Piacenza Calcio 1919

Piacenza
Full name Piacenza Calcio 1919 S.s.d.r.l
Nickname(s) I Biancorossi (The Red-and-Whites),
I Papaveri (The Poppies),
I Lupi (The Wolves)
Founded 1919
2012 (refounded)
Ground Stadio Leonardo Garilli,
Piacenza, Italy
Ground Capacity 21,668
Chairman Marco Gatti
Manager Arnaldo Franzini
League Lega Pro
2015–16 Serie D, Girone B 1st (promoted)
Website Club home page

Piacenza Calcio 1919 is an Italian association football club based in Piacenza, Emilia–Romagna. The club currently plays in Lega Pro, the third level of Italian football.

History

Foundation of Piacenza F.C.

Piacenza Football Club was founded in 1919 with the first club president as Giovanni Dosi. Dosi was an ambitious manager, taking control of every social, technical and administrative aspect of the club, with the sole focus at bringing the club into the national championship under the FIGC.

After spending much of the club's early life in the regional leagues, they entered into Serie C for the 1935–36 season, coming close to gaining promotion into Serie B during 1938 but lost out to Fanfulla.

From Serie B to Serie D

After World War II, Piacenza competed in Serie B for the first time, competing there for two seasons before falling back down to Serie C in 1948.

The club were punished for illicit sportsmanship in 1956 and were relegated to Serie D. This proved to be quite a heavy blow for the club as they would continue to yo-yo between Serie C and D until 1964. Piacenza finally returned to Serie B in 1969, under coach Tino Molina and president Vincenzo Romagnoli.

Piacenza's history until recent times was mostly undistinguished, with brief spells in Serie B in the 1940s and further spells in 1969–70, 1975–76 and 1987–88 to 1988–89.

Between Serie A and Serie B

Promotion in 1991 saw a rise in the side's fortunes under coach Gigi Cagni with the club promoted to Serie A for the first time in 1993, but was immediately relegated in the next season, despite the presence of players such as midfielder Daniele Moretti, winger Francesco Turrini and forward Giampietro Piovani. For much of the season, Piacenza had battled into mid-table and were even a few points short of a European place, but were relegated on the last day of the season in a tight scrap. The club wisely chose to retain Cagni and most of his squad, and they would achieve promotion as Serie B champions in 1995.

The following five years saw the club win many supporters with its all-Italian lineup and successful battles against relegation. In 1997 the club acquired legendary hard man defender Pietro Vierchowod. Despite his advancing years, Vierchowod proved an outstanding purchase, more than holding his own in defence and even scoring decisive goals in the relegation battle. Relegation in 2000 was followed by an instant return to Serie A for two years with outstanding form shown by players like midfielder Enzo Maresca.

The club has since remained in Serie B without threatening to mount a promotion challenge.

However following a poor 2010–11 Serie B season, Piacenza found themselves in a relegation playoff against Albinoleffe which they lost due to Albinoleffe's higher league position.

2012: Final bankruptcy after relegation

On 22 March 2012 Piacenza Calcio in strong financial difficulty was declared bankrupt by the court of Piacenza.[1] In this season it was ranked 15th and relegated from Lega Pro Prima Divisione to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione after play-out. On 19 June 2012 the club was finally declared bankrupt and the team was disbanded.[2]

The refoundation: from Lupa Piacenza to Piacenza Calcio 1919

Following the bankruptcy of Piacenza Football Club, regional amateur club Libertaspes, recently promoted in the season 2011–12 to Eccellenza Emilia–Romagna after winning Promozione Emilia–Romagna/A, was renamed Lupa Piacenza[3] after the obtaining the brand for four years by the association Salva Piace,[4] in order to continue its football history.

In the summer of 2013 it was renamed Piacenza Calcio 1919.[5]

For the season 2013–14 it is placed in the group B of Serie D with the fellow citizens of Pro Piacenza.[6]

Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
Italy GK Stefano Cabrini
Albania GK Elhan Kastrati
Italy GK Pierpaolo Boccanera
Italy GK Alessandro Terzi
Italy DF Andrea Cigognini
Italy DF Luca Battistotti
Italy DF Matteo Colombini
Italy DF Paolo Contini
Italy DF Marco Ruffini
Italy DF Diego Di Cecco
Italy DF Davide Sentinelli
Italy MF Jacopo Silva
Italy MF Alessandro Cazzamalli
No. Position Player
Italy MF Saber Hraiech
Italy MF Andrea Mira
Italy MF Gaetano Porcino
France MF Anthony Taugourdeau
Italy FW Stefano Franchi
Italy FW Francesco Galuppini
Italy FW Enrico Gherardi
Italy FW Adriano Marzeglia
Italy FW Luca Matteassi
Italy FW Simone Minincleri
Italy FW Lorenzo Pezzi

Stadium

Piacenza Calcio 1919 play their home matches at the 21,668 capacity, Stadio Leonardo Garilli, located in the city of Piacenza.

Notable former managers

See Category:Piacenza Calcio 1919 managers.

Honours

Anglo-Italian Cup

Serie B

Serie C

Serie D

Seconda Divisione

Emilian Championship:

(*) Finished equal first position but lost play-off game to A.C. Fanfulla 1874

References

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