo-yo between Serie C and D until 1964. Piacenza finally returned to 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 1969, under coach Tino Molina and president Vincenzo Romagnoli.
1970s and 1980s
Piacenza's history until recent times was mostly undistinguished, with brief spells in Serie B in the 1940s and further spells in 1969–70Serie B 1969-70
This article contains information on the 1969-1970 season of Serie B, the second highest football league in Italy.-Final classification:-Results:-References and sources:...
, 1975–76
Serie B 1975-76
This article contains information on the 1975-1976 season of Serie B, the second highest football league in Italy.-Final classification:-Results:-References and sources:...
and 1987–88
Serie B 1987-88
This article contains information on the 1987-1988 season of Serie B, the second highest football league in Italy.-Final classification:-Results:-References and sources:...
to 1988–89.
Between Serie A and Serie B
Promotion in 1991 saw a rise in the side's fortunes under coach Gigi Cagni with the club promoted to Serie A for the first time in 1993.The 1993 side contained players such as midfielder Daniele Moretti, winger Francesco Turrini
Francesco Turrini
Francesco Turrini is an Italian footballer who played as a right winger.After a career entirely in Serie B with Sambenedettese, Parma, Como and Taranto before moving to Piacenza in 1992...
and forward Giampietro Piovani
Giampietro Piovani
Gianpietro Piovani is an Italian retired footballer and manager of Darfo Boario. He played as a midfielder.His first achievements in football took place 1985/86 in Brescia, where he played in the Serie B aged only 17....
. They spent 1993–94 holding their own in mid-table and were on the fringes of a place in the UEFA Cup, but were unfortunate to be relegated on the final day. The club wisely chose to retain Cagni and most of his squad, and they would achieve promotion as Serie B champions in 1995.
The following five years saw the club win many supporters with its all-Italian lineup and successful battles against relegation. In 1997 the club acquired legendary hard man defender Pietro Vierchowod
Pietro Vierchowod
Pietro Vierchowod is an Italian former footballer turned coach.Vierchowod was nicknamed the zar because he was the son of a Ukrainian Red Army soldier. Vierchowod was a man-marker ....
. Despite his advancing years, Vierchowod proved an outstanding purchase, more than holding his own in defence and even scoring decisive goals in the relegation battle. Relegation in 2000 was followed by an instant return to Serie A for two years with outstanding form shown by players like midfielder Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca is an Italian footballer, who currently plays for Málaga CF in Spanish La Liga.-Youth career:Maresca started playing youth football at A.C. Milan, before joining Cagliari...
.
The club has since remained in Serie B without threatening to mount a promotion challenge. On the final day of the 2006–07 Serie B season, the team needed a victory to force a Serie B promotion playoff, but were held to a draw, and thus the top 3 gained automatic promotion.
2010-11: Relegation to Prima Divisione
However following a poor 2010-11 Serie B season, Piacenza found themselves in a relegation playoff against AlbinoleffeU.C. AlbinoLeffe
Unione Calcio AlbinoLeffe is an Italian association football club based in Leffe and also representing the town of Albino, in the Province of Bergamo, Lombardy. AlbinoLeffe plays its home games at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia stadium, in the city of Bergamo, and its official colors are dark blue and...
which they lost due to Albinoleffe's higher league position. Barring any teams going out of business, they will be playing in the 2011-12 Lega Pro Prima Divisione.
Current squad
As of 31 August, 2011Famous players
Davide Baiocco Davide Baiocco Davide Baiocco is an Italian association football midfielder, who currently plays for U.S. Siracusa.A product of the Perugia youth system, he transferred to Juventus in January 2002 for 7.2 million euros, in a swap with Fabian O'Neill went to Perugia. He arrived at summer 2002... Sandro Cois Sandro Cois Sandro Cois is a retired Italian football player. He has enjoyed a long career playing primarily as a defensive midfielder.He played for several clubs, including Torino and Piacenza... Eusebio Di Francesco Eusebio Di Francesco Eusebio Di Francesco is a former professional Italian footballer, and now a football manager, currently managing U.S. Lecce.-Playing career:... Alberto Gilardino Alberto Gilardino Alberto Gilardino, Ufficiale OMRI is an Italian World Cup-winning footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Fiorentina and the Italian national team.... 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... Filippo Inzaghi Filippo Inzaghi Filippo Inzaghi, Ufficiale OMRI commonly known as Pippo, is a World Cup and UEFA Champions League-winning Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Milan.... Simone Inzaghi Simone Inzaghi Simone Inzaghi is a retired Italian professional footballer who played as a striker.During his professional career, he played for a host of clubs, namely Lazio, where he remained for more than one decade, being used irregularly.... Marco Marchionni Marco Marchionni Marco Marchionni is an Italian footballer who plays as a right winger for Serie A club Fiorentina.-Football career:He began his professional career with Empoli F.C. in 1998, joined form CND team Monterotondo, only to leave the team for Parma in 2001... Dario Marcolin Dario Marcolin Dario Marcolin is an Italian football coach and former player.-Club career:During his career, Marcolin played for Cremonese, Lazio, Cagliari, Genoa, Blackburn Rovers , Sampdoria, Napoli, Piacenza, and A.C... Enzo Maresca Enzo Maresca Enzo Maresca is an Italian footballer, who currently plays for Málaga CF in Spanish La Liga.-Youth career:Maresca started playing youth football at A.C. Milan, before joining Cagliari... |
Antonio Nocerino Antonio Nocerino Antonio Nocerino is an Italian footballer who plays as a midfielder for Serie A club Milan and the Italian national team.-Juventus and early career:... Simone Pepe Simone Pepe Simone Pepe is an Italian footballer who plays as a right winger for Serie A club Juventus. He is known for his high versatility and can play on either side of the pitch and even as a right fullback-Club career:... Flavio Roma Flavio Roma Flavio Roma is an Italian footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Serie A club Milan.-Club career:Roma started his career in the youth teams of S.S. Lazio. He was the 3rd goalkeeper behind Luca Marchegiani and Fernando Orsi before leaving the club to play for clubs in Serie B and Serie C1... Giuseppe Signori Giuseppe Signori Giuseppe "Beppe" Signori is a retired Italian football striker, one of the top scorers in Serie A history and widely regarded as one of the best football players to have never received a winners medal in competitive football. He was a fast, left footed striker who was prolific goalscorer... Francesco Statuto Francesco Statuto Francesco Statuto is an Italian former football player, being among the top midfielders for AS Roma during the 1990s.... Giovanni Stroppa Giovanni Stroppa Giovanni Stroppa is an Italian former football midfielder turned manager. He is currently in charge as head coach of Südtirol-Alto Adige.-Playing career :... Massimo Taibi Massimo Taibi Massimo Taibi is a retired Italian football goalkeeper, who played for several clubs, mostly in Italy's Serie A, B, and C1.-Italy:... Pietro Vierchowod Pietro Vierchowod Pietro Vierchowod is an Italian former footballer turned coach.Vierchowod was nicknamed the zar because he was the son of a Ukrainian Red Army soldier. Vierchowod was a man-marker .... Sergio Volpi Sergio Volpi Sergio Volpi is a former Italian footballer. Volpi capped twice for Italy and had spent over 10 seasons at Serie A.-Career:... Hugo Campagnaro Hugo Campagnaro Hugo Armando Campagnaro is an Argentine football defender with Italian origins who currently plays for Serie A club Napoli.-Career:He started his career at Club Deportivo Morón, played in Argentine second and third division... |
Sergei Gurenko Sergei Gurenko Sergei Gurenko or Syarhey Hurenka is a retired Belarusian football player and currently works as Head Coach for FC Torpedo Zhodino.-Clubs:... Francelino Matuzalem Francelino Matuzalem Francelino Matuzalém da Silva, commonly known as just Matuzalém , is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays in the Italian Serie A for Lazio. He is a midfielder known for his passing and technique... Amauri  Houssine KharjaHoussine Kharja Houssine Kharja is a France born, Moroccan footballer who plays for Serie A club Fiorentina. He is tall and weighs .- Career :... Bogdan Pătraşcu Bogdan Patrascu Bogdan Aurelian Pătraşcu is a Romanian football player who currently plays for Dinamo Bucureşti. He started his career at Sportul Studenţesc, from where he was transferred to the Bulgarian club Litex Lovech in 2000. In 2002, he arrived in Italy, at Piacenza where he spent most of his career... Leonardo Martín Migliónico Leonardo Martín Migliónico Leonardo Martín Migliónico is a Uruguayan football defender. He plays for Livorno.He previous club include JJ Urquiza and Estudiantes ....  Massimo MargiottaMassimo Margiotta Massimo Margiotta is an Italian-Venezuelan footballer who plays for Barletta.-Career:Margiotta was signed by Vicenza in co-ownership deal with Udinese in mid 2001. In August 2003 he was loaned to Perugia but returned to January 2004. In August 2005 he left for Piacenza... |
Honours
Anglo-Italian CupAnglo-Italian Cup
The Anglo-Italian Cup is a defunct European football competition that was played intermittently between 1970 and 1996 between clubs from England and Italy. Founded by Gigi Peronace in 1970, following the success of the Anglo-Italian League Cup, it was played as a professional tournament until 1973...
- Winners: 1986
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...
- Champions: 1994/95Serie B 1994-95This article contains information on the 1994-1995 season of Serie B, the second highest football league in Italy.-Final classification:-Results:...
- Runners-up: 2000/01Serie B 2000-01This article contains information on the 2000-2001 season of Serie B, the second highest football league in Italy.-Final classification:-Results:...
- Promoted: 1992/93Serie B 1992-93This article contains information on the 1992-1993 season of Serie B, the second highest football league in Italy.-Final classification:-Results:...
Serie C
Serie C
The Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico , commonly known as Lega Pro , is the governing body that runs the third and fourth highest football divisions in Italy, the Prima Divisione and Seconda Divisione respectively. It also includes the sole professional club of San Marino...
- Champions: 1986/87, 1990/91
- Runners-up: 1936/37Serie C 1936-37-Legend:-Girone A:-Girone B:-Girone C:-Girone D:-Girone E:...
, 1937/38Serie C 1937-38-Legend:-Girone A:-Girone B:-Girone C:-Girone D:-Girone E:...
(*)
Seconda Divisione
Seconda Categoria
Seconda Categoria is the actual name of a level of football in Italy. It is considered to be the 9th level in the Italian football league system. Each individual league winner within the Seconda Categoria level progresses to their closest regional league in the Prima Categoria level...
- Promoted: 1927/28
- Group runners-up: 1922/23, 1924/25
Emilian
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
Championship:
- Champions: 1919/20
(*) Finished equal first position but lost play-off game to A.C. Fanfulla 1874
A.C. Fanfulla 1874
Associazione Calcio Fanfulla 1874 is an Italian association football club located in Lodi, Lombardy. The club name comes after Bartolomeo Fanfulla from Lodi, an Italian knight who took part to the challenge of Barletta in 1503....