US Catanzaro 1929 facts for kids
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| Full name | Unione Sportiva Catanzaro 1929 | |||
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| Nickname(s) | Aquile del Sud (Southern Eagles) Regina del Sud (Southern Queen) Timore del Nord (Fear of the North) Magico (Magic) Giallorossi (The Red-Yellows) |
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| Founded | 1929 | |||
| Ground | Stadio Nicola Ceravolo | |||
| Capacity | 14,650 | |||
| Owner | Unione Sportiva Catanzaro 1929 S.r.l. | |||
| Chairman | Floriano Noto | |||
| Manager | Fabio Caserta | |||
| League | Serie C Group C | |||
| 2024-2025 | Serie C Group C, 3rd of 19 | |||
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Unione Sportiva Catanzaro 1929, often just called Catanzaro, is a professional football club from Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy. They play in Serie B, which is the second-highest league in Italian football. They recently returned to Serie B after 17 years!
The club was first created in 1927 when two local teams joined together. It was officially founded in 1929. Since then, Catanzaro has mostly played in the lower leagues of Italian football. The club had to be re-founded twice, in 2006 and 2011, because of money problems.
Catanzaro's official colors are red and yellow. The team's kits often feature these colors, either all red with yellow details or with red and yellow stripes. The club's symbol is a golden eagle, which is also on the city's coat of arms. Catanzaro plays its home games at the Stadio Nicola Ceravolo. This stadium was built in 1919 and is the oldest sports ground in Calabria.
Catanzaro has played seven seasons in Serie A, Italy's top league. Five of these seasons were played one after another. Their best finish in Serie A was seventh place in the 1981–82 season. They also finished eighth in 1980–81.
The club has won seven championships since it was founded. Six of these were in the third division (Prima Divisione, Serie C, and Serie C1). They also won the IV Serie championship in 1953. In that same year, they won the national title for the fourth division, called the Scudetto IV Serie. The youth team won the Dante Berretti Trophy of Serie C in 1991–1992.
In the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup), Catanzaro's best results were reaching the final in 1965–66. They also made it to the semi-finals in 1978–79 and 1981–82. On May 30, 2018, the club officially changed its name back to "Unione Sportiva Catanzaro 1929." They had been using their historic logo since 2011.
Contents
Club History
Early Years and World War II
The club started in 1927 as Unione Sportiva Catanzarese. It was formed by combining two local teams. They played in the Terza Divisione, which was the fourth level of Italian football. In 1929, after a visit from Benito Mussolini, the club officially became Unione Sportiva Fascista Catanzarese.
For the 1929–30 season, they finished second in the Terza Divisione and moved up to the third division, the Prima Divisione. After three seasons there, Catanzarese was promoted to Serie B for the first time in the 1933–34 season. They spent three of the next four years in Serie B. In 1936–37, they finished fifteenth, which meant they would go down to Serie C. However, the club faced money problems and instead went back to regional leagues. They won a few regional titles before World War II stopped all competitions.
After World War II and First National Title
After World War II, the club changed its name to Unione Sportiva Catanzaro. They played in Serie C for most of the next 15 seasons. They played in Serie B once in 1946–47 and in IV Serie once after being relegated in 1951–52 Serie C.
Catanzaro quickly returned to Serie C after the 1952–53 season. In that year, they not only won their regional group but also became national champions of the fourth division after winning play-off games. The club then won their Serie C group in 1958–59, earning promotion back to Serie B after 13 years.
Life in Serie B and Reaching Serie A
When Catanzaro was promoted to Serie B for the 1959–60 season, they began a period of steady success. They stayed in Serie B for 12 years in a row, usually finishing in the middle of the table. During this time, the club reached the Coppa Italia final in 1966.
Finally, in 1971, Catanzaro was promoted to Serie A for the very first time! They won a special three-team play-off against Bari and Atalanta.
Catanzaro's first season in Serie A was tough. They were relegated on the last day, winning only 3 games and drawing 15. However, they got their first-ever Serie A win against Juventus with a 1–0 score. After almost returning to Serie A in 1975, they made it back in 1976 but only stayed for one year.
A third promotion in 1978 started the club's "golden era." They stayed in Serie A for five years. With players like Claudio Ranieri, Gianni Improta, and the famous Massimo Palanca, Catanzaro finished a great 9th place in 1979. Even though they finished 14th the next season and should have been relegated, they got to stay because AC Milan and Lazio were forced to move down. They finished 8th in 1981 and 7th in 1982 before being relegated in 1983. For the next four years, they moved between Serie B and Serie C1.
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Return to Serie C and Money Troubles
In 1988, Catanzaro looked like they might get promoted again, finishing 5th. Massimo Palanca had even returned to the club. However, they were relegated two years in a row, in 1990 and 1991. They then stayed in Serie C2 for 12 seasons until 2003.
In 2005, after two promotions in a row, Catanzaro returned to Serie B after 15 years. But they had a bad season and finished last, meaning they were relegated to Serie C1. Catanzaro got another chance and was put back into Serie B because other teams were removed. In the 2005–06 Serie B season, Catanzaro finished last again and was relegated to Serie C1. After this, the club faced serious money problems, and the football federation canceled its registration.
New Beginnings (2006–Present)
In the summer of 2006, the club was re-founded as F.C. Catanzaro. They started in Serie C2 for the 2006–07 season, hoping to climb back up. In the 2010–11 season, they were almost relegated to Serie D, but another team's relegation saved them. On July 18, 2011, the club was removed from Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, but they won an appeal and were allowed to play in the 2011–12 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione season.
On June 30, 2011, a new company called Catanzaro Calcio 2011 took over the club after the old one went bankrupt. On August 6, 2011, this new company bought the historic name and logo of U.S. Catanzaro.
In the 2011–12 season, Catanzaro finished second in Lega Pro Seconda Divisione and was promoted to Lega Pro Prima Divisione after winning play-offs. In the next two seasons, they finished tenth and fourth. They even played in the promotion play-offs in the latter season but lost to Benevento.
Finally, in 2018, the club officially changed its name to Unione Sportiva Catanzaro 1929. The logo was also updated to include the year '1929'. The club reached the promotion play-offs for three years in a row, finishing 3rd, 7th, and 2nd, but they stayed in Serie C.
In the 2021–22 season, Catanzaro played well in the league and in the Coppa Italia Serie C. The season started slowly, but on November 29, 2021, coach Calabro was replaced by Vivarini. The team immediately improved, winning two games and drawing in the Coppa Italia Serie C semi-final. They lost the return leg and were knocked out. Catanzaro continued to earn points and finished second in the league for the second season in a row. This gave them a direct spot in the quarter-final promotion play-offs. They beat Monopoli but lost to Padova in the semi-finals.
In the 2022–23 season, Catanzaro won Serie C Group A and earned promotion back to Serie B for the next season!
Stadium, Colors, and Badge
The Stadium
Catanzaro plays its games at the Stadio Nicola Ceravolo. This stadium was built in 1919 and is the oldest sports facility in Calabria.
Team Colors
The team's colors are red and yellow, just like the city of Catanzaro. The most common uniform in the club's history is a solid red shirt with a yellow V-neck, red shorts, and red socks with yellow edges. This uniform was worn during their "golden years" in Serie A.
Another common uniform has vertical yellow and red stripes, with red shorts and socks. This was often used after the club's money problems in 2006. Less often, Catanzaro has used a shirt with yellow and red horizontal stripes. This uniform was worn in a famous match in Turin where they beat Juventus in the 1965-66 Coppa Italia.
For away games, the team often wears all blue with red and yellow details. They have also worn all white or all yellow kits. Sometimes, they use a third uniform, which can be blue, white, or yellow, depending on the home kit.
Club Badge
The club's badge is a shield featuring the historic symbol of Catanzaro: the Golden eagle. This eagle is taken from the city's coat of arms. The eagle holds a blue ribbon in its beak with the motto Sanguinis effusione. This Latin phrase means "by the shedding of blood" and refers to the sacrifices made by Catanzaro fighters in battles.
On the eagle's belly, there is a smaller shield that shows the three hills where the city of Catanzaro is built. A vertical line divides the emblem in two, showing the team's red and yellow colors. The club's name is placed at the top on a blue background.
Local Rivalries
Catanzaro has played against other teams from the Calabria region in Italian football. These rivalries are called "derbies."
- Cosenza – Calabria Derby (Derby della Calabria) – This is the oldest derby in Calabria. The first Serie B match between them was in 1946. Their history goes back to 1912. Their first official game was in 1930 in Serie C. Overall, they have played 54 times. Catanzaro has won 21 times, there have been 24 draws, and Cosenza has won 9 times.
- Reggina – The Classic (U-classicu) – This match is special because Catanzaro is the capital of Calabria, and Reggio Calabria is the region's largest city. Their first game was also in the 1930–31 Prima Divisione. This derby has had the most Serie B matches (20 games), with the first in 1965. It's also the only derby where Catanzaro played in the Coppa Italia against this rival. Out of 62 matches, Catanzaro has won 20 times, there have been 20 draws, and Reggina has won 24 times.
- Crotone – The former Province of Catanzaro Derby – Before 1992, the Province of Crotone was part of the Province of Catanzaro. That's where the derby's name comes from. However, the teams only met in Serie B for the first time in 2004–05. They have spent seven seasons together in Serie C and one season in Serie C2. They have also played four times in the Coppa Italia Serie C but never in the main Coppa Italia. Both teams have played in Serie A, but never in the same season. In 28 games, Catanzaro has 8 wins, 11 draws, and Crotone has 9 wins.
Current Players
First Team Squad
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Youth Team (Primavera)
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Players on Loan
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Club Staff
| Position | Staff |
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| Manager |  Fabio Caserta |
| Assistant coach | Salvatore Accursi |
| Goalkeeper supervisor | Fabrizio Lorieri |
| Goalkeeper coach | Francesco Parrotta |
| Fitness coach | Cristian Bella |
| Match analyst | Luigi Viola |
| Technical assistant | Giorgio Lucenti Raffaele Talotta |
| Rehab coach | Fabrizio Besso |
| Team Manager | Antonino Scimone |
| Head of medical staff | Dr. Giuseppe Bova |
| Club doctors | Dr. Giuseppe Stillo Dr. Maurizio Caglioti |
| Massophysiotherapist | Bruno Berardocco |
| Physiotherapist | Riccardo Leone |
| Osteopath | Felisiano Villani |
Hall of Fame Players
Here are some famous players who are in the Catanzaro Hall of Fame:
| Player | Role | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Adriano Banelli |
Player
Manager |
1967–79
1992–93, 1993, 1996 |
| Edi Bivi |
Player | 1981–84 |
| Gianni Bui |
Player | 1965–67 |
| Giovanni Improta |
Player
Manager |
1975–79
1993–95 |
| Saverio Leotta |
Player
Manager |
1952–55
1972–73, 1980, 1983, 1994–95 |
| Angelo Mammì |
Player | 1970–72 |
| Massimo Mauro |
Player | 1979–82 |
| Massimo Palanca |
Player | 1974–81, 1986–90 |
Club Achievements
League Titles
- Serie B (Second Division)
- Runners-up: 1975–76, 1977–78
- Promoted through play-offs: 1970–71
- Serie C / Serie C1 (Third Division)
- Winners (6): 1935–36, 1958–59, 1984–85, 1986–87, 2003–04, 2022–23
- IV Serie (Fourth Division)
- Winners (1): 1952–53
Cup Wins
- Coppa Italia (Italian Cup)
- Finalists (1): 1965–66
- Semi-finalists (2): 1978–79, 1981–82
- Supercoppa di Serie C (Super Cup for Serie C)
- Winners (1): 2023
- Runners-up (1): 2004
- Scudetto IV Serie (National Title for Fourth Division)
- Winners (1): 1952–53
European Competitions
- Cup of the Alps
- Winners (1): 1960
Images for kids
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Claudio Ranieri spent much of his playing career at Catanzaro
See also
In Spanish: Unione Sportiva Catanzaro 1929 para niños
