Piacenza Calcio - last updated on 19 February 2009
(Courtesy of Johnny Beaufays)
Club name: Piacenza Calcio SpA
Foundation: 1919
City: Piacenza
Colours: Red and white
Website: www.piacenzacalcio.it
Honours:
Serie B - 1 (1994-95)
Serie C - 2 (1986-87, 1990-91)
Anglo-Italian Cup - 1 (1986)
A bit of history:
From the late 1800s football had began to gather popularity in Piacenza and was introduced into the college system in an improvised manner alongside cycling, gymnastics, archery and others. The spark that helped ignite football in the Emilia-Romagna based city was a student tournament in 1908; the football competition was played out amongst teams from various cities, eventually Collegio Morigi from Piacenza won.
The early football played in the city however, was always limited to "friendlies" apposed to any teams been entered into a league. Until Piacenza Calcio was founded in 1919 with the first club president as Giovanni Dosi. Dosi was ambitious he took control of every social, technical and administrative profile with all the attentions aim at becoming a club participating in the national championship under the FIGC.
In the first season, the club played 12 games, the opponents included; Parma, Reggiana, Spal, and prominent local side Bologna. The season was a great start for Piacenza, who only lost one game (1-0 to Bologna) gaining promotion to Prima Categoria, the first championship winning squad included the players; Fontana, Armani, Meani, Sala I, Marelli, Paleari, Cella, Galimberti, Bossola, Giiumanini, Boselli, Ronchetti, Ventura, Sala II, Raina, Ziliani I, Ziliani II, Avogadri, Sala III and Antonini.
After spending much of the club's early life in the regional leagues, they entered into Serie C for the 1935/1936 season; coming close to gaining promotion into Serie B during 1938 but lost out to Fanfulla.
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. During 1952 for the second time the club grazed promotion but lost out this time to Cagliari.
The club were punished for illicit sportsmanship in 1956 and were thus relegated down 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 the 1969, under coach Tino Molina and president Vincenzo Romagnoli.
Piacenza's history until recent times was mostly undistinguished, although having a brief spell in Serie B in the 1940s and further spells in 1969-70, 1975-76 and 1987-89.
Promotion in 1991 saw a rise in the side's fortunes under coach Gigi Cagni with the club promoted to Serie A for the first time in 1993.
The side contained players such as midfielder Daniele Moretti, winger Francesco Turrini and forward Giampiero Piovani. They spent 1993-94 holding their own in mid-table and even on the fringes of the battle for a UEFA Cup, but were unfortunate to be relegated on the final day. The club wisely chose to retain Cagni and most of his squad, and they would achieve promotion as Serie B champions in 1995.
The following five years saw the club win many friends 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 where they lasted only two years this time, despite the outstanding form shown by players like midfielder Enzo Maresca. The club has since remained in Serie B without threatening to mount a promotion challenge. On the final day of the 2006-07 Serie B season, the team needed a victory to force a Serie B promotion playoff, but were held to a draw, and thus the top 3 gained automatic promotion.
Club crests: (roll on the crest to get more informations)
Piacenza Calcio
