thegentlemanultra

[thegentlemanultra]

The Gentleman Ultras alternative guide to the teams of Serie A: Sassuolo

The Stadium

Name: MAPEI Stadium - Città del Tricolore

Capacity 21,584

Location Reggio-Emilia

The Mapei Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Reggio-Emilia, Italy. The stadium was built in 1995 and has capacity of 21,584 It was christened “Stadio Città Del Tricolore “but in March 2012 it was renamed the Mapei Stadium due to sponsorship purposes. 

Sassuolo’s owner at the time Giorgio Squinzi decided to purchase the stadium in 2013 making them along with Juventus, the only top flight clubs to own their home ground. It is true that the stadium is also home to Reggiana, but they rent the space from Sassuolo as do Zebre of Parma (a local Rugby Union side.) The ground can also boast to be the largest sporting facility in the region which is a huge achievement for a club of Sassuolo’s size.

When the Neroverdi were promoted back to Serie A in the 2013/14 season the champions of Serie B they promptly upgraded the facilities. These were all small but essential changes such as new scoreboards, fresh turf for the pitch and the seating.

The stadium is similar in structure to the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa. It has an ‘English’ feel to it, in that the four strands are close to the pitch. There is no athletics track around the pitch as is seen in many mid to lower Italian ground and the atmosphere can be felt, especially when Sassuolo play the big teams.  The Neroverdi can also boast being the first team to have ownership of stadium and facilities and could be labelled revolutionary in Italian Football. Juventus may have achieved this also but they were the second to do so. The reason the Turin giants get the credit of being number one, to because their facilities are custom designed for them.

Revolutionary is an apt word for the club as the stadium is not the only thing that has a continental feel to it. They offer a varied and levels of tickets including standard tickets, they have places in the Curva and also they have 32 executive boxes which really are breaking the mode for an Italian club, especially at this level.  The match day experience is something that needs improving in on the Peninsula and doing this whilst keeping the Ultras is something Sassuolo do well. Their Bundesliga model allows everyone to customise their own match day experience and despite the ground not being in Sassuolo.

Attendances keep at a steady flow in comparison to the rest of the clubs in Italy. The whole feeling of being at a game at Sassuolo leaves many left with the notion of what it is to be a modern fan.  It even keeps them coming back, despite them being a small club punching way above their weight. The success of the team on the pitch and the atmosphere around the ground and the financial model is truly exemplary and should be noted throughout Italian football.

THE ULTRAS

A Guide to the Ultras of Serie A: Sassuolo

City: Sassuolo

Key Ultra Groups: Clan Curva Nord Sassuolo

Other Ultra Groups:  Sasol, Ultras Saxolum 1988, Alkatraz, Gruppo 1922, Head Out, Eagles, Gli Antenati

Unlike many of the teams and regions documented in this series, Sassuolo is something of an unknown quantity. Located in Emiglia Romagna, Sassuolo lies southwest of its more distinguished and super-car manufacturing neighbour, Modena. It’s not a destination that sits high on the priority list of the average tourist. That is unless you happen to belong to the coterie of Calcio aficionados. Then you may feel a trip to this remote industrial town is worth its weight in gold, or more pertinently ceramics. For while Sassuolo is renowned for being at the nexus of Italy’s tile industry, more recently the town has been slapped firmly on the footballing map thanks to the seemingly inexorable rise of US Sassuolo Calcio.

Sassuolo have one of, if not the, lowest followings in Serie A. Speaking to Silvia and Giulio, two season ticket holders who have followed Sassuolo home and away for the last two years, they were quick to acknowledge the clubs modest history.“Sassuolo don’t have a prestigious footballing tradition. It was only after Giorgio Squinzi bought the club and Sassuolo began to climb up the leagues that the people became passionate.”

Their story is similar to that of Chievo’s, a footballing parvenu whose extraordinary rise to prominence has left supporters incredulous. The Sassolesi are minnows in the landscape of Italy’s Ultras. They don’t have strength in numbers. Nor are they renowned for their braggart choreographies or tumultuous atmospheres. But whether it is home or away, in Modena or Reggio Calabria, a small contingent is always present to support the Neroverdi (Black and Greens).  

Their paucity in numbers is unsurprising. Sassuolo is the smallest town to boast a team in Serie A, with a population of around 41,000. The club have spent much of their history toiling in the doldrums of the amateur leagues. A slab of brick plastered firmly at the base of the Calcio pyramid. The more established teams in the region (Bologna, Modena and Reggiana) have traditionally attracted the support of the town’s football fanatics.

However, with the Neroverdi enjoying a period of footballing transcendence, their organised support has – to a much smaller extent – enjoyed its own renaissance. Thus, the story of the Neroverdi’s Ultras can be told through the looking glass of the clubs rise.  Unbeknown to many, during Sassuolo’s fledgling years an English club called Lancaster Rovers FC left an indelible mark on their identity. During their tour of Italy in 1921, Lancaster was unable to fulfil a fixture commitment and as a means of apology, donated their black and green kit to the Italians. The strip was adopted and the colours promptly embraced, earning Sassuolo their nickname – I Neroverdi.

After years of anonymity, in 1974 Sassuolo’s fortunes began to turn after they merged with the cities other football club, Giofil San Giorgio. Ten years later the Neroverdi earned a much awaited promotion to Serie C2. It was the first time the town had a team competing in a professional league. This success on the field inspired movement off it. The ‘Ultras Saxolum 1988’ established themselves as a clique of fanatics whose Campanilismo (local pride and identity) was their raison d’etre.

Their name reveals all.  The town’s title, Sassuolo, is thought to have derived from the word ‘Saxolum’, the etymology of which is said to stem from the Latin words ‘Saxum’ (large stone) and ‘Solum’ (soil or location). It is thought that Sassuolo was once a military fortification housing a legion during Roman epoch and thus the denomination celebrates the town’s ancient origins. It’s worth speculating whether this association with ancient Rome may also be in keeping with their alleged sympathy towards the far-right. Symbols from the Roman Empire are often embraced by the neo-fascist Ultras of AS Roma and the correlate between right-wing political ideology and ancient Rome has been discussed earlier in this series.

For the majority of the late 1980’s and 1990’s the Neroverdi oscillated between Serie C2 and Serie D. Despite a period of relative stagnation on the field, their Ultra movement continued to evolve. New groups appeared, most notably Gioventù and Alkatraz. In 2002, Giorgio Squinzi – owner of the multinational MAPEI company – sponsored the club and a year later he acquired ownership. This proved to be the harbinger of a new era and Sassuolo’s subsequent success has beggared belief.

However, while Squinzi set about developing a concrete club structure which was the precursor for Sassuolo’s climb up the professional ladder, support for the team became desultory. In 2003, the emergence of ‘Head Out’ helped reinvigorate the atmosphere at the Stadio Enzo Ricci. The stadiums tiny capacity meant there were no curve and thus the Ultras positioned themselves in the tribuna (the side stand). Despite rarely filling 4,000 seats, their homebecame something of a fortress and during their promotions to Serie C1 in 2006 and Serie B in 2008, the Neroverdi lost just three home games in each season.

Success didn’t come without its problems, both for the club and their supporters. They were forced to relocate to Modena’s Stadio Alberto Braglia due to the size of the Ricci. The Ricci was used for training while the supporters faced the prospect of a 12 mile trip to watch home games. Having struggled to fill a venue of 4,000, the Sassolesi barely filled a corner of Modena’s 20,000-seat arena. Every home game was a reminder of Sassuolo’s size but also one that emphasised just how far the club had come.

Under the tenure of coach Eusebio di Francesco, the Emilians scaled the mountain top in 2013, winning the Serie B title. 15,157 watched the Neroverdi secure their historic promotion to Serie A with a 1-0 over Livorno, Simone Missiroli’s last gasp strike sparking scenes of jubilation as the Sassolesi flooded the pitch to celebrate with their heroes.

That said, their new venture in Serie A did not alleviate their stadium woes. Sassuolo’s home changed once again, this time to the Stadio Citta del Tricolore, the home of Lega Pro side Reggiana. In December, 2013, Squinzi bought the stadium and renamed it after his company – Stadium Mapei. It was a deal that angered the Ultras of Sassuolo’s Curva Nord.

“How many times have we reaffirmed our sense of belonging and love for our city, and how important it is not to constantly feel like guests; but unfortunately economic interests have prevailed over the passion and attachment to our colours… One more time, we do not belong in this stadium.”

Later that month, for the first 15 minutes of Sassuolo’s game against Chievo, 500 Reggiana supporters sat with the Sassolesi in the Curva Nord expressing their indignation. “Per Squinzi: Un Affare Perfetto, Per Sassuolo: Nessun Rispetto” ‘For Squinzi: a perfect deal, for

Sassuolo: no respect’ one banner proclaimed while another read ‘Never at home’. The supporters chagrin has yet to be ameliorated however the team’s performances on the pitch have provided a welcome distraction.

Sassuolo are now thriving in Serie A. Unsurprisingly the clubs achievements have seen the Ultras ranks swell. A group named Clan Curva Nord, formerly Saxolum proclaim to be Sassuolo’s only ‘real’ ultras. They are joined by two supporter groups known as Sasol and gli Antenati. They ensure the Mapei Stadium is not without atmosphere and spectacle, indulging in the customary flag waving and relentless chanting. 

That said the movement remains small and their following away from home modest, especially given that the Clan Curva Nord refuse to accept the controversial Tessera del Tifoso (supports ID card), thus making them unable to attend away games. According to Silvia and Giulio, around 100 supporters usually follow the team on the road.

With success comes envy. Sassuolo’s following is often taunted regarding their allegiance to other clubs, especially before the Neroverdi reached Serie A. These disparaging attitudes are exemplified in the following statement made by a Parma supporter.“They are Juventus fans who used to support Modena during the two years the latter competed in Serie A. They returned to Juve and now they support Sassuolo. That is apart from when they play against Juve and then they revert back to being Juventini.” Ultras or not, Sassuolo’s supporters can remind the naysayers that at this point in time they sit highest placed of all the clubs in Emilia Romagna. In a city where the fires traditionally burn in kilns, Sassuolo have ignited a footballing passion. The Neroverdi are re-shuffling Italian football’s hierarchy but as Silvia affirmed, the supporters will never forget the clubs humble beginnings.

“Being a supporter or player of Sassuolo is different to that of other clubs in Italy. Sassuolo is pride, simply, Sassuolo is our colours. The result is not important, we want players who fight for our shirt and who give their hearts. Here, in contrast to the rest of Italy, we enjoy a friendly and personal relationship with our players.”

With thanks to season ticket holders, Silvia Mezzadri and Giulio Mucci, for their knowledge and expertise. In the two years they have been following Sassuolo home and away they have missed just one match! Grazie e in bocca al lupo per il campionato.

CLASSIC PLAYER: Francesco Magnanelli

Francesco Magnanelli may not be a house hold name in Italian football, he may not sell newspapers but he is loved by the fans of Sassuolo. Their short history does not give them many star names and it does not leave them speaking over late night glasses of wine, about that great player in 1934, who was part od Vittorio Pozzo’s World Cup winning squad. Sassuolo have no Paolo Maldini, they have no Giuseppe Meazza they have no Dino Zoff and they have never had a Deigo Maradona.

Maganelli is their Captian however and he has played 308 times for the club and has scored five times. He is a hard working midfielder who embodies what Sassuolo are as a team, he is talented, purposeful and certainly not pretentious, there are better players and he punches above his weight but his endevour and humility make him likeable. At only 30 he has still time to go before he retires, especially as he doesn’t rely on pace and after being with the club since 2005 it is unlikely we will see him anywhere esle in the future.

Francesco grew up in Gubbio and also started his carrer there at 16. In Serie C2 in 2001/02 he played 14 games and held a lot of promise. The scouts swarmed in and he was watched by the likes of Torino and Chievo.

Picked up by ‘The Flying Donkeys’ in 2002 for 50,000 Euros he spent a season failing to make the first team. A move to Fiorentina in 2003/04 saw him once again fail to make the grade and he did not play a single game. In 2004 he moved to Sangiovannese in Serie C1 and played only seven games between the time of his move and the end of the season.

It was in these seven games that scouts from Sassuolo found him and picked him up promising that he would start in their then Serie C2 outfit. It was a long way from where he has started but Francesco took up the challenge with the want of just playing football. The promising midfielder once eyed by Torino was now quite literally ‘Maganelli who?” but it was a tag he did not mind.

He made 26 league appearances in his first season in Serie C2 impressing along the way with his mixture of key passes, through balls, interceptions, tough tacking and his ability to throw himself in front of the ball to block shots. His will to in was exceptional even if he lost his head and his discipline once in a while.

Sassuolo won promotion and the season after in Serie C1 he played another 26 games and got his first goal. He was now the focal point of the team and was creating the image of Sassuolo through his play which was style through industry. Soon the Neroverdi were in Serie B and he was now establishing himself as an anchoring midfielder who was able to mix with a much better calibre of player. Under the guidance of Andrea Mandorlini, Stefano Poli and then Daniele Arrigoni he improved his game even more and in 2011 even scored in Serie B in the Derby against Modena. Now he was becoming a legend and he soon extended his contract when Fulvio Pea came in as coach.

On May the 18th 2013 he and his team lead by Eusebio Di Francesco won promotion to Serie A as champions of Serie B. At the ripe old age of only 28 he debuted in Serie against the team that once wanted him, Torino. They may have lost 2-0 but now as Captain Maganelli is leading his team against the great and the good of Serie A and what’s more, they are winning. He may not be Javier Zanetti or Raimundo Orsi but to Sassuolo he is more than that. He isn’t one of a list of greats, he is the great and for that, they will be eternally grateful.

By Richard Hall @Gentleman_Ultra

& Luca Hodges-Ramon @LH_Ramon 25

[thegentlemanultra]

Where are the members of Italia 90 now? Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti represented his country 26 times during his illustrious career but only figured in three games of Italia ‘90’. After starting Italy’s opener against Austria, the former AC Milan man didn’t appear again until the Azzurri’s quarter-final against Ireland coming on as a substitute. He made his final appearance in the third place play-off game against England however despite making relatively little impact during Italia 90, Ancelotti’s career both as a footballer and later as a coach has been nothing short of spectacular. 

The man nicknamed ‘Carletto’ was born in Reggio Emilia in 1959. Today he is renowned as one of the best coaches in the world however he also enjoyed an extremely successful playing career. He racked up over 300 appearances for three different clubs, scoring 35 goals over a 16 year period. He started his playing career at Parma in 1976 before making a move to Roma three years later. It was in the capital that he established himself as one of Italy’s best midfielders, making over 171 appearances for the Giallorossi as well as winning the Scudetto and four Italian Cups.

However his most glorious years came at AC Milan. Famous for featuring in the great Rossoneri side of the late 1980s, he played alongside such players as Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten and Roberto Donadoni, winning the European Cup twice in1989 and 1990.

Following retirement in 1992 Ancelotti took some time out at Coverciano, the technical headquarters of the Italian Football Association (FIGC) based in Florence.  Whilst he learnt the coaching trade he penned a research article entitled “Il Futuro del Calcio : Piu Dinamicita” (The Future of Football : More Dynamism). With that he took his first managerial role with Reggiana in 1995, overseeing a promotion to Serie A before moving onto Parma in 1996.

It was with the Gialloblu that Carletto began to wave his magic wand. During his time in Emilia Romagna he led Parma to a second place finish and a return to European football.  Steady progress domestically and in Europe increased Ancelotti's growing reputation and in 1999, he was chosen as the man to replace Marcello Lippi at Juventus.  He spent two years as Juve head coach guiding them to second place finishes in Serie A two years running.

In 2001, he was appointed coach of AC Milan and led the club to the Scudetto (in 2004) and two UEFA Champions League titles (in 2003 and 2007). It was at the Diavolo that Ancelotti also experienced one of the most traumatic days in his coaching career - the 2005 Champions League final against Liverpool. Champions League glory slipped away from Ancelotti and his side in dramatic fashion in one of the most memorable finals in recent memory. The Rossoneri uncharacteristically squandered a 3-0 lead in the second-half as Liverpool went onto to lift the trophy prevailing in a penalty shootout.

Ancelotti stayed with Milan until 2009 when he resigned to move to England and became manager of Chelsea. In his first season in London he secured a historic domestic double winning the Premier League and the FA Cup. It was the first in Chelsea's history.

The following year he guided Chelsea to a second place finish but was sacked hours after the final game of the season.  He wasn't out of the game for long as six months later he was appointed manager of Paris St Germain. He guided the Paris giants to a second place finish during his debut season and won the league the season after.

His impressive CV soon opened the door to one of football’s most glamourous yet toughest jobs. In the summer of 2013, Carletto realised a dream as Real Madrid came calling. He immediately looked to impose his style on the Galacticos, signing Spanish youngsters Isco and Asier Illarramendi. Madrid also signed Gareth Bale for a world record fee of 105m euros. In his first season in charge he won the Copa del Rey and more importantly guided Los Blancos to the coveted ‘Decima’, a tenth Champions League title.

Ancelotti is highly respected as a manager and has been very successful at some of Europe’s biggest clubs. However he acknowledges that the transition from playing to coaching is extremely difficult and is thankful for his time at Coverciano which allowed him to develop as a coach. 

 “Don’t think your experience as a player is enough to be a manager. It is enough to have a relationship with the players and to understand the player and what they need, but for the other parts you have to learn and you have to study.”

“The stage that I had in Italy doing my coaching licence was really good – to learn about physical preparation, to learn about tactics.

He also revealed that former Milan coach, Arrigo Sacchi, had a huge influence on his coaching style.

"The last year that I played at AC Milan I had the opportunity to become the assistant manager of Arrigo Sacchi for the national team. I could have continued to play but I preferred to stop because I thought the experience with Sacchi would be really good for me. I was with Sacchi for three years and that period was really important for my growth as a manager.”

Ancelotti’s man management skills have helped him mould and unite squads that have a plethora of individual talents and characters. It’s one of the attributes that has set him apart as one of the greatest coaches in world football

 “As a manager you must know the characteristics of the players and build a system where the players are comfortable. I cannot think that Ronaldo has to work in the same way as Angel di Maria or Luka Modric or Sergio Ramos – they have different characteristics.”

Understanding different personalities is a core principle in the Italian’s coaching methodology and Ancelotti believes that developing this understanding is a result of spending time on the training pitch, speaking and engaging with the players as individuals.

“My style is to give the players the best opportunity to be comfortable. That doesn’t mean I don’t like discipline and rules. I like the rules, the discipline and the professionalism but I also like to have a relationship with the players.”

While his experience at Italia 90 was far from the most memorable moment in Ancelotti’s career, it was his time as a player which has helped him become the coach he is today. This is a man that thought beyond his remit as a football player, observing and learning from the coaches he played under. No doubt some of the players he has coached will be inspired to adopt Ancelotti’s coaching philosophy in the future.

Ian Such

@insearchofluca

[thegentlemanultra]

When Parma Conquered Europe……Twice

1994/95

The Season of 1994/95 was arguably Parma’s most successful in the clubs history, finishing an impressive 3rd place in Serie A and reaching the Coppa Italia final, only to lose to Juventus. However it was in Europe that the Gialloblu really made an impact. It started back in September 1994, when Parma begun their UEFA Cup campaign, trying to reach their third European final in as many years.

This was back in the day of straight knock-out football, no league tables or teams dropping out from the Champions League. Parma were handed a first round draw against Dutch side Vitesse. After losing 1-0 in the first-leg, Nevio Scala’s men were facing elimination at the first hurdle however a 2-0 home victory saw them scrape through. As the competition went on Parma began to build momentum, comfortably seeing off AIK Solna and Athletic Club before disposing of Real Madrid’s surprise conquerors Odense BK. In the semi-final, Parma made short work of German outfit, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, coasting into the final after seeing off Leverkusen 5-1 on aggregate.

Awaiting Parma in the final were Marcello Lippi’s Italian Champions Juventus. The Juventus-Parma rivalry was in its early days but quickly intensifying. Domestically the two clubs competed in the final of the Coppa Italia and went head to head in the Scudetto race. It was a two legged final, the first being played at Parma’s Stadio Ennio Tardini. Lippi’s Juventus were hot favorites however they were left stunned when Dino Baggio gave Parma an early lead, a lead the home team would hold on to for the rest of the game to give the Ducali a slender advantage ahead of the return leg.

Two weeks later the sides met again, this time at Milan’s San Siro stadium. Gianluca Vialli got the Bianconeri back on level terms with a first half strike. All was going to the plan for Lippi’s men who were still expected to turn the first-leg deficit around and add to their trophy haul.  But the Gialloblu were having none of it as Dino Baggio popped up again early in the second half giving his side a 2-1 lead over the two legs. Parma desperately held on as their fans descended into delirium at the final whistle. It was the first time the Emilia Romagna outfit would lift the UEFA Cup, adding it to their UEFA Cup Winners Cup they had won two years earlier.

 1998/99

The Parma of the 1998/99 season was the team most of us remember with great fondness. A star studded line up sporting their iconic yellow and blue hooped jerseys, competing for titles at all levels. They were at the height of their powers, led by Alberto Malesani , and bank rolled by Parmalat chief Calisto Tanzi. Under the billionaire’s tenure, Parma would lift two trophies during the 1998/00 season and finish an impressive 4th in Serie A, thus qualifying for the Champions League. The Crociati continued their love affair with the Coppa Italia, defeating Fiorentina in the final but it was on the European front that Malesani’s men made the greatest impression.

Parma couldn’t have been handed a tougher task in their first round UEFA Cup tie, having been drawn against Turkish side Fenerbache. The Gialloblu squeezed through, overturning a 1-0 first-leg deficit with a 3-1 win in Italy. Wisla Krakow and Glasgow Rangers were both negotiated in the next couple of rounds and by the quarter-finals, Parma were making head turns after they demolished Bordeaux 7-2 on aggregate with an impressive 6-0 victory at the Tardini. All that stood in their way from another UEFA Cup final were Spanish giants Atletico Madrid. But the Ducali made short work of the Colchoneros, brushing them aside with an impressive 3-1 victory at the Vicente Calderon before finishing the job off with a 2-1 win at home.

Unlike Parma’s last UEFA Cup triumph in 1995, the final in 1999 was a one legged affair on a neutral ground. Malesani’s men travelled to the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow in confident mood. Boasting one of the most feared strike partnerships in Europe in Hernan Crespo and Enrico Chiesa Parma weren’t bad in defence either, being able to call upon Fabio Cannavaro and Lilian Thuram, not to mention Italy number one Gianluigi Buffon. Parma had every right to go into this final buoyant. Awaiting the Italians in the final were French League 1 runners up Marseille who had a fair bit of talent at their disposal too, Robert Pires and Laurent Blanc being two stellar names in particular. It was shaping up to be a classic European Final.

Although it’s usually Italian teams associated with playing ‘negatively’, it was Marseille who started very cautiously. They were duly punished as Parma’s golden boy, Hernan Crespo, put the Gialloblu in front after he nonchalantly lobbed Stephane Porato in the Marseille goal. Some 10 minutes later the game was all but over as Paolo Vanoli got on the end of Diego Fusers cross to put Parma 2-0 up before half time. In the second-half, one of the Crociati’s standout performers on the night, Lilian Thuram, flew down the right wing and picked out Juan Sebastian Veron. The Argentine then chipped the ball into the box for Crespo to dummy and Enrico Chiesa was there to fire a volley home from 12 yards making it 3-0 just before the hour mark. It was quite a performance from Malesani’s men who dominated from the first whistle to the last.

This was Parma at their zenith. Following this golden era things took a turn for the worst as Tanzi’s Parmalat empire crumbled. With it went the Parma side that conquered Europe in the 1990’s…twice.

By Giovanni Dougall

@giovannid86

[thegentlemanultra]

Parma: One Financial Meltdown Too Far?

 Throughout their 101 year history, Parma football club have never been far from controversy. Formed in July 1913, the club was created in honour of composer Guiseppe Verdi, one of Parma’s most famous sons. The clubs first name was Verdi Football Club but Parma have had many a name change over the past 100 years, the first coming back in December, 1913 when they adopted the  city’s name. It wasn’t just the name that changed, the kit changed too, from yellow and blue to the white with a black cross, a strip we see Parma wear today.During the

Crociati’s early years they grew as a club and the construction of the Stadio Ennio Tardini in 1922 helped them make climb the Calcio pyramid. In 1931, Parma became known as Associazione Sportiva.

Parma (AS Parma). Under their new guise, AS Parma spent most of the 1940’s and 1950’s in Serie B and Serie C, and in 1960 they would make their first European appearance.In 1968, financial problems placed the club in turmoil and the city’s court ordered them into liquidation. It would not be the last time. Redemption came in the shape of local team, Associazione Calcio Parmense, who had just won promotion to Serie D. In January 1970, AC Parmense adopted Parma’s sporting license, saving the clubs history, using their badge and even the same shirts. This proved a good move and the clubs fortunes turned once again as they were named Serie D champions the same year. They would even find themselves back in Serie B as the decade drew to a close.Parma earned promotion to Italy’s top flight for the first time during the 1990’s, a feat unimaginable only 20 years earlier. 

 In the early 1990’s, local dairy company Parmalat started taking an interest in the team , thanks to football daft, Calisto Tanzi. Tanzi owned Parmalat along with his family and the billionaire started investing fortunes in Parma. His seemingly limitless funds meant the Crociati started attracting some of the world’s most exciting talent, with the likes of Hristov Stoichkov and Gianfranco Zola arriving at the club.Tanzi continued to build a formidable side recruiting Argentine poster boy, Hernan Crespo, fellow countryman, Juan Sebastian Veron and French fullback Lilian Thuram.

These players were added to a squad that consisted of Italian international, Fabio Cannavaro and a youth product Gianluigi Buffon, lest we forget the likes of Enrico Chiesa, Dino Baggio and Diego Fuser. This was the Parma we all knew and loved, with the famous yellow and blue hooped shirts with Parmalat plastered on the front

 From the mid to late 1990’s thisteam meant business, achieving a second place finish in the 1996/97 Serie Aseason, lifting two UEFA Cup’s in 1995 and 1999 and enjoying a number of triumphs in the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Coppa. Parma were not only a giants in Italy but also on the European stage too. Not bad for a club from a small town in northern Italy with a population of just 170,000. However this is Parma and for every golden period, doom and gloom is usually lurking around the corner. In this instance that proved to be the case with Tanzi and his ‘millions’.

In 2000, the team began to break up as the clubs talisman Hernan Crespo was sold to Lazio for £35.5million and star goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon would join Juventus for a world record fee (for a goalkeeper) of £32.5million. In 2002 Lilian Thuram joined Buffon in Turin, departing to the Bianconeri for £41.5million. For the Parma faithful, this was only the beginning as the club began to slide down the table. In 2003 the clubs travails were accentuated as it emerged that Parmalat were struggling financially. The company was in melt down and the Tanzi family was caught up in one of Italy’s and Europe’s biggest fraud cases. With Tanzi claiming to possess imaginary sums of money, the company had a €14.3bn black hole in its accounts, almost four times the amount that was first admitted. Tanzi was sentenced to 18 years in prison and Parma reported an operating loss of £77 Million. The club was in a mess and faced extinction once again. In April 2004, the club was declared insolvent.

It took until January 27,2007, for Italian business man Thomaso Ghirardi to save the club from and take them out of administration. Ghirardi was just what Parma needed. A young fresh face with ideas, bags of enthusiasm and a plan for the club. It was a plan that would take time. After relegation in 2008 however, Ghirardi’s Parma never looked back as they bounced back straight back up to Serie A. Despite initially struggling at the wrong end of the table, they managed to survive and the club was finally being run correctly. Ghirardi seemed to genuinely care for the team and the people of Parma

The final piece to Ghirardi’s plan was the appointment of Roberto Donadoni in 2012 and the team gradually started to move up the Serie A standings. Ghirardi, Donadoni and general manager Pierto Leonardi were the perfect triumvirate. As the club’s centenary celebrations got under way in 2013, Parma went from strength to strength. The club racked up an impressive 17 match unbeaten run and qualified for Europe by finishing sixth. One of Italy’s seven sisters had returned to the big time! Or so it seemed. But with Parma, controversy lay just around the corner.

Rumours circled of financial problems once again as news of unpaid tax bills were brought to light. Parma would be denied their UEFA license meaning no European Football. Ghirardi was furious, declaring he had “no time for football anymore.” The club was put up for sale.

In December 2014 Ghirardi finally got Parma off his hands and sold his controlling stake to Albanian businessman, Rezart Taci’s and his Cypriot-Russian company - Dastraso Holding Limited. In the following month Albanian, Ermir Kodra, was installed as president of the club at the age of 29. Only now are we seeing the extent of Parma’s malaise.

  It paints a sorry picture. Players and staff not have not been paid for seven months while Ghirardi’s ‘present’ to the fans, Antonio Cassano, recently decided enough was enough and rescinded his contract making him a free agent. The January transfer window has been farcical with a mass exodus of players. One of the heroes of Parma’s 2013/14 Serie A campaign, defender Gabriel Paletta, has been allowed to leave for next to nothing to AC Milan. Nicola Pozzi left for Chievo and the Flying Donkeys have the option to buy him at the end of the season for the paltry figure of £800. The promising Andrea Rispoli is off to Palermo and the list goes on as the future of this famous club lies in the balance.

There were murmurs that no water is being supplied to the Stadio Tardini as the local water company has not been paid in months. Senior players such as Daniele Galloppa have admitted the first team players have given the club until the 16th February to pay their outstanding wages. If this deadline is not met who knows what will happen to this once giant of Italian and European football. If latest reports are to be believed, the clubs new owner, Rezart Taci has already sold the club after just one month at the helm. The new investors are said to be an Italian group with interests abroad

For Gialloblu fans however, the most pressing question seems far from being answered. Can they survive another financial meltdown or will this be the end of Parma Football Club?

  By Giovanni Dougall

@giovannid86

[thegentlemanultra]

Alvaro Recoba: The Inter Enigma who had a Venetian love affair

August 31st 1997, The Guiseppe Meazza stadium in Milan was packed, blue and black flags, scarves and banners filled the stands. This beautiful stadium was at its absolute best as it soaked up the Milanese sunshine. The home crowed were buzzing with excitement, you’d have thought it was the beginning of a ‘Derby Della Madonnina’ (Inter – AC Milan) or a ‘Derby D’italia’ (Inter – Juventus). But instead Inter were hosting provincial strugglers Brescia. The excitement was fuelled by the Nerazzurri’s latest acquisition. Inter president, Massimo Moratti, had just splashed out on a player who was arguably the best striker in the world – Ronaldo. Their game against Brescia was the day the Brazilian ace would make his debut. However, despite all the build-up and attention Ronaldo received, there was also another South American making his debut that day. That man was Alvaro Recoba.

   The Brazilian party wasn’t going to plan as Inter trailed 1-0 thanks to a Dario Hubner strike. Inter coach, Luigi Simoni, decided to turn to Recoba. The Uruguayan came off the bench in explosive fashion and made an immediate impact. He stole the headlines from Ronaldo as he inspired an Inter fight back, bagging a brace in a 2-1 victory. It was quite an incredible debut, especially given the quality of the goals. The first was a 30-yard screamer. The second was something we’d get used to seeing during Recoba’s years in Serie A, a trademark free-kick which flew over the Brescia wall and looped into the net. Simply sensational.

From that day onwards, the diminutive attacking midfielder was a fan favourite during his debut season. He was a joy to watch. He terrorised defences with his blistering pace. He had a wand of a left foot, breath-taking technique and an unbelievable range of passing. And as he demonstrated on his debut, he was something a set piece specialist.

However after the Uruguayan’s first season at Inter he found his playing time limited and the Nerazzuri would loan him out to Venezia in 1999. The Venetian’s were really struggling and fighting for their Serie A lives at the foot of the table. Recoba had other ideas for the Arancioneroverdi. He seemed to be a man on a mission, out to prove a point that he could still play at the very highest level and that Inter were wrong to send him out on loan.

   He became instant hero in Venice. He was the focal point of the team and during that 1999 season he was at the heart of almost every Venezia goal, either as the architect or as the scorer of another blockbuster. He developed an almost telepathic understanding with strike partner Filippo Maniero, to form one of the most lethal attacking duos in Serie A. During his 19 matches with the Leoni Alati, Recoba scored 11 goals and accumulated nine assists. His sensational form was integral to Venezia’s survival in the top flight. His scintillating displays didn’t go unnoticed an after less than a season his parent club Inter decided to take him back.

Massimo Morrati was a huge fan of Recoba and after his brief spell in the ‘Floating City’ Moratti rewarded him with a bumper deal, an estimated 4 Million Euros a season, thus making him the highest paid footballer in the world at the time. Having signed him to a new deal, Inter were expecting great things from Recoba, similar to the feats he had achieved in Venice. However things started to turn sour. He would receive a year ban for having a fake passport which was reduced to six months on appeal. On top of this, Recoba started picking up a number of injuries which stymied his playing time. He would still turn in notable performances for Inter, chipping in with important goals, however most of these appearances were now as an impact substitute.

Recoba and Inter eventually parted ways in 2007 after Recoba couldn’t turn down the chance to work with his old Venezia mentor, Walter Novellino. Novellino brought Recoba to Torino in a hope that he would re-capture his form in Venice. Yet he would only spend a season in Turin as once again injuries hampered his progress. Nonetheless he still had moments of magic, most notably the double he scored in Torino’s 3-1 Coppa Italia victory over Roma.

The 2007/08 season would be Recoba’s last in Italy. The Uruguayan wizard entertained Calcio fans for just over a decade and gave us some moments of pure genius. Moments that will live long in the memory. While there was always a feeling that Recoba had plenty more to offer in Italy, there is no doubt that he was one of the most gifted and exciting talents to ever grace Serie A.

 By Giovanni Dougall

@giovannid86

[thegentlemanultra]

Lazio and Ravel Morrison: A Trip Down Memory Lane?

  Having just watched Ravel Morrison score both goals in his sides 2-0 defeat to QPR, Birmingham City manager Lee Clark labelled him “The best footballer since Paul Gascoigne.”

While Clark was paying tribute to Morrison’s precocious talent, he was also undoubtedly acknowledging the youngsters volatility. Just like Gascoigne, Morrison has a propensity to off field troubles. Just like Gascoigne, managers have struggled to refine his talent. And just like a young Gascoigne, his next road leads to Rome.

The 21-year-old confirmed his move to Lazio via social media, posting a picture of his Aquile shirt on Instagram. Having already played for West Ham Utd and Cardiff City this term, he will not arrive at the Biancocelesti till the summer, FIFA rules stipulating that a player cannot represent three clubs in one season. Morrison will be the first Englishman to play for Lazio since Gascoigne’s three year spell from 1992 to 1995. If his time in Italy is half as entertaining, we could be in for a treat.

For those who remember the halcyon days of James Richardson’s Football Italia on Channel 4, Morrison’s move to Lazio may be a little nostalgic. It may rekindle joyful memories of Gazza’s days in Italy - the tears, the belch and the occasional moment of genius. Arriving in 1992 – a year later than initially advertised due to injury – the Laziali gave the former Tottenham Hotspur man a warm and frenzied welcome. Thousands packed Fiumicino Airport to greet him, chants of ‘Que Sara Sara’ and ‘Gazza’ bellowing from their lungs. Describing the pandemonium, one Lazio fan said “When we got him, my god, it seemed like Jesus Christ was arriving.”

Gascoigne’s charisma immediately endeared him to the Lazio support, his gregarious nature, eccentricity and fun-loving spirit earning him cult status. Of course his last-gasp equaliser in the 1992 Rome Derby didn’t do him any harm either. He celebrated under the Curva Nord, later breaking into tears of relief having avoided defeat during his first Derby della Capitale. It was his first goal for the club and one that, in the eyes of many Laziali, already justified his £5.5 million price tag.

The Englishman was also unperturbed when it came to respecting or disrespecting ‘reputations’, a fact he demonstrated to the chagrin of the Italian media after he belched into the microphone of a journalist from Rai Sport. While Lazio club president Sergio Cragnotti fumed, his peccadillo further cemented his status as a fan favourite.

One Lazio fan triumphed: “He’s great. We give Gascoigne’s burp a ten. We think he did the right thing. If they know he’s in press silence I don’t understand why they are trying to interview him, it’s the journalists fault.”

In truth Gazza’s antics off the field deflected from what was a disappointing spell in Rome. He was plagued by injury and his travails on the pitch were accentuating his problems off it. Prank after prank on teammates and club staff wore thin. It almost felt as though he focused more on devising ingenious japes than maintaining his fitness. In three seasons he only made 43 Serie A appearances, scoring six goals. But although he won nothing, he remains a mythical figure in the eyes of the Lazio faithful. He was a pioneering signing in Cragnotti era, one of the most successful periods in the Aquile’s history. He embraced the visceral passion of the fans, brought them untrammelled joy in the Rome derby and endless moments of entertainment. In return, Lazio’s Curva Nord honour their adopted English son with a flag bearing his image at home game.

   As such, Ravel Morrison arrives in Rome with big boots to fill. This could work both ways. On the one hand, the Laziali may immediately warm to the talented young Englishman, especially one who has a mercurial character and whose ability has been compared to Gascoigne’s. On the other, the Manchester United youth product will arrive with a substantial amount of pressure on his shoulders, purely given the fact he is comparable to Gascoigne.

There is also the fact that Morrison’s transgressions off the field have been somewhat more sinister. He is rougher around the edges and lacks the loveable character that helped Gascoigne win hearts in Italy. His career thus far has been tarnished with allegations and charges of assault and witness intimidation. It’s hardly an endearing reputation.

Despite claiming Morrison was the most talented youngster he had seen at Manchester United since Paul Scholes, Sir Alex Ferguson decided the baggage wasn’t worth handling. “Better out of Manchester” Ferguson said, and since then the capricious youngster has struggled to settle at West Ham, loaned out to various clubs including Birmingham, QPR and Cardiff. 

Despite all this, there is no doubting Morrison’s potential. He has showed us glimpses in the Premier League. In the first half of the 2013/14 season, he forced his way into the West Ham fold and scored five goals in his first 12 games. This included a memorable performance against Tottenham in which he scored a wonderful solo goal, effortlessly carrying the ball past Spurs defenders before nonchalantly chipping it into the net. The goal bore a resemblance to Gascoigne’s best goal in Lazio colours.

Should Morrison produce a similar type of magic in Rome, we might well hear him dubbed ‘the new Gascoigne’. On face value, signing him appears a calculated risk from the Biancocelesti. The Manchester youth product is 21-years-old, he will arrive as a free agent and he will bolster what is already an exciting and youthful attack,  possessing the likes of Felipe Anderson and Keita Balde Diao. In Stefano Pioli, Lazio have a coach who is level headed and experienced, a man who could perhaps polish what is an extremely rough diamond.

Surpassing what Gascoigne achieved on the field in Rome is certainly not beyond Morrison’s capabilities. In fact that’s the easy bit. However leaving the same legacy will be near on impossible.

Follow our editor @LH_Ramon25

[thegentlemanultra]

Calcio in the floating city – Remembering A.C. Venezia

It was described by renowned Italian journalist, Luigi Barzini, as "undoubtedly the most beautiful city built by man." Situated in the Veneto region of Northeast Italy, Venice’s origins are hard to trace but many believe it was founded by refugees from surrounding Roman cities such as Padua, Aquileia, Treviso, Altino and Concordia.

The city has a plethora of nicknames, ‘The Queen of the Adriatic’, ‘The City of Water’, ‘The City of Masks’, ‘The City of Bridges’ and ‘The Floating City’. Yet the history of its football team fails to match the splendour of the city.

  Founded in 1907 as A.C Venezia, the club has enjoyed two periods of relative success. During the early 1940s they rose through the Calcio pyramid reaching Serie A and also won the Coppa Italia. Their triumph in the latter competition came against Roma in 1941, beating the capital side 4-3 over two legs. To date this is their only trophy of note. During the following season, Venezia went on to finish in an all-time high of 3rd place in a sixteen team Serie A.  Players such as Ezio Loik and Valentino Mazzola were integral to the Venetian’s success and the duo would eventually form part of the Grande Torino side that dominated Italian football before the Superga air disaster of 1949.

After relegation in the 1946/47 season, Venezia spent most of their time between Serie B and Serie C. It was not until the 1990s that the Leoni Alati tasted some success once again.

Saved from bankruptcy in 1986 by Maurizio Zamparini after he bought a 50% stake in the club, the business man from Udine acquired complete control of the club in June 1987. Success swiftly followed as Venezia won promotion from Serie C2 finishing runners up to Mantova. Another promotion to Serie B followed after the club finished runners up to Piacenza in the Serie C1 season of 1990/91.

A sixth place finish in Serie B was achieved in the 1994/95 season and a 4-3 win over the mighty Juventus in the second round of the Coppa Italia topped off a great campaign. The Arancioneroverdi had future stars in their ranks and 11 goals from a certain Christian Vieri secured another mid-table finish in 1996. Vieri’s career was blossoming and his performances with the Venetians ensured him a move to Serie A with Atalanta.

After a 32-year wait, the Arancioneroverdi finally made a return to Italy’s top flight after they finished second behind Salernitana to earn a lucrative promotion.  Possessing a squad that boasted the likes Alvaro Recoba, Filippo Maniero and goalkeeper Massimo Taibi, coach Walter Novellino guided Venezia to a credible 11th place finish on their return to Serie A. Recoba was especially influential with 11 goals in 19 appearances. Arriving from Inter on a loan deal, the Uruguayan playmaker was instrumental in ensuring the Venetians survival. Alongside proven goal-scorer Filippo Maniero, they formed a potent strike force and amassed a total of 23 goals.

Alas this success was short lived as the following season Venezia were relegated back to Serie B.

This was in large part due to the turmoil and lack of consistency on the side line. With Walter Novellino leaving to take charge of Napoli and Recoba returning to Inter, the team lacked stability. Luciano Spalletti started the season in charge but was replaced after eight games by Giuseppe Materazzi. However Materazzi’s tenure lasted just two games before Spalletti took the helm once again, this time lasting for a marginally longer spell of ten games. Maurizio Zamparini was quickly building his ‘Mangia Allenatori’ (Manager Eating) reputation.

Francesco Oddo took charge for the rest of the campaign in which relegation was confirmed after just six wins all season. Without his foil Recoba, Maniero managed just nine goals all season. Former AC Milan star Maurizio Ganz, who had been brought in to replace Recoba, managed eight. However redemption lay just around the corner. Under the guidance of future Italy coach, Cesare Prandelli, the men from Venice finished 4th in the 2000/01 Serie B campaign, which back in those years guaranteed them automatic promotion to Serie A.

A total disaster both on and off the pitch during their return to Serie A followed. Despite Filippo Maniero’s remarkable tally of 18 goals, the Lagunari finished bottom with just three wins all season. Coaching changes came and went. Prandelli was jettisoned after five games. Sergio Buso stepped in as cover for a solitary game only for Alfredo Magni to take control for the rest of the season. The turbulent season remains Venezia’s last in Serie A.

Venezia’s problems on the pitch were compounded by their malaise off it. Zamparini sold the club after numerous rows with the council of Venice over the construction of a new stadium. The volatile owner was unhappy with the Stadiums location, a location that could only be reached by means of a ferry. This peculiar transport method coupled with the council’s reluctance to help with a relocation saw Zamparini pack up and take his money. He bought Palermo in 2002 and just for good measure he took a significant proportion of the Venezia squad with him.

The Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo is a visual indicator of the clubs fortunes since Zamperini’s departure - bankrupt twice in 2005 and then again in 2009. The ground is said to be one of the oldest in Italy and problems with the security of the decrepit stadium forced the club to move to Stadio Piergiovanni Mecchia in Portogruaro. Their official home remains the Stadio Luigi Penzo.

Current Venezia owner, Russian businessman Yuri Korablin, is suffering the same frustrations as Zamperini in regards to moving or upgrading the ground and has recently threatened to leave the club despite promises of returning Venezia to former glories. Complaining about the council and their attitude towards a new ground, Korablin said:

"I'm not at all sure that the city wants this stadium despite all the positive effects it will have. I know the fans want it, probably 90% of people, but those who decide are maybe too busy thinking about the next election. Let's say there are people with toothache and instead of taking medicine for that they take something for a bad stomach or sore feet,”

If Korablin goes, it would be safe to say Venezia as a football city would also cease to exist.

By Mark Neale   @neale_mark

[thegentlemanultra]

Oilver Bierhoff: Serie A’s German Bomber

Oliver Bierhoff. It’s a name that would strike fear into some of the world’s greatest defenders. A name that would have some of Calcio’s cleverest tacticians panicking as the weekend neared. Bierhoff lit up Serie A during its golden period of the 1990’s, bossing defenders and bullying goalkeepers. In truth he terrorised most opponents he came up against. At 6’3” Bierhoff was a tall target man who had incredible ability in the air. He was prolific on the peninsula and he quickly became a Serie A icon, not to mention one of Europe’s deadliest forwards. However this was not always the case for the big German striker.

Five years before Bierhoff’s Italian love affair his football career began back in his native Germany. As a teenager Bierhoff started out at Bayer Uerdingen, this was during the clubs most successful period in the mid-1980s. But the young gangly looking forward struggled to impress his employers, scoring just three times in close to 40 appearances. In 1988, still only 20-years-old, Bierhoff would part ways with Bayer Uerdingen to join Hamburg, again failing to make an impact on German football managing just six goals during a two year spell. Next stop was Borrusia Monchengladbach where his travails continued, mustering just eight appearances and failing to get on the score sheet. Bierhoff finally found his shooting boots at Austria Salzburg and during the 1990/91 season he scored an impressive 23 times in 32 appearances. It appeared Bierhoff had finally found a home in the Austrian Bundesliga however when Italian side Ascoli came calling in 1991, this move lit the blue touch paper in Bierhoff’s career.

Bierhoff would spend four consistent years at Ascoli, scoring close to 50 goals in just over 100 appearances. Despite only spending the one season in Serie A with the Picchio (the club were relegated in 1992 having accumulated just 14 points), his performances in Serie B soon caught the attention of Italy’s top clubs. Thus when Ascoli were relegated to Serie C1 in 1995, Alberto Zaccheroni’s Udinese jumped on the chance to sign the German. Bierhoff was on the move once again.

Udine was where the big German really made his name. It was 1996. The European Championships were just around the corner and Bierhoff was out to prove a point. He opened his account immediately, scoring on the opening day of the season in a 1-0 win over Cagliari at the Friuli. Bierhoff went on to fire the Zebrette (Little Zebras) to a credible 10th place finish, as he hit 17 goals for the season. These 17 goals were enough to catch the eye of German coach, Berti Vogts, who selected Bierhoff to be part of his Euro ‘96’ squad. Bierhoff’s career high came during these finals, firing Germany to European glory after scoring twice in the final against the Czech Republic at Wembley. It ensured his status as a national hero. Bierhoff would spend another two impressive years in Udine and it was only a matter of time before one of the so called big boys snapped him up.

In 1998 AC Milan were after a new coach following the departure of Fabio Capello. On their radar was the man who had brought the best out of Bierhoff on Italian shores, Alberto Zaccheroni. What Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi wants he usually gets and Zaccheroni was appointed head coach in the summer of 1998. Udinese supporters biggest fears were about to become reality, one of Zaccheroni’s top priorities was to bring his star striker with him. It was an offer Bierhoff just couldn’t refuse. Few players would, he had the chance to play at one of European football’s cathedrals week in week out with some of the best players in the world.  

The former Udine man was perfect for Zaccheroni’s 3-4-3 system. Bierhoff played through the middle as the ‘prima punta’, the main striker in Zacheroni’s attacking trident. He would hit the back of the net 20 times in his debut season for the Diavolo, leading them to yet another Scudetto and Bierhoff’s first. This would be the German internationals most impressive season in Milan as the following summer Berlusconi was splashing the cash again, this time on Ukrainian superstar Andriy Shevchenko. Over the coming years Shevchenko became Milan’s striking protagonist but Bierhoff still played his part, consistently chipping in with important goals. He was a great asset to have and a fantastic servant to Zaccheroni. During the 2000/01 season Berlusconi lost patience with Zaccheroni and he would lose his job. Despite being a fan favourite this also meant the end was near for Bierhoff.

Bierhoff’s time at Milan came to an end in 2001 as new coach, Fatih Terim, sent him to France to join Monaco for a season. The German would return to Italy in 2002 and have s brief spell at Chievo where he continued to find the net, helping ‘The Flying Donkeys’ to a 7th place finish with seven goals.

Oliver Bierhoff is a true Serie A great. During his best years in Italy he scored close to 150 goals for four different clubs. During his heyday he became one of the most iconic images in the Italian game, seeing his towering figure rise to bullet home another unstoppable header and wheel away to celebrate in the black and white of Udinese or the Rossonero (Red and Black) of AC Milan. Oliver Bierhoff will go down as one of the best. No doubt todays Serie A defenders and coaches are glad they don’t have to come up with a master plan to stop this German bomber.

 By Giovanni Dougall

@giovannid86

[thegentlemanultra]

Where are the members the Azzurri's Italia 90 squad today: Roberto Mancini

Roberto Mancini was born on 27 November 1964 in the small town of Lesi, in the Marche region of central Italy. Like most Italians, he was raised a Roman Catholic and his life revolved around religion and football, passions which remain today.

As a player Mancini was best known for his time at Sampdoria, where he played more than 550 matches and helped them win the Serie A title along with four Coppa Italia trophies and the European Cup Winners' Cup. 

He was capped 36 times by Italy, making his last appearance in 1994.  Mancini started his career at Bologna, making his debut back in 1981 before a big money move to Sampdoria in 1982 followed.  He also played for Lazio, where he won another Scudetto, Cup Winners' Cup and two more Coppa Italia's. He finished his playing career in England with a brief stint at Leicester City

Towards the end of his playing career, he showed signs that he would end up in management when he started giving team talks at half-time. Coach, Sven Goran Eriksson, was a huge influence on ‘Mancio’, playing under him at both Samp and Lazio and he became the Swedes assistant at the Biancocelesti near the end of his playing career.

Mancio joined Leicester City on loan in January 2001, but by early February he was given leave of absence, citing personal reasons. He telephoned the club and informed them he would not be returning to England as he had been offered the head coach position at Fiorentina.  Despite his brief stay in the Premier League he cites his time at Leicester City as the period during which he fell in love with the English game, and which later prompted him to accept the job at Manchester City.

Sadly for Mancini, he never truly replicated his club form at international level and he struggled to cement a regular starting spot for the Azzurri. He won 36 caps for his country, but only scored four goals in return. He made his senior international debut in 1984 against Canada and he would continue to represent Italy for ten years. Despite being an influential figure for Samp at the time, Mancini was a non-playing member of the Azzurri squad at Italia 90, kept out of the side by the striking prowess of his Blucerchiati strike partner, Gianluca Vialli, as well as Salvatore Schillaci and new kid on the block Roberto Baggio.

His failure to play any part in Italia ‘90’ has lingered with ‘Mancio’ throughout his career. Even now as a coach he still struggles to understand Azeglio Vicini's decision. 'I didn't even play for ten minutes” fumed Mancini. “Not even in the third place game. I still don't understand the decision.”

Mancini's international career ended after a dispute with national team coach Arrigo Sacchi, his assertive personality leading him to become frustrated with not being guaranteed a first team place at the 1994 World Cup. In truth it was a similar story to Italia ’90’ for the assertive Italian, the fierce competition for places hindering his opportunities with players like Gianfranco Zola, Giuseppe Signori, Roberto Baggio and later Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero hastening his self-imposed exile from the Azzurri.

An elegant and skilful player, Mancini was also renowned for his flair, outstanding technique, ball control, and dribbling ability, as well as his tactical intelligence. He frequently stood out because of these attributes. But he wasn’t just a talented forward; he also possessed impressive leadership skills.

Mancini's first head coaching role was at Fiorentina, aged only 35-years-old. Despite his inexperience he won the Coppa Italia with the Viola but left soon afterwards with the club facing bankruptcy. He took over as head coach at Lazio, where again he inherited financial constraints and was forced to lose a number of key players. Despite limited resources during his two season tenure, he still managed to guide the club to Coppa Italia success, a competition of which he was quickly growing fond.

In 2004, Mancini was given the chance to manage Inter, a major club with no shortage in financial resources. During his first spell at the Nerazzurri, the club won three consecutive Serie A titles. It was a record that meant Mancini became Inter's most successful coach in 30 years.

Mancini left the Benemata in 2008, replaced by Jose Mourinho as the Inter board continued their chase of the Holy Grail – the Champions League. After taking a year out of football, Mancini was appointed as Manchester City manager in December 2009. He quickly instilled a winning culture and guided the club to Champions League football and the FA Cup in his first full season in charge. The following campaign he led City to their first league title in 44 years, a success secured in one of the most dramatic final days in Premier League history, Mancini’s men scoring two goals in injury time to complete an enthralling 3-2 comeback against Queens Park Rangers.

Credit for this victory, however, is apparently due to divine intervention.  As the season was reaching a tense finish, Mancini took time out to visit the religious pilgrimage site, Medjugorie, in Bosnia Herzegovina. ‘Mancio’ stated that it was this pilgrimage that turned the title in his favour.

The following season was turbulent for the former Samp man, as City failed to retain the title, losing out to rivals Manchester United, and also losing the FA Cup final to Wigan Athletic. He was sacked the following week however the man showed his class after paying for a full-page advert spread in the Manchester Evening News to say farewell and to thank the club's fans. The act was reciprocated in the Gazzetta dello Sport by Manchester City supporters.

In September 2013, Mancini signed a three-year contract with Galatasaray taking over from the previous coach Fatih Terim. However, the stylish coach barely lasted a year in Turkey despite winning the Turkish Cup. Mancini returned to Inter for a second spell in November 2014, replacing Walter Mazzarri at the helm and it seems he is slowly turning the Nerazzuri's fortunes around. Mancini has won a total of 25 trophies; 13 as a player and 12 as a coach. Incredibly, every season he has coached between 2002 and 2013, the Italian has reached a semi-final of a major cup competition. He holds a number of records including reaching the most consecutive Coppa Italia finals from 2004 to 2008, the first with Lazio and the rest with Inter.

Mancini may not have seen a minute of playing time at Italia ‘90’ however he has since carved out an extremely successful career and the story of ‘Mancio’ is far from over...

 Ian Such

@insearchofluca

[thegentlemanultra]

The Gentleman Ultra's alternative guide to the teams of Serie A: Sampdoria

Stadium: Stadio Luigi Ferraris

Built: 1911

Capacity: 35,356

Also known as the Marassi, the Stadio Luigi Ferraris is one of the oldest in Italy. Built in 1911, the stadium was originally property of Genoa and was the stage of their early titles won during Serie A's primitive years.

The stadium is a daunting place. With the crowd close to the pitch, it gives the players the feeling they are enveloped in a wall of noise and fire. One of the best examples of the atmosphere in the ground is evident during the derby della lanterna in which Sampdoria take on Genoa. Arguably one of the most passionate derbies on the Peninsula, it transforms the stadium into a cauldron.

Marcello Lippi has claimed that the game is "the most special in Italy". In these matches Genoa hold the Curva Nord with their Ultra groups such as the Fossa dei Griffoni, while Sampdoria take the Curva Sud with their Ultra groups, which include the Ultras Tito Tito Cucchiaroni.

The last derby was one of the games of the season and the atmosphere and choreography were breathtaking. The stadium had been updated for the 1990 World Cup and you may remember it from the second-round penalty shoot-out between Ireland and Romania. It still is one of the best stadiums in Serie A.

The Ultras

Key Ultra Groups: Ultras Tito Cucchiaroni, Fedelissimi 1961

Other Ultra Groups:  Rude Boys, Fieri Fossato, San Fruttuoso 1987, Valsecca Group 1991, Palati Fini, Irish Clan, Struppa 86, Hells Angels, i Gunners, i Bulldog, Ultras Girls, "Herberts", "Cani Sciolti", "Riviera Blucerchiata", "Sgreuzzi", "Belli e Gonfi", "Struppa 86"

From an Anglo perspective, the Stadio Luigi Ferarris or Marassi is one of Italy’s more aesthetically pleasing stadiums. Located in the port city of Genoa, its rectangular shape and crowd’s proximity to the pitch make for a claustrophobic and intense atmosphere. The stadium also plays host to what is arguably one of Italy’s most underappreciated rivalries, contested between Genoa Cfc and UC Sampdoria. Known as the Derby della Lanterna, - named after the port’s iconic old Lighthouse - this fixture captures the imagination thanks to the efforts of those standing on the steps of the Gradinate, with both ends of the stadium engulfed in a riot of noise and colour. The heart of Sampdoria’s support beats in the Gradinata Sud and the Ultras help make the Marassi one of the most eye-catching venues in Calcio.

The Blucerchiati cannot boast the same distinguished tradition as their neighbours, Genoa.  Formed in 1946, following the merger of two sports clubs known as Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria, Samphave had to endure the haughtiness of their older city cousins. However, despite being born some 53 years later than the Rossoblu, Sampdoria have carved out an identity and rich history.

The name and colours (blue-white and red-black) pay tribute to the clubs from which they emerged and they have enjoyed spells of veritable success. At their zenith, Samp toppled the mighty AC Milan, beating Silvio Berlusconi’s giants to the Serie A title in 1991. The following year, the Doriani threatened to conquer Europe, Barcelona and a swing of Ronald Koeman’s right foot shattering their dreams in the final of the European Cup. The game was played at the old Wembley, a stadium Brazilian icon, Pelé, once described as “the cathedral of football.” That day in 1992, the Sampdoriani ensured Pelé’s observation was true, bellowing chorus after chorus while decorating their end in a sea of blue, white, red and black.

Sampdoria’s group, Ultras Tito Cucchiaroni, is one of the most venerable in Italy. Formed in 1969, they were trailblazers in the Ultra movement. In fact, the group contest that they were the first to differentiate as ‘Ultras’. The evidence for this claim is in the writing on the walls. “Uniti Legneremo Tutti I Rossoblu ASangue” – ‘United, we will beat the red and blues (Genoa) till they bleed’, the Acronym for this tactful slogan - ULTRAS.

This graffiti is still visible in parts of Genoa and, according to the Ultras Tito Cucchiaroni, it could be seen in the city’s Piazza della Vittoria and Scalinata Montaldo, long before supporters of Torino and AC Milan laid claim to the title of first ‘Ultras’ in Italy. It all seems like nit picking, squabbling over who came first. But in football, history and tradition matter. To the Ultras it’s no different.

There is also a story behind the group’s name. Ernesto Cucchiaroni or ‘Tito’was an important player for Samp during the 1960’s. He immediately endeared himself to the supporters after scoring two goals in his first Derby della Lanterna,and this admiration was cemented after the Argentinian helped the Blucerchiati to a fourth place finish during the 1960/61 season. Despite being a diminutive figure, ‘Tito’ possessed ‘grinta’ (grit) and after finishing his career at the club, the Ultras decided to adopt his name to honour his effort and commitment. 

The Ultras Tito Cucchiaroni has shared the Gradinata Sud with a number of other groups, most notably the Fedelissimi 1961.  Although they were born eight years earlier, the Fedelissimi actually originated as a simple fan club. Barring a faction of left-wing, anti-racist campaigning Ultras known as Rude Boys, Sampdoria’s fanatics are generally known to be apolitical. This absence of politics undoubtedly contributed to the harmonious existence of the two groups who wereunited by their passion, both physically and metaphorically, in the lower tier of the Gradinata. This was until Sampdoria’s travails in the late 1990’s, which saw the departure of golden boy Roberto Mancini in 1997 and, two years later, the clubs relegation to Serie B.  

The Blucerchiati’s malaise split opinion. The president at the time, Enrico Mantovani, suffered the opprobrium of the Fedelissimi, who felt that his mismanagement had brought about the club’s demise. On the other hand, the Ultras Tito Cucchiaroni sided with Mantovani and instead railed against Mancini for the manner in which he left. After 15-years of service, the Sampicon had allowed his contract to expire and joined Lazio on a free transfer, leaving the club short of money to replace him. The spat resulted in separation: accompanied by a group called San Fruttuoso 1987, Tito Cucchiaroni moved to the upper tier of the Gradinata, leaving Fedelissimi and the other groups to occupy the lower.

Having documented a myriad of Italy’s Ultras, the homogenous nature of the movement at times lends itself to repetition, different club but the same old story. However, scratch beneath the surface and there are always differences and peculiarities to be uncovered, even trends being set. Allegedly Sampdoria were the first club to have a group of women Ultras, while women were prominent within Tito Cucchiaroni’s hierarchy.

Doria’s Ultras are also among the few supporters in Italy who don’t use banners during their match day displays. This is largely in protest against specific legislation within the ‘Decreto Antiviolenza’, a decree aimed at tackling football hooliganism. This legislation has seen drums and megaphones banned in Stadia, while the use of flags and banners is strictly regulated. Supporters must seek police permission for the paraphernalia they intend to bring into the stadium seven days in advance. According to many fans across Italy, this ‘draconian’ legislation is systematically destroying the phenomenon of organised support and limits their freedom of expression.

When it comes to violence and politics, it appears that the Sampdoriani take a philosophical viewpoint, as revealed by this quote taken from a fanzine:

“Above all, it’s wrong to go to the stadium with the intention of causing havoc. As much as possible, we try to behave, however it’s almost impossible not to react when opposition fans pass the Gradinata and start launching objects at people: it’s wrong, this is true, but we try to limit our retaliation…Luckily we have managed to expel the delinquents and political troublemakers from our ranks.”  

In football we are often mesmerised by the talent exhibited on the field, whether it be a sleight of foot, a moment of individual genius or the elegance of the ‘perfect’ team goal. There is no doubt that Football support in Italy can unleash the ugly and grotesque. But, it’s also worth appreciating the raw beauty and innovative spirit of Italian football fanaticism. In 1982, during the Derby della Lanterna, the Sampdoriani lived up to their self-acclaimed pioneering title, unveiling a gigantic flag displaying the the club colours, swallowing the entirety of the Gradinata. Its sheer scale was impressive. The flag remains the magnum opus of the Blucerchiati’s support and one of the biggest ever seen in Italian stadia.

The level of organisation and effort behind such displays should not be underestimated. Today, under the tenure of eccentric owner Massimo Ferrero and the guidance of coach Sinisa Mihajilovic, the club have threatened to rekindle the distant glorious memories of the early 1990’s. Regardless of the club’s success however, Sampdoria’s Ultras continue to charm those who admire an alternative form of footballing art, one born in the terraces.

Classic Player: Attilio Lombardo

Throughout the late 1980’s and the entirety of the 1990’s, a baled headed winger, affectionately known as ‘Popeye’ terrorised defences across Europe. Attilio Lombardo had a memorable look and a memorable talent and whilst he had spells at Juventus, Lazio and Crystal Palace, it is for his time at Sampdoria where his is most fondly thought of.

Lombardo’s appearance and physique saw him gain two distinct nicknames. Popeye, because of his bald head and his muscular physique rode hand in hand with ‘the ostrich’, this because of his ability to run at electrifying pace all game long. Whatever you referred to him as, the little Italian would easily noticed as with socks down,  he darted up and down the wing using his speed to destroy his opponents.

Although he was perhaps not the most technical player that Sampdoria had at this period he certainly was a vital part of the team. He would produce lightening quick counter attacks that would often take the disciplined Serie A defences by surprise. His passing was superb and he could also finish with some spectacular results.

One area of his game that caused defences major problem was his ability to get in behind the defender. This burst of speed often let him over take the full back and then cut inside and bear down on goal. His ability to finish from acute angles was the icing on the cake and time and time after time he would slot the ball home as everyone else was awaiting the cross.

He was also capable of shooting from range and this penchant for the spectacular won him many admirers. He was not prolific but his ability to score with his head (he is only 5f 9inch) meant that his repertoire was varied and made him a hugely influential player in a very good team.  Between 1989 and 1995 Lombardo scored 34 times in 201 appearances. He then bagged another four goals in 34 appearances on his return in 2001/02.

‘Popeye was also not short on honours and in a team that featured the likes of Gianluca Vialli, Roberto Mancini, Pietro Vierchowod, Gianluca Pagliuca, and Ruud Gullit, under playing under manager Vujadin Boskov, Sampdoria developed into a house hold name.

Lombardo can look back on his time at Sampdoria and be proud to hold a Serie A winners medal from 1990/91, A SuperCoppa Italiana’s medal in 1991, Coppa Italia medals in 1989 and 1994 as well as a UEFA Cup winners Cup medal from 1990. The little Italian was on the side that was also beaten at Wembley by Barcelona in the 1992 European Cup Final.

Lombardo has won major honors and Juventus and at Lazio but it is at Sampdoria where his played some of his best football. The classic blue, red and white strip was adorned by many a great player in that era but none worked so hard for it than the bald winger.

When Calcio ruled the world, the full backs of Serie A were being pulled from pillar to post by Attilio Lombardo; he was a truly great player in an incredible team.

By Richard Hall @Gentleman_Ultra

and

Luca Hodges Ramon @LH_Ramon25

[thegentlemanultra]

Giovanni ‘Johnny’ Moscardini: Barga’s Braveheart

Despite his small build, Moscardini was a strong, powerful striker and during his five years with Lucchese, he was selected for the Italian post war national team. He made his international debut in 1921 against Switzerland, becoming one of the earliest Oriundi - a term coined for foreign born players who play for Italy thanks to their ancestry. While many Oriundi traditionally came from South America, Moscardini broke the mold, becoming the first Scottish-born player to represent the Azzurri. To this day, he remains the only Scotsmen to play for Italy despite my many years of trying.

He would go on to score seven goals in nine appearances for the national team, a strike rate that would make any of today’s superstars proud. In 1925, Moscardini marked his final appearance for the Azzurri with two goals in a 7-0 demolition of France. During this time, Moscardini had moved from Lucchese to another Tuscan side, Pisa, where the Scotsmen became the top-scorer with 18 goals during the 1924/25 season. Having impressed in Tuscany once again, the prolific scorer would go on to join one of the country’s biggest and most prestigious clubs, Genoa.

However complications in Moscardini’s career soon arose. The man from Falkirk had got married while playing for Pisa in 1924 and at the time, the life of a footballer was a far cry from what we are accustomed to today. Indeed, the professional game in Italy was more or less non-existent. Having also documented Moscardini’s story, Giancarlo Rinaldi references a quote from Johnny’s nephew, Gian Piero Giannotti, explaining Moscardini’s somewhat modest deal at Lucchese.

"They gave him the return train ticket from Mologno to Lucca, if they won they gave him a bottle of olive oil, if they drew he got a bottle of wine, and if they lost he got nothing."

It’s a situation unthinkable to the multi-millionaire professionals today. But this presented Moscardini with a conundrum: should he pursue a career in football or return to Scotland and continue the family business of running a shop? After his spell with Genoa, Moscardini’s lack of income forced him to choose the latter and he moved back to Scotland.

He originally settled in Campbeltown where he managed his Uncles shop before heading to the South West coast and the seaside town of Prestwick. It was here he set up ‘The Lake Café’ on the town’s main street; little did the locals know that they had a famous Italian footballer running their local café. ‘Johnny’ would spend the rest of his days in South Ayrshire before passing away in 1985 at the age of 88.

Despite being relatively unknown in Scotland, Moscardini is still held in very high regard in Barga, so much so that the local football stadium was named after the forward. The tribute gives you an idea of just how much this Scottish pioneer did for this small Tuscan town and he remains one of the most famous names to be associated with Barga.

Being a son of Prestwick myself, I would love to have been around 40 years earlier to meet the great man himself and pay a visit to The Lake Café. Instead a trip to Barga to visit ‘The Giovanni Moscardini Stadium’ is certainly on the cards.

 By Giovanni Dougall

@giovannid86

[thegentlemanultra]

The Season that was Brescia, 2000-01

Brescia is a city and commune in the region of Lombardy, Northern Italy. It is situated at the foot of the Alps, between the Mella River and the Naviglio, a few kilometres from the Lakes Garda and Iseo.

Brescia Calcio was founded on July 17th 1911 and throughout its history the club has spent the majority of its time in Italy’s second tier, Serie B. But during the turn of the century, the club enjoyed its most successful period in the top flight.

Under the guidance of veteran coach, Carlo Mazzone, Brescia managed an eighth place finish in Serie A, finishing behind six of Italy’s ‘seven sisters’ (Roma, Juventus, Lazio, Parma, Milan and Inter) and above the seventh member Fiorentina. It was a huge achievement for the perennial strugglers and they were rewarded with qualification for Europe via the UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Mazzone was a well-travelled coach. By the time he arrived at Brescia for the 2000/01 season, he had already been at ten different clubs with varying degrees of success. His most notable achievements included leading Ascoli to their first ever promotion to Serie A and Fiorentina to a third place finish during the 1976/77 season.

Famed for his candid style of coaching as well as his tactical nous, Mazzone also had one of Italian footballs all-time greats at his disposal, Roberto Baggio. After not renewing his contract with Inter, Baggio had turned down numerous offers including Spanish giants Barcelona to remain in Italy, keen to prove his worth and stake a claim for a place in the Italian World Cup squad of 2002.

Despite being handed the captains armband and the number ten shirt, Baggio’s impact on the team was not immediate as he struggled with initial injury problems. The team suffered as a consequence and they started the season in dismal form, failing to win until match day eight when they beat Reggina 3-0.

The second half of the season was to be fundamental to their success as they went undefeated in their last 12 games. The catalyst for this turnaround was twofold. Firstly, Baggio and his ponytail were back and fully fit and secondly, Andrea Pirlo returned to the Rondinelle, the club in which his fledgling career had begun.

Pirlo, at the time an Inter player, had seen little playing time for the Nerazzurri and thus they decided to loan him back to his former club. It would turn out to be a shrewd piece of business for the Bresciani. Baggio went on to finish the season with ten goals and ten assist’s, with striker Dario Hubner the main beneficiary as he finished with seventeen goals.

Employing a 4-3-1-2 formation, Mazzone had Baggio playing behind two strikers in the ‘trequartista’ role. This allowed the Italian coach to utilise Pirlo as a ‘Regista’, a role we often see him occupy today. In essence, the graceful central midfielder was a deep-lying playmaker who sat just in front of the central defenders with two ball winning midfielders either side of him. It turned out to be an inspired decision and one that ultimately had a long term influence on Pirlo’s career. Pirlo went on to make ten appearances for the Biancoazzurri, contributing five assists, his most notable of which coming against Juventus. The playmaker did what he does best, picking the ball up in his own half and floating a perfectly weighted pass over the Juve defence for Baggio, who majestically controlled the ball, rounded Edwin Van Der Sar and rolled the ball into the empty net to give Brescia a late equaliser at the Stadio Delle Alpi.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RbgPScElG0

Despite some obvious defensive frailties, Brescia turned into draw specialists and along with their bitter Lombardy rivals Atalanta, they managed fifteen draws that season, only three being goalless. Drawing home and away with both Juventus and AC Milan proved that, on their day, they were a match for anyone.

The Leonessa’s successful campaign was largely down to the ingenuity of the Pirlo-Baggio combination and the goals of Hubner. Despite some flaws, the side’s flair was balanced with a hard working ethos and they made the most of their strengths and played to them with great effect. Albanian striker, Igil Tare, was a perfect foil for both Hubner and Baggio and gave Brescia the option to play directly or favour a more patient build up. Despite being the eighth lowest scorers in the league, the ability to grind out a result held Brescia in good stead after a tricky start to the season. The industrious Filippini twins along with Andres Yllana made it possible for the ball players like Pirlo to have more freedom and create opportunities for the front three.

Games that stood out include the draw away to Juventus as well as a home win over Baggio’s previous club Inter, the ponytailed forward converting a penalty to give Bresica a 1-0 win at the Stadio Mario Rigamonti. After finishing eighth, it appeared they had narrowly missed out on Europe until their local rivals Atalanta, who had finished seventh by means of a superior goal difference, declined the invitation to play in the Intertoto Cup, leaving the place to Brescia. It capped a historic season for Mazzone’s men.

At the end of the season Andrea Pirlo returned to Inter only to be sold to city rivals AC Milan. Brescia quickly replaced Pirlo with Barcelona legend Josep (Pep) Guardiola while Dario Hubner moved to Piacenza and was replaced by Luca Toni. Despite enjoying a fruitful Intertoto cup campaign, losing in the final to French side PSG, Brescia struggled domestically and only escaped relegation by a solitary point.

Today, with Brescia battling it out in Serie B once more, the glory days of Pirlo, Baggio, Guardiola and European football have become a distant memory. But Brescia fans will always be able to reminisce about the memories of the early 2000’s, the most prosperous period in the clubs 104 year history.

By Mark Neale    @neale_mark

[thegentlemanultra]

Roma and Lazio Curve closed after opposition fans clash

The Curva’s of AS Roma and SS Lazio have been closed after violence broke out between rival supporters following Sunday’s Derby della Capitale.

Lazio’s Curva Nord will be closed for their vital ‘Champions League qualification’ showdown against Napoli while Roma’s Curva Sud will be shut for both their matches against Empoli, in the Coppa Italia on January 20th and in Serie A on January 31st.

The decision was taken by the sports security committee of the interior ministry (the Comitato di analisi per la sicurezza delle manifestazioni sportive or Casms) however the Curve are unlikely to be empty. An exception has been made for fans holding a Tessera del Tifoso (supporters ID card) who will be the only supporters allowed in the Curve.

The clashes between Laziali and Romanisti took place in the surrounding areas of the Stadio Olimpico and according to reports from ANSA news agency, police worked through the night to track individuals responsible for the public disturbance.

According to Casms, the behaviour of both sets of supporters following the derby provoked “a high risk situation” and therefore they decided it was necessary to “implement preventive measures aimed at significantly punishing the Curve of the ultrà, the area of the ground in which violent behaviour usually originates.”

Closing the Curve is undoubtedly targeted at punishing the Ultras, many of whom refuse to own a Tessera del Tifoso as they see the card as a form of government repression of organised support.

Casms decision has also been taken in view of the riskssurrounding the Aquile’s upcoming fixture against Napoli this weekend. Furthermore, Napoletani have been banned from travelling to the Stadio Olimpico for fear of clashes between Napoli and Roma supporters. The deplorable violence that led to the death of Neapolitan, Ciro Espsotio, during the Coppa Italia final last May has neither been forgotten nor forgiven and there remains genuine hostility between Roma and Napoli Ultras.

The news leaves an unfortunate blotch on what was an otherwise fantastic Derby della Capitale in which honours were shared in an enthralling 2-2 draw. The game was played against the backdrop of a fervent atmosphere, one which also saw Roma fined€15,000 by Lega Serie A after firecrackers, flares and smoke bombs were let off in the Curva Sud.

Authorities will continue to monitor Lazio and Roma supporters over the coming weeks, ready to crackdown on any further incidents of violent behaviour.  

(Source: Gazetta dello Sport)

Follow our editor on twitter @LH_Ramon25

[thegentlemanultra]

JUVENTUS: A HISTORY IN BLACK AND WHITE BY ADAM DIGBY

Adam Digby (@Adz77) is a good friend of the site and is a fantastic writer. Italian football correspondent for @FourFourTwo & @BeInSportsUSA. and now author of “Juventus: A History in Black & White. This book will be special and I for one cannot wait (Richard Hall)

Football is a game of identity. Clubs are instantly recognisable through imagery, icons and by the colours they wear. Before the sport became omnipresent on television and the Internet, where fans were born and grow up supporting their local club, these identities were woven through generations of families and friends. Like many of football's grandest clubs, Juventus can point to the humblest of origins, far removed from the bright lights and multi-millionaire players gracing the sport today.

At the opening of the brand new Juventus Stadium on September 8, 2011, the Bianconeri held a ceremony which perfectly captured that history, and told the story of those early days. The club spared no expense in putting on a spectacular and emotion-laden display, and welcomed their supporters into this bright new dawn. Yet, looking past the hours of rehearsal and choreography, beyond the cheerleaders and former champions, the celebration of past triumphs and remembrance of tragic loss, it would be a moment that cost absolutely nothing which was easily the most priceless memory taken from the evening.

In the midst of all that glamour, noise and excitement, two men – surrounded by thousands of people and with millions more watching on television – sat on a bench and discussed their mutual appreciation of a club that both deeply love. It formed a wonderfully poignant moment, encapsulating everything that is good about Juventus, and indeed the wider landscape of Italian football. One of the two men was instantly recognisable to even the most casual observers of Serie A, the then-Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero, a man who embodies all the virtues of what became known as 'lo stile Juve', the innate style of the club.

A man who spent the majority of his nineteen-year Juventus career letting his feet do the talking would, on this occasion, find the perfect words. Del Piero acknowledged his own place within the club's storied past, as he told those in attendance; "I'm proud of the important pages I have written in our great history. Juve have always been a wonderful painting and a great painting needs a wonderful frame like this."

More knowledgeable onlookers would have also identified his companion on that bench as the former holder of many of the records that Del Piero has since broken. Before Roberto Baggio, Michel Platini and Gaetano Scirea came to wear the black and white, Giampiero Boniperti brought the club out of the long shadow cast by city rivals Torino. Returning as President after his retirement, he helped Gianni Agnelli construct the team that won the 1985 European Cup, as well as being partially responsible for actually bringing Del Piero to the club. His words were equally heartfelt and met just as rapturously by those gathered as he said "My history with Juventus started on 4 June 1946 and I'm still here 65 years on to hug you fans and remind the current players of a famous sentence: For Juve, winning is not important; it's the only thing that really matters."

That last phrase is one Boniperti has stated many times, and is taken almost as the club maxim by many. As he uttered those words once again, a few well-informed fans may have even gone so far as to recognise where the two legends were seated, and like everything else on this most perfect of nights, the choice was no accident. It was the bench where students from the city's Massimo D'Azeglio school sat all those years ago, hatching a plan to found the now giant club.

Get it here http://ockleybooks.co.uk/blog/32-coming-soon-juventus-a-history-in-black-and-white

[thegentlemanultra]

Hidetoshi Nakata: Calcio’s Samurai

He burst on to the world stage in the summer of 1998 as a skinny 21-year-old representing Japan in their historic first World Cup. His distinctive bright orange locks were not the only thing that made Hidetoshi Nakata stand out. This kid clearly had some talent, he came into the tournament in France having been crowned the Asian footballer of the year and you could see why. Every time Nakata got the ball you were on the edge of your seat, knowing he could make something happen out of nothing. During Japan’s opening game of the tournament, he looked at ease against Argentina’s established stars such as captain Diego Simeone, and Inter Milan’s Javier Zanetti.

Nakata may not have been well known in Europe at the time of France 98’ but back home in Japan he was a poster boy, the David Beckham of Asian football. He had the looks, the sponsorship deals and plenty of suitors. Prior to France 98’, Nakata not only scooped the aforementioned Asian footballer of the year but he also made a huge contribution to Japan’s qualification for the World Cup, scoring five goals and creating many more. At the time of the World Cup, Nakata was plying his trade at J League side, Bellmare Hiratsuka, the club where he started his career as an 18-year-old back in 1995.

After his glittering performances for Japan, it seemed just a matter of time before some of Europe’s big boys started sniffing around the rising star. However some eyebrows were raised when Nakata ended up in the Umbria region of Italy, signing for Ilario Castagner’s Perugia for a fee of around $4million. Sure it wasn’t the biggest club in the world but the Japanese midfielder was now playing in one of the world’s most prestigious leagues. During the turn of the 21st century, Serie A was a glamorous proposition; packed full of stars testing themselves against the best Europe had to offer.

Nakata immediately impressed, silencing his many critics who thought Perugia had signed a World Cup one hit wonder. A particular highlight of his debut season was his performance against defending champions Juventus. The playmaker wreaked havoc on the Bianconeri defence, scoring two goals in a narrow 4-3 loss. But the Japanese pin up boy also proved to be a prudent investment off the field. Crowds grew at Perugia games, largely thanks to the average attendance of 3,000 Japanese Nakata enthusiasts at each game. The clubs owners, the Gaucci family, were further rewarded by the order of 70, 000 “Nakata No7” Perugia shirts, which happened to be produced by the Gaucci-owned Galex sportswear firm. 

Nakata spent one and a half very impressive years in Umbria scoring 10 times in his first season for Perugia. This sort of form didn’t go unnoticed and it would prompt, Fabio Capello, to splash 42 Billion Italian lire (€21.691 million) to bring Nakata to AS Roma in the January transfer window of 2000.

Nakata’s greatest moment in a Roma shirt came towards the end of the 2000/01 season as the Lupi travelled to Turin to take on title rivals Juventus. Trailing 2-0, Nakata came on to replace Mr Roma himself, Francesco Totti. Nakata’s presence was immediately felt as he grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and turned it on its head. Firstly he produced an outrageous long range shot which had the imposing Edwin Van Der Sar comfortably beaten to bring the Giallorossi back into the game at 2-1. With only 10 minutes remaining he tried his luck from range once again. This time Van Der Sar was just about equal to Nakata’s strike however the big Dutchman could only parry the ball to the feet of Vincenzo Montella who made it 2-2. This point ensured Roma maintained a six point gap at the top and they would go on to win their third Scudetto. Nakata enjoyed a successful yet transient time in Rome and in the summer of 2001 he was on the move again. Despite alleged interest from Arsenal, Nakata would stay in Italy, this time heading north to Parma.

Parma had cash to spend having sold goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and defender Lilian Thuram to Juventus for megabucks. Coach Renzo Ulivieri was keen to recruit reinforcements for the clubs upcoming Champions League campaign and he invested 55 billion lire (€28.4 million) on the Japanese International. During this time, the 24-year-old was at the height of his powers, the combination of midfield vision, ball-winning tenacity and goal-scoring nous making him a class act.

Playing in the Champions League was a major factor in Nakata moving to Parma, as despite having the same opportunity at Roma, he would have undoubtedly been forced to play second fiddle to Francesco Totti. The playmaker would be an instant hit at the Stadio Ennio Tardini, just as he had been on his arrival in Italy. In his first season with the Emilia Romagna outfit, Nakata helped his side to an impressive Coppa Italia triumph. The influential midfielders defining moment came during the first leg of the Coppa Italia final against Juventus. With just seconds remaining and Parma trailing 2-0, Nakata produced a scissor kick volley from a corner to give the Crociati a crucial away goal. The Gialloblu went onto to lift the trophy after completing their comeback with a 1-0 win against Juve at the Stadio Tardini. This was probably the highlight of Nakata’s Parma career.

Financial demise saw Parma go from champions league contenders to relegations battlers and the cash strapped club were forced to let their prized assets go. As a consequence, Nakata joined Parma’s neighbours and rivals, Bologna, on loan for the remainder of the 2003/04 season. The following year, he completed a move to Fiorentina where he would spend his last season in Serie A. His Italian fairy tale was over.

The pioneering Japanese footballer would spend the 2005/2006 season in the English Premier League with Bolton Wonderers before retiring from the game after the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Despite only being aged 29, Nakata left the game to which he had dedicated so much time simply because he no longer enjoyed playing. The decision encapsulated the sincerity Nakata had displayed throughout his career.

Nakata remains the greatest Asian footballer to grace Italian football and he perhaps remains Asia’s most talented export. For that reason, Italian football can be thankful for witnessing a great at the peak of his game. Between the years of 1998 and 2005 he lit up many a Stadio on a Sunday afternoon and gave fans across the peninsula some wonderful memories.

By Giovanni Dougall @giovannid86

[thegentlemanultra]

Serie A classic: When Ronaldo faced Baggio

Ronaldo had become the world's most expensive player when he signed for Inter from Barcelona and Roberto Baggio was trying to resurrect his career at Bologna. When they met in September 1997, the match became an instant classic.

The 1997-98 Serie A season promised much for the Nerazzurri as they changed coaches and brought in Ronaldo from Barcelona. In their second game of the season they faced Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. The match would turn out to be a classic and it would not all be focused around the Brazilian.

Inter dismissed Roy Hodgson towards the end of the 1996-97 season and replaced him with Luigi Simoni. The club invested heavily in the summer, especially in Ronaldo, who cost a world record fee of £19.5m. Their squad included the Italy goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca, a young Javier Zanetti, the veteran Giuseppe Bergomi, Youri Djorkaeff, Diego Simeone, Ivan Zamorano and Alvaro Recoba. A title challenge was on.

The season started with a 2-1 win against Brescia and the next game against Bologna was seen as a formality even though they had recruited Roberto Baggio, who had moved from AC Milan to resuscitate his career and earn a place in the national team for the 1998 World Cup.

The game started well for Inter as Fabio Galante headed in a corner for the away team in the early stages. A packed Stadio Renato was stunned; it fell even quieter as Maurizio Ganz pounced on a through ball and slotted it past goalkeeper Francesco Antonioli on 38 minutes. It was cruel on Bologna, as they had peppered Inter's goal after going one-nil down but the heroics of Pagliuca had kept it level.

Just before the break, Bologna were awarded a free-kick. Up stepped Baggio, who curled a sublime shot over the wall giving Pagliuca no chance. It was no more than Bologna deserved and set up an enthralling second half.

When the game kicked off for the next 45, the pace was electric and Inter's goal was under threat again. Then, against the run of play, Ronaldo received the ball on the edge of the box and, with some superb footwork, dragged it past two of defenders and put himself level with the keeper. He smashed the ball home and Inter led 3-1.

Bologna were not dead yet and their persistence paid off when Taribo West gave away a poor penalty six minutes later. Baggio slotted it home, sending his international team-mate the wrong way in the process.

The goal of the game came on 66 minutes and it fell to Inter. A quick counterattacking move caught out the now seriously offensive Bologna side and, when Djorkaeff got hold of the ball 25 yards out, the home side were in trouble.

The Frenchman looked up to see Antonioli off his line, before delicately chipping the ball over him. It was the work of a master craftsman. The game had been a sign of the power of Serie A and a sign of the quality of games it produced.

Inter went on to have a successful season, finishing second in the league behind Juventus and beating Lazio in the Uefa Cup final. Ronaldo scored 35 goals in all competitions and justified his price tag. Baggio also had a fantastic season with Bologna, so much so that he signed for Inter the very next year.

[thegentlemanultra]

William Garbutt-Pioneer and Revolutionary

When thinking of Italian football’s pioneers, William Garbutt may not be the first name that springs to mind.

Born just outside of Stockport in 1883, Garbutt was a professional footballer who played for teams such as Reading, Woolwich Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers. However his injury blighted career led him to retire at just 29-years-old and this prompted Garbutt to take the unusual route of searching for work abroad.

He immigrated to Genoa and various reasons are given as to why Liguria was his chosen destination. These varied from looking for work on the docks to being approached by future Italy World Cup coach, Vittorio Pozzo, who had watched Garbutt play for Blackburn Rovers. Either way Genoa C.F.C was the team who stood to benefit from the experience that Garbutt had gained from his days as a professional player in England.

Garbutt took the reins at the Grifoni in 1912 and although not a coach by trade, he introduced a training regime never previously seen in Italy. Concentrating on fitness, tactics and the technical ability of his players the results were evident the following season as Genoa finished second in the Northern Championship in 1913. Garbutt’s attention to detail quickly earned him the respect of his players and they addressed their head coach as “mister”, a legacy that remains in Calcio today!

In 1915, Genoa won their first championship in eleven seasons despite having to wait until 1919 and the end of World War 1 to be awarded their title. Controversy did surround the Italian Football Federations decision to award the title to the Rossoblu as they had not mathematically won the championship when the beginning of World War One interrupted the season.

Garbutt served his country during the war and after spending some time back in England he returned to Italy. With a substantial pay rise, Garbutt turned Genoa into an unbeatable side as they won the 1922/23 Scudetto without tasting defeat.

The following season, they defended their title despite suffering three losses. This was to be the last of Genoa’s nine Scudetti as the following season they lost a highly controversial play-off match against a Bologna side that had close links to the Fascist Leandro Arpinati, all this set against the back drop of Benito Mussolini coming to power.

After helping Vittorio Pozzo prepare the Italian squad for the 1924 Olympic Games, Garbutt decided to embark on a new adventure as he went in search of a new challenge. In 1927/28, Garbutt took control of AS Roma and during his two year tenure he guided the capital club to success in the Coppa Coni, the then equivalent of the Coppa Italia. Following his Roman adventure, the Englishman and his wife, Anna, made a life changing move to Naples as Garbutt became the coach of SSC Napoli.

 During his six seasons with the Partenopei, they finished third on three consecutive occasions (1932-34) which at that point were the clubs highest ever finishing positions. Whilst living in Naples Garbutt and his wife adopted a young orphan girl called, Concettina Ciletti, a move that endeared the family to the locals. Continuing his football journey away from his homeland, Garbutt and his family moved to Spain where the Englishman won a Spanish title with Athletic Bilbao before fleeing the country as civil war broke out. Garbutt would return to Italy once again, this time to take charge of AC Milan for part of the 1936/37 season, taking them from tenth to a credible fourth place.

A return to his ‘home’ city beckoned and Garbutt took charge of his beloved Genoa for a second time. During his first season back, the Grifoni finished third however his tenure was interrupted again, this time by the start of World War Two. During the years of the Second World War, Italy’s alliance with Germany meant Garbutt and his family endured a period of internment and fearing for their lives, they assumed false identities. They eventually settled in the Emilia Romagna region of Imola where tragedy struck, as Garbutt’s wife was killed in May 1944 in a bombing raid.

The war ended and Garbutt returned to England however Genoa were keen to have their legendary “Mister” back at the helm. The experienced coach was persuaded and  on September 22, 1946, Genoa played Brescia at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris and the crowd stood to applaud the now ageing Englishman, who saw his team cruise to a 4-0 win. Nevertheless, there would be no fairy tale championship title for Garbutt as Genoa finished tenth. He would finally retire in 1949, by which time life had taken its toll and he was an ill man.

In 1951, the Genoa icon left the city with a heavy heart, returning to England, a country in which he had lived for just one year since 1912. As such, while Garbutt’s exploits in Italy had secured his name in Calcio history, he received no hero’s welcome returning to England. Indeed, when he died at the age of 84 in the care of his adopted Italian daughter, Italian newspapers covered his passing in detail while not one British newspaper wrote an obituary. 

“Mister” William Garbutt was a pioneer and took a path that even modern English mangers are very reluctant to take. He took Genoa to heights they have since been unable to scale and his success in Italy and Spain has left a lasting legacy abroad. Garbutt’s contribution to Calcio is still fondly remembered on the peninsula andhas seen him labelled as one of Italian footballs Anglo-fathers.  

  By Mark Neale @neale_mark