Spezia Calcio 1906
Encyclopedia
Spezia Calcio 1906 is an Italian football
club, based in La Spezia
, Liguria
. Founded in 1906, the team's colors are black and white. The club's home ground is Stadio Alberto Picco
.
In 1944, because of the World War II the Italian football federation decided to split the top league in regional rounds. The team, named 42° Corpo dei Vigili del Fuoco della Spezia (Firefighter
s of La Spezia) after a merger with the local firefighter in order to have a sufficient number of players, was included in Round D of Emilia-Romagna
, together with Corradini Suzzara, Fidentina, Orlandi Busseto and Parma
. Spezia won the round and qualified to the semi-finals, in which it challenged Suzzara, Carpi
and Modena
. Spezia won also this round, winning five of the six matches played, losing only to Carpi. By winning the semi-final round, Spezia was admitted to play a two-legs play-off against Bologna
.
The first match, played in Bologna, was suspended because of incidents started after the 1–0 goal of Spezia, contested by the Bologna supporters; Spezia was awarded a 2–0 win because of that. The return match, scheduled to be played in La Spezia, was first moved to Carpi, because of the heavy bombings underwent by the Ligurian city in the period, then cancelled because of protest by Bologna chairman Renato Dall'Ara, so Spezia was admitted to the final without playing the return match.
The finals, held in Milan
, were played against Venezia and Torino
. On 9 July 1944, the first match between Spezia and Venezia was played: it ended in a 1–1 draw, commented by the Gazzetta as "surprising result".
On 16 July, Spezia challenged the Great Torino, with Vittorio Pozzo
as coach and Silvio Piola
as striker. The match ended in an epic 2–1 victory of Spezia. After the third match, in which Torino beat Venezia in a 5–2 win, Spezia was declared champion.
However, the Italian league of 1944 was not immediately considered as official by the Italian federation, because it was obtained during war times in a reduced league, and the only scudetto of Spezia was finally awarded only in 2002 by the Federation, even if not counted officially as an Italian championship triumph, but as a "decoration".
Today, Spezia remembers the 1944 triumph by playing with a tricolour badge
on the team's official jersey (but different from the Scudetto), with the authorization of the Football Federation.
, made the club became Inter's feeder club and reserve team. The team got Goran Pandev
, Aco Stojkov
(now Macedonian internationals) and Alex Cordaz
in the first season. In the second season, Cristian Lizzori
, Luca Ceccarelli and Nicola Napolitano
was signed from Inter. In 2004–05 season Spezia got Antonio Rizzo
from ACF Fiorentina
and Paolo Castelli
from Inter..
Players likes Alex Cordaz
, Riccardo Meggiorini
and Hernán Paolo Dellafiore
joined the team directly from Inter to boost the team in January 2005. The season ended with winning Coppa Italia Serie C
. After the season, Inter sold most of the shares of Spezia.
In 2006, the team won Serie C1 champion and promoted to Serie B. With mid-season signing Guilherme do Prado, Tomás Guzmán
, Corrado Colombo
and the old member Massimiliano Guidetti and Nicola Santoni
, Spezia survived in Serie B. But in the next season, with Isah Eliakwu
, Colombo and Do Prado, the club failed to make the miracle happened twice.
In 2008, due to financial difficulty and following their relegation from Serie B
, the club was forced to declare bankruptcy. The team was later refounded as A.S.D. Spezia Calcio 2008 and admitted to Serie D.
Upon promotion in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione at the end of the Serie D 2008-09 season, A.S.D. Spezia bought the sports right of the old Spezia and took the current denomination. Spezia finished Girone A of Lega Pro Seconda Divisione as 2nd and quaified for promotion play-offs in 2009–10 season. Spezia defeated Pavia
at semifinal and Legnano
at final and promoted to Girone A of Lega Pro Prima Divisione with making second consecutive promotion.
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 La Spezia
La Spezia
La Spezia , at the head of the Gulf of La Spezia in the Liguria region of northern Italy, is the capital city of the province of La Spezia. Located between Genoa and Pisa on the Ligurian Sea, it is one of the main Italian military and commercial harbours and hosts one of Italy's biggest military...
, Liguria
Liguria
Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions. Its capital is Genoa. It is a popular region with tourists for its beautiful beaches, picturesque little towns, and good food.-Geography:...
. Founded in 1906, the team's colors are black and white. The club's home ground is Stadio Alberto Picco
Stadio Alberto Picco
Stadio Alberto Picco is the main football stadium in La Spezia, Italy. Since 1919 it is the home ground of Spezia Calcio 1906. The stadium holds 10,336.-Gallery:*...
.
1944 scudetto
- See also Campionato Alta Italia 1944Campionato Alta Italia 1944This championship was disputed during the second World War and wasn't recognized by the FIGC until 2002, though Spezia's Scudetto is considered a "decoration"....
In 1944, because of the World War II the Italian football federation decided to split the top league in regional rounds. The team, named 42° Corpo dei Vigili del Fuoco della Spezia (Firefighter
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
s of La Spezia) after a merger with the local firefighter in order to have a sufficient number of players, was included in Round D of Emilia-Romagna
Emilia-Romagna
Emilia–Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. The capital is Bologna; it has an area of and about 4.4 million inhabitants....
, together with Corradini Suzzara, Fidentina, Orlandi Busseto and 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...
. Spezia won the round and qualified to the semi-finals, in which it challenged Suzzara, Carpi
Carpi F.C. 1909
Carpi Football Club 1909 is an Italian football club located in Carpi, Emilia-Romagna.The club currently plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione.- A.C. Carpi :...
and Modena
Modena F.C.
Modena Football Club is an Italian football club based in Modena, Emilia-Romagna. The club was formed in 1912 and currently plays in Italian Serie B, after being relegated from a two year period in Serie A in the year 2004. The team's previous stay in Italy's top division ended in 1964. The team...
. Spezia won also this round, winning five of the six matches played, losing only to Carpi. By winning the semi-final round, Spezia was admitted to play a two-legs play-off against Bologna
Bologna F.C. 1909
Bologna Football Club 1909, known simply as Bologna, is an Italian Football League club based in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, formed in 1993. The club are nicknamed the rossoblù because of the red and blue striped shirts they wear. Red and Blue are the official colours of the town.During its history...
.
The first match, played in Bologna, was suspended because of incidents started after the 1–0 goal of Spezia, contested by the Bologna supporters; Spezia was awarded a 2–0 win because of that. The return match, scheduled to be played in La Spezia, was first moved to Carpi, because of the heavy bombings underwent by the Ligurian city in the period, then cancelled because of protest by Bologna chairman Renato Dall'Ara, so Spezia was admitted to the final without playing the return match.
The finals, held in Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, were played against Venezia and Torino
Torino F.C.
Torino Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Torino, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that was founded in 1906. The club has spent most of its history in the top tier in Italian football....
. On 9 July 1944, the first match between Spezia and Venezia was played: it ended in a 1–1 draw, commented by the Gazzetta as "surprising result".
On 16 July, Spezia challenged the Great Torino, with Vittorio Pozzo
Vittorio Pozzo
Vittorio Pozzo 21 December 1968) was an Italian football coach who was most famous for leading the Italian national team to victory in the 1934 FIFA World Cup and 1938 FIFA World Cups; managed the side that won the 1930 and 1935 editions of the Central European International Cup, as well as the...
as coach and Silvio Piola
Silvio Piola
Silvio Piola was an Italian footballer from Robbio Lomellina, province of Pavia. He is known as a highly prominent figure in the history of Italian football due to several records he set. Piola won the 1938 FIFA World Cup with Italy, scoring two goals in the final.Piola is third in the all-time...
as striker. The match ended in an epic 2–1 victory of Spezia. After the third match, in which Torino beat Venezia in a 5–2 win, Spezia was declared champion.
However, the Italian league of 1944 was not immediately considered as official by the Italian federation, because it was obtained during war times in a reduced league, and the only scudetto of Spezia was finally awarded only in 2002 by the Federation, even if not counted officially as an Italian championship triumph, but as a "decoration".
Today, Spezia remembers the 1944 triumph by playing with a tricolour badge
Flag of Italy
The flag of Italy is a tricolour featuring three equally sized vertical pales of green, white, and red, with the green at the hoist side...
on the team's official jersey (but different from the Scudetto), with the authorization of the Football Federation.
2000s
In 2002, the club reached an agreement with InternazionaleF.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
, made the club became Inter's feeder club and reserve team. The team got Goran Pandev
Goran Pandev
Goran Pandev , is a Macedonian footballer who plays as a forward for Italian Serie A club Napoli on loan from Internazionale. He is also considered a key player for the Macedonian national team.-Early career:...
, Aco Stojkov
Aco Stojkov
Aco Stojkov is a Macedonian international football player, who is currently contracted with FC Aarau.- Career :...
(now Macedonian internationals) and Alex Cordaz
Alex Cordaz
Alex Cordaz is an Italian footballer who plays for Cittadella.-Internazionale:Cordaz started his career at Internazionale...
in the first season. In the second season, Cristian Lizzori
Cristian Lizzori
Cristian Lizzori is a former Italian footballer.-Biography:Born in Codogno, Lombardy region, Lizzori started his career at Internazionale. In 2000, he graduated from Primavera Under-20 team and joined Arezzo along with Giovanni Passiglia, Nello Russo and Giuseppe Ticli. He made his Serie B debut...
, Luca Ceccarelli and Nicola Napolitano
Nicola Napolitano (footballer)
Nicola Napolitano is an Italian footballer who plays for Manfredonia at Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.Napolitano started his career at hometown club and Italian giant Internazionale....
was signed from Inter. In 2004–05 season Spezia got Antonio Rizzo
Antonio Rizzo
Antonio Rizzo is an Italian footballer who plays for Ravenna at Lega Pro Prima Divisione.-Early career:Rizzo started his career at A.S. Roma. He joined Serie C2 side Gubbio in co-ownership deal. In summer 2003, he joined Serie B side Fiorentina who promoted from Serie C2 in co-ownership for €77,500...
from ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina
ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to as simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded by a merger in 1926, Fiorentina have played at the top level of Italian football for the majority of their existence; only four clubs have played in more Serie A...
and Paolo Castelli
Paolo Castelli
Paolo Castelli is an Italian footballer who plays for Monza. He spent his most of his career at Prima Divisione, 2½ seasons at Seconda Divisione and 2½ seasons at Serie B. .-Biography:...
from Inter..
Players likes Alex Cordaz
Alex Cordaz
Alex Cordaz is an Italian footballer who plays for Cittadella.-Internazionale:Cordaz started his career at Internazionale...
, Riccardo Meggiorini
Riccardo Meggiorini
Riccardo Meggiorini is an Italian footballer who plays for Novara, on loan from Genoa.He is nicknamed Meggio by his teammates.-Early career:Meggiorini started his career at Bovolone, a team from his native Verona Province....
and Hernán Paolo Dellafiore
Hernán Paolo Dellafiore
Paolo Hernán Dellafiore is an Italian Argentine footballer, who plays as a central defender for Novara in a co-ownership deal with Parma.-Internazionale:...
joined the team directly from Inter to boost the team in January 2005. The season ended with winning Coppa Italia Serie C
Coppa Italia Serie C
Coppa Italia Lega Pro , formerly named Coppa Italia Serie C, is a straight knock-out based competition involving teams from Lega Pro in Italian football. All games, including the final, are on a home/away basis....
. After the season, Inter sold most of the shares of Spezia.
In 2006, the team won Serie C1 champion and promoted to Serie B. With mid-season signing Guilherme do Prado, Tomás Guzmán
Tomás Guzmán
Tomás Guzmán fullname Tomás Andrés Guzmán Gaetan is a Paraguayan football striker who plays for Piacenza in Serie B in Italy.-Career:...
, Corrado Colombo
Corrado Colombo
Corrado Colombo is an Italian footballer. He currently plays for Verona at Lega Pro Prima Divisione.-Football career:Colombo started his career at the famous youth rank of Atalanta. He made his debut on Serie B and for the club in 1998/1999 season, and then joined Pistoiese...
and the old member Massimiliano Guidetti and Nicola Santoni
Nicola Santoni
Nicola Santoni is an Italian former association football goalkeeper.- Career :He started his professional career at native club Cesena of Emilia-Romagna region. He was on loan to Chieti in 2000-01 season.- Palermo :...
, Spezia survived in Serie B. But in the next season, with Isah Eliakwu
Isah Eliakwu
Isah "Aly" Abdulahi Eliakwu , is a Nigerian footballer. He is currently playing for FC Anzhi Makhachkala.-Early career:After the abolition of the non-EU quota per team in 2000–01 season, Eliakwu joined Reggiana, where he played along with countrymen Stephen Makinwa, Akande Ajide, Adewale Wahab,...
, Colombo and Do Prado, the club failed to make the miracle happened twice.
In 2008, due to financial difficulty and following their relegation 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...
, the club was forced to declare bankruptcy. The team was later refounded as A.S.D. Spezia Calcio 2008 and admitted to Serie D.
Upon promotion in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione at the end of the Serie D 2008-09 season, A.S.D. Spezia bought the sports right of the old Spezia and took the current denomination. Spezia finished Girone A of Lega Pro Seconda Divisione as 2nd and quaified for promotion play-offs in 2009–10 season. Spezia defeated Pavia
A.C. Pavia
Associazione Calcio Pavia is an Italian football club, based in Pavia, Lombardy. Pavia currently plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione group A, having last been in Serie B in 1955.- History :The club was founded in 1911....
at semifinal and Legnano
A.C. Legnano
Associazione Calcio Legnano was an Italian football club, based in Legnano, Lombardy, that was founded in 1913. The team's colors were lilac and white. In the past Legnano have played three seasons in Italy's top league; Serie A, finishing bottom of the league each time.The club were perhaps best...
at final and promoted to Girone A of Lega Pro Prima Divisione with making second consecutive promotion.
Squad
As of 27 August, 2011.Notable former players
For all players with an article in Wikipedia, see :Category:Spezia Calcio 1906 playersSeasons
|
|
Honours
- Italian ChampionshipsSerie ASerie 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...
1: 1944 (decoration) - Coppa Italia Serie CCoppa Italia Serie CCoppa Italia Lega Pro , formerly named Coppa Italia Serie C, is a straight knock-out based competition involving teams from Lega Pro in Italian football. All games, including the final, are on a home/away basis....
1: 2004–05 - Supercoppa di Lega Serie C1Supercoppa di Lega Serie C1The Supercoppa di Lega di Prima Divisione is an Italian football competition played by the two group winners of the Lega Pro Prima Divisione, formerly Serie C1...
1: 2005–06 - Serie CSerie CThe 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...
3: 1928–29, 1935–36, 1939–40 - Serie C1Serie C1Lega Pro Prima Divisione is the name of the third highest football league in Italy. It consists of 36 teams, divided geographically into two divisions of 18 teams each. Until 2008 it was known as Serie C1....
1: 2005–06 - Serie C2Serie C2Lega Pro Seconda Divisione is the name of the fourth highest football league in Italy, the lowest with a professional status. Usually it consists of 54 teams, but in the season 2010–11 the teams are only 49 divided geographically into three divisions of 17, 16 and 16 teams each...
3: 1979–80, 1985–86, 1999–00 - Serie DSerie DSerie 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...
2: 1957–58, 1965–66