A.C. Siena
Encyclopedia
Associazione Calcio Siena (often referred to as 'Robur' or simply 'Siena') is an Italian football
club based in Siena
.
The club currently plays in Serie A
, having gained promotion from Serie B
at the end of the 2010-2011 season.
The club plays its home games at the Stadio Artemio Franchi
. The ground's capacity is only 15,725 and is located in Siena
itself, whereas its more famous namesake is located in Florence
. In March of 2011, A.C. Siena announced plans to move to a new stadium at Isola d’Arbia, at the southern end of the city. The 20,000 seat stadium features a unique below-ground design and was awarded an MIPIM AR Future Projects Award
for 2011.
The team's home colours are white and black.
The team finally became known as Associazione Calcio Siena in 1933/1934. In 1934/1935 Siena were promoted for the first time to Serie B. In the post-war season 1945–46
, Siena played in the top division of Italian football for the first time. In that season, a mixed wartime league composed of Serie A and Serie B teams was played. Some of the southern sides that took part in the top division, including Siena, were Serie B teams, while northern Serie B teams played at the second level with the Serie C teams. Therefore, although Siena played in the top division, it was not considered as having played in Serie A during that season, not having qualified for the National Round.
After 55 years spent playing in several minor leagues, Siena were promoted back to Serie B for the start of the 2000/2001 season. After enjoying a good season on 2000/2001, the following season saw Siena in serious trouble, and coach Giuseppe Papadopulo
, first sacked but then recalled, was able to save the team on the last day of the season.
The following season, again with Papadopulo as head coach, saw Siena being promoted to Serie A for the first time proper, led by players such as Rodrigo Taddei
and Pinga. It had been 58 years since their last appearance in the top division of Italian football.
In the 2003/2004 campaign, the first Serie A season in the club's history, Siena ended in a respectable 13th place.
In the 2004/05 Serie A campaign, with Luigi De Canio
as head coach, Siena struggled for long periods of the season, languishing in the relegation zone for a great part of the campaign, and with the team drawing far too many games and barely recording any wins, they looked almost certain to be relegated. However, a resurgence of form towards of the end of the season gave them hope, and a 2–1 win against already relegated Atalanta
on the last day saw them secure safety and an acceptable 14th place in the table.
The 2005/2006 season also saw Siena fighting hard and it successfully kept its place in Serie A. They ended the season in 17th place. For the 2006–2007 season
, Mario Beretta
, who led Parma
in the previous season, was appointed as new head coach. He kept Siena in Serie A after a 2–1 home win against Lazio
in the final matchday.
During the 2006–07 season, club chairman Paolo De Luca, who took over in 2001 and helped the club to their first historical Serie A promotion, started talks to sell AC Siena to a conglomerate of Tuscan businessmen led by Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, president of Valle del Giovenco. The bid was finalized on 30 March 2007, one day before De Luca died after a long illness.
The head coach for the 2007–08 campaign
was expected to be Andrea Mandorlini
, but he left the club by mutual consent on 12 November. Former coach Mario Beretta
once again took charge. http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/nov12n.html
The club also explored the possibility of changing its denomination in order to include the name of their main sponsor, Monte dei Paschi di Siena
. On 9 July 2007 the club announced it had changed their denomination to A.C. Siena Montepaschi. However, the name change needed to be accepted by the Italian Football Federation in order to become official: After the refusal by FIGC, this idea was abandoned.
The current president of the club is Massimo Mezzaroma, while the vice president is Valentina Mezzaroma. In the 2010/11 Serie Bwin, Siena used the new team logo that was designed by Omar Zu'Mot. On the 7th of May 2011, A.C. Siena was once again promoted to the Serie A
after finishing in the runner-up spot in Serie B.
Football in Italy
Football is the most popular sport in Italy. The Italian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup 4 times , trailing only Brazil . Italy's club sides have won 27 major European trophies, making them the most successful European nation in the subject of football...
club based in Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
.
The club currently plays in Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
, having gained promotion from Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...
at the end of the 2010-2011 season.
The club plays its home games at the Stadio Artemio Franchi
Stadio Artemio Franchi (Siena)
Stadio Artemio Franchi is a multi-purpose stadium in Siena, Italy. It is currently used mostly for football matches and the home of A.C. Siena. The stadium was built in 1923 and holds 15,373....
. The ground's capacity is only 15,725 and is located in Siena
Siena
Siena is a city in Tuscany, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Siena.The historic centre of Siena has been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site. It is one of the nation's most visited tourist attractions, with over 163,000 international arrivals in 2008...
itself, whereas its more famous namesake is located in Florence
Stadio Artemio Franchi (Florence)
Stadio Artemio Franchi is a football stadium in Florence, Italy. It is currently the home of ACF Fiorentina. The stadium was temporarily noticed as the host of Italy's Six Nations matches from 2012. The old nickname of the stadium was "Comunale."...
. In March of 2011, A.C. Siena announced plans to move to a new stadium at Isola d’Arbia, at the southern end of the city. The 20,000 seat stadium features a unique below-ground design and was awarded an MIPIM AR Future Projects Award
MIPIM AR Future Projects Award
The MIPIM Architectural Review Future Projects Awards is an award program for unbuilt or incomplete projects spanning across eight categories. It is organised and awarded annually by the MIPIM in cooperation with the monthly international magazine Architectural Review...
for 2011.
The team's home colours are white and black.
History
Formed in 1904 as Società Studio e Divertimento (Society for Study and Entertainment), a sports club characterized by a black and white check jersey (derived from the city of Siena coat of arms), it opened its football section, named Società Sportiva Robur, in 1908. Today the name "Robur" is widely used by the local supporters to distinguish the football team from the two basket ones, "Mens Sana" and "Virtus".The team finally became known as Associazione Calcio Siena in 1933/1934. In 1934/1935 Siena were promoted for the first time to Serie B. In the post-war season 1945–46
Serie A 1945-46
The 1945-46 Serie A championship is not usually included in the statistics, because some of the southern sides that took part to the competition were Serie B teams, while northern Serie B teams played at the second level with the Serie C teams...
, Siena played in the top division of Italian football for the first time. In that season, a mixed wartime league composed of Serie A and Serie B teams was played. Some of the southern sides that took part in the top division, including Siena, were Serie B teams, while northern Serie B teams played at the second level with the Serie C teams. Therefore, although Siena played in the top division, it was not considered as having played in Serie A during that season, not having qualified for the National Round.
After 55 years spent playing in several minor leagues, Siena were promoted back to Serie B for the start of the 2000/2001 season. After enjoying a good season on 2000/2001, the following season saw Siena in serious trouble, and coach Giuseppe Papadopulo
Giuseppe Papadopulo
Giuseppe Papadopulo is an Italian football manager and former player, last in charge as head coach of Torino.-Career:...
, first sacked but then recalled, was able to save the team on the last day of the season.
The following season, again with Papadopulo as head coach, saw Siena being promoted to Serie A for the first time proper, led by players such as Rodrigo Taddei
Rodrigo Taddei
Rodrigo Ferrante Taddei is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Roma. He plays as a right midfielder or an attacking midfielder and is notable for his dribbling and versatility.He also holds Italian nationality.-Club career:...
and Pinga. It had been 58 years since their last appearance in the top division of Italian football.
In the 2003/2004 campaign, the first Serie A season in the club's history, Siena ended in a respectable 13th place.
In the 2004/05 Serie A campaign, with Luigi De Canio
Luigi De Canio
Luigi "Gigi" De Canio is an Italian football manager and former player.-Player:De Canio, a full back, played mostly with Serie C1 and Serie C2 teams, his lone season in Serie B being 1979–80 with Matera, marking his debut in the division on September 16, 1979 against Genoa...
as head coach, Siena struggled for long periods of the season, languishing in the relegation zone for a great part of the campaign, and with the team drawing far too many games and barely recording any wins, they looked almost certain to be relegated. However, a resurgence of form towards of the end of the season gave them hope, and a 2–1 win against already relegated Atalanta
Atalanta
Atalanta is a character in Greek mythology.-Legend:Atalanta was the daughter of Iasus , a Boeotian or an Arcadian princess . She is often described as a goddess. Apollodorus is the only one who gives an account of Atalanta’s birth and upbringing...
on the last day saw them secure safety and an acceptable 14th place in the table.
The 2005/2006 season also saw Siena fighting hard and it successfully kept its place in Serie A. They ended the season in 17th place. For the 2006–2007 season
Serie A 2006-07
The Serie A 2006–2007 season began September 10, 2006. It was scheduled to begin on August 26 and 27, but was then postponed due to the Serie A scandal of 2006. It is the 104th Italian championship ever held, the first without the presence of Juventus, and the 75th Serie A league, the first...
, Mario Beretta
Mario Beretta
Mario Beretta is an Italian association football manager, last serving as head coach of Brescia in the Serie A league.-Career:Beretta had a short career as footballer, playing only for Pro Patria of Serie D....
, who led Parma
Parma F.C.
Parma Football Club , commonly referred to as just Parma, is an Italian professional football club based in Parma, Emilia–Romagna that will compete in Serie A for the 2011–12 season, having finished in twelfth position last season. Founded as Verdi Foot Ball Club in July 1913, the club changed its...
in the previous season, was appointed as new head coach. He kept Siena in Serie A after a 2–1 home win against Lazio
S.S. Lazio
Società Sportiva Lazio, commonly referred to as Lazio, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. The team, founded in 1900, play in the Serie A and have spent most of their history in the top tier of Italian football...
in the final matchday.
During the 2006–07 season, club chairman Paolo De Luca, who took over in 2001 and helped the club to their first historical Serie A promotion, started talks to sell AC Siena to a conglomerate of Tuscan businessmen led by Giovanni Lombardi Stronati, president of Valle del Giovenco. The bid was finalized on 30 March 2007, one day before De Luca died after a long illness.
The head coach for the 2007–08 campaign
Serie A 2007-08
The 2007-08 Serie A football season was the seventy-sixth since its establishment, and started on August 26, 2007 and ended on May 18, 2008. Internazionale successfully defended the championship on the final day of the season, finishing first with 85 points, three ahead of Roma.-Plusvalenze...
was expected to be Andrea Mandorlini
Andrea Mandorlini
Andrea Mandorlini is an Italian football manager and former defender, currently in charge as head coach of Verona.-Playing career:...
, but he left the club by mutual consent on 12 November. Former coach Mario Beretta
Mario Beretta
Mario Beretta is an Italian association football manager, last serving as head coach of Brescia in the Serie A league.-Career:Beretta had a short career as footballer, playing only for Pro Patria of Serie D....
once again took charge. http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/nov12n.html
The club also explored the possibility of changing its denomination in order to include the name of their main sponsor, Monte dei Paschi di Siena
Monte dei Paschi di Siena
Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena S.p.A. is the oldest surviving bank in the world. Founded in 1472 by the Magistrate of the city state of Siena, Italy, as a mount of piety, it has been operating ever since. Today it consists of approximately 3,000 branches, 33,000 employees and 4.5 million...
. On 9 July 2007 the club announced it had changed their denomination to A.C. Siena Montepaschi. However, the name change needed to be accepted by the Italian Football Federation in order to become official: After the refusal by FIGC, this idea was abandoned.
The current president of the club is Massimo Mezzaroma, while the vice president is Valentina Mezzaroma. In the 2010/11 Serie Bwin, Siena used the new team logo that was designed by Omar Zu'Mot. On the 7th of May 2011, A.C. Siena was once again promoted to the Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
after finishing in the runner-up spot in Serie B.
Current squad
Out on loan
Retired numbers
- 4
Michele MignaniMichele MignaniMichele Mignani is an Italian association football former player, who currently works as a youth coach of Siena....
, centre backDefender (football)Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
(1996–97), (1998–06)