FC Lugano is a
SwissSwitzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
footballAssociation football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club based in
LuganoLugano is a city of inhabitants in the city proper and a total of over 145,000 people in the agglomeration/city region, in the south of Switzerland, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, which borders Italy...
. The club was founded as AC Lugano in 2004 as a result of relegation and financial situation of
FC Lugano, which was founded in 1908. In 2008, the club reverted to its original name, FC Lugano. They play at the Stadio Cornaredo. They played in present
Swiss Super LeagueThe Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
during periods of 1922–1953, 1954–1960, 1961–1963, 1964–1976, 1979–1980, 1988–1997 and 1998–2002.
History
Football Club Lugano was formed on 28 July 1908 under the leadership of the then President Ernesto Corsini. Promotion to the highest
Swiss Super LeagueThe Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
came for the first time in 1922, and after several years of going up and down, the team won its first Swiss Cup in 1931. The following decade, FC Lugano was able to win 3 national titles (1938, 1941 and 1949).
During the first fifty years, Lugano played on the ground at the Campo Marzio – which opened on 13 September 1908 – but its success prompted the city to build a new stadium, and so on 26 August 1951, the
Cornaredo StadiumCornaredo Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Lugano, Switzerland. It is used mostly for football matches. It is a home ground of AC Lugano. The stadium is able to hold 15,000 people and was built in 1951. The stadium has 5,000 seats and 10,000 standing places...
was inaugurated, which has a capacity of 15,000.
In 1968, Lugano won the Swiss Cup and hence the team participated in the Cup Winners' Cups. Two years later the team took part in the
UEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
.
In 1993, Lugano won its third Cup against the
GrasshoppersGrasshoppers are insects of the suborder Caelifera.Grasshoppers may also refer to:* Grasshopper , a Hong Kong-based musical group* Grasshopper Club Zürich, a Swiss football club...
, later participating in the Cup Winners' Cup, which took it to the second qualifying round. In the 1995–96 season, Lugano participated in the UEFA Cup eliminating Jeunesse Hautcharage in the first round and in the second, Inter Milan.
After the declaration of
bankruptcyBankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
in 2003, on 30 June 2004, Lugano merged with Malcantone Agno, and it was decided that Lugano would re-enter the Swiss Football scene in the Swiss Challenge League, as AC Lugano. Morotti Joseph, the president of Malcantone Agno, was entrusted with the leadership of the new club.
In 2007, the company was bought by a group led by Giambattista Pastorello. Luid Bernasconi became the new president.
On 4 June 2008 the general meeting of shareholders voted on changing the name of the club – which returned to the historical name of Football Club Lugano, in its centenary year.
Current squad
As of 19 July 2011.
Out on loan
Honours
- Swiss Super League
The Swiss Super League or Axpo Super League is the top tier of the Swiss Football League. The Swiss Super League is currently ranked 16th according to UEFA's ranking of league coefficients, which is based upon Swiss team performances in European competitions.-Names:-Participating clubs:The teams...
: 1937–38, 1940–41, 1948–49
- Swiss Cup: 1930–31, 1967–68, 1992–93
Notable former players
Dida
Mauro GalvãoMauro Geraldo Galvão is a retired Braziian footballer who played as a sweeper, and a current manager.-Playing career:...
Ottmar HitzfeldOttmar Hitzfeld is a German former football player and manager, nicknamed der General ....
Jørn AndersenJørn Andersen is a Norwegian former professional footballer, currently in charge of German 2nd division club Karlsruher SC.-Norway:...
External links