A.S. Varese 1910
Encyclopedia
A.S. Varese 1910 is an Italian football
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 from Varese
Varese
Varese is a town and comune in north-western Lombardy, northern Italy, 55 km north of Milan.It is the capital of the Province of Varese. The hinterland or urban part of the city is called Varesotto.- Geography :...

, founded 22 March 1910. It currently plays in 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...

, ranked one division below 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...

 in the Italian football league
Italian Football League
Italian Football League is an American football league in Italy.-History:It was founded in 2008, taking over previous league's significance...

.

History

The club was formed on 22 March 1910, as Varese Football Club, with the goal of promoting football and other open air games. All members, both players and management, paid dues of 1 Lira every month. The club's colours were white and purple and the local market place doubled as the club's first ground. A rope fenced off the pitch from the public, and dressing rooms were improvised in an alley restaurant.

The club played numerous friendly matches before joining any sort of league or organised competition. Early opponents included the "Aurora" of Busto Arsizio
Busto Arsizio
Busto Arsizio is a city and comune in the region of Lombardy, in northern Italy, 25 km north of Milan in the province of Varese.The economy of Busto Arsizio is mainly based on industry and commerce.-History:...

, the "Libertas" of Gallarate
Gallarate
Gallarate is a city and comune of Lombardy, northern Italy, in the Province of Varese. It has a population of some 51,700....

, the Luino, the Unione Sportiva Milanese, the Ausonia, and the great Inter Milan. The club took the first steps on the Italian league ladder by entering the Lega Regionale Lombarda in 1914, and the first official championship saw the Varesini playing in their original colours of purple and white silk. The club's American goalkeeper, Sormani, distinguished himself in this first official season as one of Varese's star players.

In May 1915 the war interrupted the season, but by 1919, World War I had ended and life returned to its regular rhythm with a resurgence of interest in football and other recreational activities.

In 1926–27, the club's colours became white and red ("bianco-rosso"), to match the colours of the city. In the quarter of Masnago, a stadium named Stadio del Littorio was constructed. It was renamed in September 1950 to Stadio Franco Ossola, in honour of a player who had transferred from Varese to Torino Calcio and died in the in 1949 Superga air disaster
Superga air disaster
The Superga air disaster took place on Wednesday, 4 May 1949, when a plane carrying almost the entire Torino A.C. football squad, popularly known as Il Grande Torino, crashed into the hill of Superga near Turin killing all 31 aboard including 18 players, club officials, journalists accompanying the...

.

Varese, a town not far from Milan, is highly regarded by various athletes who dress "bianco-rosso" (white-red) thanks to Military Territorial Compartments (between the most known players Giuseppe Meazza
Giuseppe Meazza
Giuseppe "Peppino" Meazza , also known as il Balilla, was an Italian footballer playing mainly for Internazionale in the 1930s, scoring 242 goals in 365 games for the club. He led Italy to win two World Cups: in 1934 and in 1938, winning the Golden Ball Award in 1934. He is widely considered the...

).

In 1964, with the entrepreneur Giovanni Borghi as president, the Varese achieved a place 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...

 after two consecutive promotions from the Serie C
Serie C
The Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico , commonly known as Lega Pro , is the governing body that runs the third and fourth highest football divisions in Italy, the Prima Divisione and Seconda Divisione respectively. It also includes the sole professional club of San Marino...

. Among the notable players who have worn the white and red shirt are Pietro Anastasi
Pietro Anastasi
Pietro Anastasi , nicknamed Petruzzu 'u turcu by fans, was an Italian footballer, playing in the striker role.Anastasi was born in Catania, Sicily. During his career he played for Massiminiana, Varese, Juventus, Internazionale and Ascoli...

, Roberto Bettega
Roberto Bettega
Roberto Bettega is an Italian former footballer. Bettega was regarded as a player of noteworthy intelligence and at his prime was one of the most feared strikers . Bettega is mostly remembered for his time at his hometown club Juventus...

, and the World Cup winners Claudio Gentile
Claudio Gentile
Claudio Gentile is an Italian football coach and former defender of the 1970s and 1980s. Gentile appeared for Italy in two World Cup tournaments, including playing in the winning Italian team in the 1982 final. His club career was notably spent with Juventus for whom he made almost 300 league...

, Giampiero Marini
Giampiero Marini
Giampiero Marini is an Italian former footballer who played as a midfielder.Nicknamed Malik by fans, in Serie A was played 256 matches and scored 10 goals in teams Fanfulla, Varese, Reggina, Triestina and Internazionale Milano, won one title in season 1979/80 and two Coppa Italia in 1978 and 1982...

 and Riccardo Sogliano
Riccardo Sogliano
Riccardo Sogliano is a retired Italian professional football player.He played for 7 seasons in the Serie A for Varese F.C. and A.C. Milan....

. After a decade in the top-flight, the golden era of Varese ended with relegation in 1975.

Since further relegation in 1985, the club had not succeeded in returning to Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...

: 10 of the next 20 seasons were spent in C2, where the club were readmitted after promotion from Campionato Nazionale Dilettanti in 1994.

The club returned to the C1 Series within four years thanks to the work of general manager Stefano Capozucca, brought to Varese by the entrepreneur Claudio Milanese, who was then co-owner of the club with the President, Paolo Binda, and other lesser associates.

In 2001, after financial conflicts between entrepreneur Gianvittorio Gandolfi and sponsors SiViaggi and Cit
CIT
-Educational institutions:*California Institute of Technology *Canberra Institute of Technology*Carnegie Institute of Technology, the College of Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University...

, the Turri family arrived at the club, bringing a series of innovations but also of problems and unkept promises. In the summer of 2004, under the Turri-Tacconi co-presidency, came economic financial ruin that made the club sink to its lowest ebb.

In July 2004, the bankrupt Varese Football Club was reformed under a new board, and called A.S. Varese 1910. The club was forced to start afresh in the Eccellenza
Eccellenza
Eccellenza is the sixth level of Italian football. It is a regional league, composed of 28 divisions divided geographically. All 20 regions are represented by at least one division except for Piedmont and Aosta Valley which share 2 divisions...

 league. The Sogliano family took control of the team, with Riccardo Sogliano
Riccardo Sogliano
Riccardo Sogliano is a retired Italian professional football player.He played for 7 seasons in the Serie A for Varese F.C. and A.C. Milan....

 assuming overall control. The former player of Varese and A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...

, has experience controlling clubs 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...

; Parma F.C.
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...

 and the Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa C.F.C.
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, commonly referred to simply as Genoa , is a professional Italian football club based in the city of Genoa, Liguria...

.

In its first season the new board suffered from delay and inexperience, and promotion to Serie D
Serie D
Serie D is the top level of the Italian non-professional football association called Lega Nazionale Dilettanti. The association represents over a million football players and thousands of football teams across Italy. Serie D ranks just below Lega Pro Seconda Divisione , and is thus considered the...

 was missed narrowly due to points dropped early on in the season to the club's eventual title-rivals. Club President Peo Maroso and General Manager Luca Sogliano, son of Riccardo and also a former player, decided to instate a new first-team coach from within. Devis Mangia
Devis Mangia
Devis Mangia is an Italian association football manager, currently in charge as head coach of Serie A club Palermo.-Early years:...

, at just 32 years of age, is the youngest head coach of the division and, probably, the entire league.

The club has also had problems with its supporters (in particular a supporters group named "Blood and Honour
Blood and Honour
Blood & Honour is a neo-Nazi music promotion network and political group founded in 1987 with links to Combat 18 and composed of white power skinheads and other white nationalists....

") who treated black players badly. It happened in spring of 2002 with French players, Mohamed Benhassen, Samir Benhassen and the Cameroonian goalkeeper, Andrè Joel Ebouéhttp://www2.varesenews.it/articoli/2002/maggio/varese/6-5varesecalcio.htm. They are at the stadium every weekend and often fight with rival supporters.

In season 2005/2006, Varese won the Serie D/A league, thus gaining promotion to Serie C2, three matches before the end of the season.

In season 2008/2009, they won the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, and were promoted to Lega Pro Prima Divisione, the third level of Italian football system. Varese finished 2nd in Girone (Group) A of League Pro Prima Divisione and qualified for promotion play-offs at next season. Varese defeated Benevento
Benevento Calcio
Benevento Calcio is an Italian association football club, based in Benevento, Campania. The club was founded in 1929 and refounded in 2005. Currently it plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione/A.-History:...

 in semi-final and Cremonese
U.S. Cremonese
Unione Sportiva Cremonese is an Italian football club, based in Cremona. The club was founded in 1903. Cremonese played the 2005/2006 season in Serie B, having won Serie C1/A the previous season. However, in the 2005/2006 Serie B campaign, Cremonese came out twenty-first, being therefore relegated...

 in final and returned to Serie B
Serie B
Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the...

 after 25 years of absence with making second consecutive promotion.

Current squad

Out on loan

Notable former players

This list of former players includes those who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.
André-Joël Eboué
André-Joël Eboué
André-Joël Eboué is Cameroonian football goalkeeper playing for French side AS Orly. He participated in Confederations Cup 2003.-External links:***Racist acts against Eboué at Varesenews.it:* * **...

 Nestor Combin
Nestor Combin
Néstor Combin, is a former football Argentine player in France. He was striker, mainly with Olympique Lyonnais and France national team.-Clubs:*1959 - 1964 : Olympique Lyonnais...

 Horst Szymaniak
Horst Szymaniak
Horst Szymaniak was a former German football player.- Career :Clubs he played for include: SpVgg Erkenschwick, Wuppertaler SV, Karlsruher SC, Calcio Catania, F.C. Internazionale Milano, A.S...

 Pietro Anastasi
Pietro Anastasi
Pietro Anastasi , nicknamed Petruzzu 'u turcu by fans, was an Italian footballer, playing in the striker role.Anastasi was born in Catania, Sicily. During his career he played for Massiminiana, Varese, Juventus, Internazionale and Ascoli...

 Federico Balzaretti
Federico Balzaretti
Federico Balzaretti is an Italian footballer who currently plays as a left back for Serie A club Palermo and Italy national football team.-Club career:...

 Fabio Bazzani
Fabio Bazzani
Fabio Bazzani is an Italian association football striker, who currently plays for A.S.D. Mezzolara.He is a striker, notable for his headers, as well as his shooting and strength.-Career:...

 Roberto Bettega
Roberto Bettega
Roberto Bettega is an Italian former footballer. Bettega was regarded as a player of noteworthy intelligence and at his prime was one of the most feared strikers . Bettega is mostly remembered for his time at his hometown club Juventus...

 Roberto Boninsegna
Roberto Boninsegna
Roberto Boninsegna is an Italian former football player.He started his career in Serie B with Prato in 1963-64 season. He transferred to FC Potenza, who was Serie B team in 1964-65 season. He also played for Varese in 1965-66 and Cagliari between 1966-1969...

 Egidio Calloni
Egidio Calloni
Egidio Calloni is an Italian former football striker, best known for his stint at AC Milan....


Giorgio Dellagiovanna
Giorgio Dellagiovanna
Giorgio Dellagiovanna is a retired Italian professional football player.-External links:*...

 Antonio Di Natale
Antonio di Natale
Antonio Di Natale is an Italian footballer who plays for Serie A club Udinese.A versatile striker with a lethal eye for goal, Di Natale can play anywhere in the front line, as a lone striker or out wide in an attacking trident. He is notable for his dribbling skills, pace and for his ability to...

 Dario Dolci
Dario Dolci
Dario Dolci is a retired Italian professional football player.He played 6 seasons in the Serie A for Varese F.C., A.C. Milan and Ternana Calcio.-External links:*...

 Claudio Gentile
Claudio Gentile
Claudio Gentile is an Italian football coach and former defender of the 1970s and 1980s. Gentile appeared for Italy in two World Cup tournaments, including playing in the winning Italian team in the 1982 final. His club career was notably spent with Juventus for whom he made almost 300 league...

 Benito Lorenzi
Benito Lorenzi
Benito "Veleno" Lorenzi was an Italian football player born in Borgo a Buggiano, province of Pistoia. He played as a striker....

 Massimo Maccarone
Massimo Maccarone
Massimo Maccarone is an Italian association football striker currently playing for Sampdoria....

 Giampiero Marini
Giampiero Marini
Giampiero Marini is an Italian former footballer who played as a midfielder.Nicknamed Malik by fans, in Serie A was played 256 matches and scored 10 goals in teams Fanfulla, Varese, Reggina, Triestina and Internazionale Milano, won one title in season 1979/80 and two Coppa Italia in 1978 and 1982...

 Alessandro Mazzola Giuseppe Meazza
Giuseppe Meazza
Giuseppe "Peppino" Meazza , also known as il Balilla, was an Italian footballer playing mainly for Internazionale in the 1930s, scoring 242 goals in 365 games for the club. He led Italy to win two World Cups: in 1934 and in 1938, winning the Golden Ball Award in 1934. He is widely considered the...


Giorgio Morini
Giorgio Morini
Giorgio Morini is an Italian midfielder, who coached the Italian football team AC Milan for part of the 1996-97 season. As a player, Morini was part of the Serie A winning team of 1978/79.- Career :...

 Sergio Pellissier
Sergio Pellissier
Sergio Pellissier is an Italian football striker. He is the captain of Italian Serie A club Chievo, where he has been since 2000.-Club:...

 Gianluca Pessotto
Gianluca Pessotto
Gianluca Pessotto is a former football player who spent the majority of his career with Juventus F.C., where he currently serves as team manager...

 Armando Picchi
Armando Picchi
Armando Picchi was an Italian football player and coach. Regularly positioned as a sweeper, he captained the Internazionale side known as La Grande Inter.-Club career:...

 Benito Sarti
Benito Sarti
Benito Sarti is a retired Italian professional football player.-Honours:* Serie A champion: 1959/60, 1960/61, 1966/67.* Coppa Italia winner: 1958/59, 1964/65.-External links:*...

 Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni , sometimes known as "Trap" or "Il Trap", is an Italian football coach and former player, considered the most successful club coach in the history of Serie A. As a player he was part of Italy's squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup....

 Paolo Vanoli
Paolo Vanoli
Paolo Vanoli is a retired Italian footballer who played as a left back.-Club career:Vanoli, a journeyman, played for many clubs, including Parma and Fiorentina, having also two spells abroad: Scottish Premier League club Rangers in 2003-04, scoring once against Dundee, and lowly Akratitos FC...

 Jero Shakpoke
Jero Shakpoke
Jero Shakpoke is a Nigerian footballer who is currently playing for Union Saint-Gilloise, on loan to Siena.-Career:...

 Antonio Esposito
Antonio Esposito
Antonio Esposito is a Swiss-Italian former football midfielder who played throughout the 1990s and 2000s. He is remembered most for his time at Grasshopper-Club Zürich and FC Basel.-Career:...



See also: :Category:A.S. Varese 1910 players.

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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