Cosenza Calcio 1914 facts for kids

Cosenza Calcio 1914 was a professional Italian football club. It was based in the city of Cosenza, in the Calabria region of Italy.

The club started in 1912 as Società Sportiva Fortitudo. The year 1914 is important because it marks the first official match the club played. Cosenza Calcio 1914 had a long history, but it was removed from the professional leagues in 2003 due to money problems. It was allowed back into a lower league (Serie D) a year later. However, in 2005, the club officially closed down, ending its 91-year journey.

The Club's Journey: 1912-2005

Early Days and Serie B Success

The club was founded on November 18, 1912, as Società Sportiva Fortitudo. Cosenza Calcio spent many years playing in Serie B, which is Italy's second-highest football league. During this time, they helped many famous players start their careers.

A big moment for the club was winning the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1983. This was an international competition between English and Italian teams. In the 1980s and 1990s, Cosenza often came very close to being promoted to Serie A, Italy's top league. For example, in 1989, they finished with the same points as two other teams, but they didn't get to play for promotion. In 1992, they were just two points away from moving up to Serie A.

Tough Times in Serie D

After these successful periods, the club faced difficulties. In July 2003, the Italian football federation removed Cosenza Calcio from the professional leagues. This happened because of serious financial problems. Suddenly, the city of Cosenza didn't have its main football club.

In 2004, the club was allowed to play again in Serie D, a lower league. At the same time, a new club called A.S. Cosenza F.C. also started in the city. This meant Cosenza had two different clubs playing in the same division for one year. But in 2005, the original Cosenza Calcio 1914 finally closed its doors for good.

Famous Players Who Played for Cosenza

Many talented players wore the red and blue colours of Cosenza Calcio 1914. Some of them even played for their national teams. Here are a few notable players:

• Stefano Fiore
• Gianluigi Lentini
• Cristiano Lucarelli
• Christian Manfredini
• Mark Edusei
• Marius Stankevičius
• Rubén Maldonado
• Massimo Margiotta

Club Colours and Badge

The official colours for Cosenza Calcio 1914 were red and blue. These colours were used on their team kits and club badge.

Club Achievements

Cosenza Calcio 1914 won several titles during its history:

• Anglo-Italian Cup: 1 time (1983)
• Serie C: 1 time (1960–61)
• Serie C1: 2 times (1987–88, 1997–98)
• Serie C2: 1 time (1979–80)
• Serie D: 2 times (1957–58, 1974–75)

Team Sponsors and Kit Makers

Over the years, different companies made the team's jerseys and sponsored them. Here's a look at some of them:

New Clubs Carrying the Legacy

After Cosenza Calcio 1914 closed, new clubs tried to continue its legacy in the city. This often happens in Italian football when a club faces financial trouble.

A.S. Cosenza Calcio (2003–2007)

In 2003, a club called Castrovillari moved to Cosenza and changed its name to A.S. Cosenza Calcio. This club played in Serie D for four seasons.

Fortitudo Cosenza (2007–2011)

In 2007, A.S. Cosenza Calcio stopped playing. However, many of its players joined a new club called Fortitudo Cosenza, which moved from a nearby town called Rende. This new club then changed its name to Cosenza Calcio 1914 S.r.l., trying to bring back the old club's name. But in 2011, this team also faced problems and was removed from professional football.

Nuova Cosenza Calcio

In the summer of 2011, yet another new club was formed, called Nuova Cosenza Calcio. It started playing in Serie D. This club managed to win its promotion playoffs, showing a strong desire to bring football success back to Cosenza.