Genoa CFC facts for kids
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| Full name | Genoa Cricket and Football Club S.p.A. | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Il Grifone (The Griffin) I Rossoblù (The Red and Blues) Il Vecchio Balordo (The Old Fool) |
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| Founded | 7 September 1893 | ||
| Ground | Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa | ||
| Capacity | 33,205 | ||
| Owner | 777 Partners | ||
| President | Alberto Zangrillo | ||
| Head coach | Patrick Vieira | ||
| League | Serie A | ||
| 2018–19 | Serie A, 17th of 20 | ||
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Genoa Cricket and Football Club is a professional football team from Genoa, Liguria, Italy. They play in Serie A, which is the top football league in Italy.
Genoa was started in 1893, making it the oldest football team still playing in Italy. The club has won the Italian Championship nine times. Their first win was in 1898, and their most recent was in 1923–24. They have also won one Coppa Italia title. This makes Genoa the fourth most successful Italian club in terms of championships. The team is nicknamed Il Grifone (The Griffin). They play their home games at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris stadium, which they have shared with local rivals Sampdoria since 1911. The game between these two teams is called the Derby della Lanterna.
In 2011, Genoa was recognized for its historical importance in sports. In 2013, the club joined the "Club of Pioneers". This is a group of the world's oldest football clubs, including Sheffield F.C. and Recreativo de Huelva.
Contents
- The Club's Early Days: How Genoa Started
- Meet the Players: Current Squad
- Club Leadership: Chairmen and Coaches
- Team Colors, Badge, and Nicknames
- Fans and Rival Teams
- Club Ownership and Other Sports
- Genoa in European Competitions
- Club Achievements: Trophies and Titles
- League History: Promotions and Relegations
- Team Gear: Kit Suppliers and Sponsors
- Images for kids
The Club's Early Days: How Genoa Started
The club began on September 7, 1893, as Genoa Cricket & Athletic Club. At first, it focused mainly on athletics and cricket. Football was not the main sport. The club was created to represent England abroad, so their first uniforms were white, like the English national team. Only British people could join at first. Genoa's activities took place in the Campasso area of the city.
On April 10, 1897, football became the most important part of the club. This happened thanks to James Richardson Spensley. Genoa's football section was one of the oldest in Italian football. Only four other clubs, all in Turin, had been started before it. Italians were then allowed to join the club. The team found a new home ground called Ponte Carrega.
Genoa played its first friendly match at home against a combined team from Internazionale Torino and F.B.C. Torinese. Genoa lost 1–0. Soon after, Genoa won its first game away against UPS Alessandria, winning 2–0. They also played friendly games against British sailors.
Winning Championships: Genoa's Golden Era
Football in Italy grew with the creation of the Italian Football Federation and the Italian Football Championship. Genoa played in the first Italian Championship in 1898. This tournament was held in Turin. On May 8, they beat Ginnastica Torino 2–1 in their first official game. Later that day, they won the first championship by beating Internazionale Torino 3–1 after extra-time.
Genoa returned for the next season with some changes. The club's name became Genoa Cricket & Football Club. They also changed their shirt color to white and blue vertical stripes. Genoa won their second title on April 16, 1899, by beating Internazionale Torino 3–1 again. In 1900, they won their third title in a row. They also beat local rivals Sampierdarenese 7–0. This was a huge win that no other team would beat until 1910. They won the final by beating F.B.C. Torinese 3–1.
In 1901, the club's uniform changed again. Genoa started wearing its famous red and navy halves, becoming known as the rossoblù. These colors are still used today. After finishing second to Milan Cricket and Football Club in 1901, Genoa won its fourth title in 1902. From 1903, Juventus became a strong rival. Genoa beat Juventus in the national final for two seasons in a row.
Genoa was the first Italian football team to play an international match. They visited France on April 27, 1903, and beat FVC Nice 3–0. In 1904, Genoa won the Italian championship again. That year, Genoa's reserve team also won the first ever II Categoria league season. This was like an early version of Serie B. From 1905, Genoa started to lose its dominance in the Italian championship. Other clubs like Juventus, Milan, and Pro Vercelli became stronger.
In 1908, the FIGC decided to ban foreign players. Genoa had always had many English players. They disagreed with this rule, as did other big clubs like Milan and Torino. So, they left the official FIGC competitions that year. The next season, the federation changed its mind. Genoa rebuilt its team with players like Luigi Ferraris and some from Switzerland. The team also got a new stadium in the Marassi area of Genoa. It could hold 25,000 people and opened on January 22, 1911.
The Garbutt Era: A New Beginning
When the Italy national football team was formed, Genoa players were important members. Players like Renzo De Vecchi, Edoardo Mariani, and Enrico Sardi were called up to play for Italy. An English coach named William Garbutt was hired to help the club. Garbutt was the first professional manager in Italy. He was known for being very charming and always smoking his tobacco pipe. Players called him "Mister," and since then, Italians have used this term for coaches.
By 1914–15, Genoa was again the best club in Northern Italy. They won the final round of the Northern section. However, the national final could not be played that year because of World War I. Genoa was awarded the title in 1919 after the war ended. This was their first title in eleven seasons. The war greatly affected Genoa. Players Luigi Ferraris, Adolfo Gnecco, Carlo Marassi, Alberto Sussone, and Claudio Casanova died while serving in the military. The club's founder, James Richardson Spensley, was killed in Germany.
In the early 1920s, Genoa remained a strong team. Garbutt led Genoa to win the championship in 1922–23. They beat Lazio 6–1 over two games in the final. The next season, Genoa beat Bologna in the Northern finals. There were some problems during the second game in Bologna, and the game was stopped. The FIGC then gave Genoa a 2–0 victory. In the national final that season, Genoa beat Savoia 4–1 over two games. This was their ninth and last Italian championship win so far.
The team during these wins included Giovanni De Prà, Ottavio Barbieri, Luigi Burlando, and Renzo De Vecchi. After Genoa's championship win in 1923–24, the scudetto patch was introduced. This means that after winning an Italian league championship, a club can wear a shield-shaped patch on their shirt with the colors of the Italian flag. For the rest of the 1920s, the club's best finish was second place in the 1927–28 season. They finished behind Torino, with striker Felice Levratto scoring 20 goals.
Changes During the Fascist Era
In 1928, the fascist government made Genoa change its name to Genova 1893 Circolo del Calcio. This was because the original name sounded too British. The club played in an early European competition called the Mitropa Cup. They were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Rapid Vienna. Back home, they finished second in the league in the 1929–30 season, behind Ambrosiana. This was their last second-place finish in the top league to date.
Genoa's league performance was very up and down in the early 1930s. In the 1933–34 season, Genova was relegated for the first time to Serie B, Italy's second league. Luckily, they quickly returned to Serie A under manager Vittorio Faroppa. They won promotion by finishing first in their group. In 1936, Juan Culiolo became the ambitious chairman of the club. In 1936–37, they finished 6th and won the Coppa Italia. They beat Roma 1–0 with a goal from Mario Torti.
In the next season, Genova finished in third place. This was a very close season, with winners Ambrosiana-Inter finishing only three points ahead. That summer, Italy won the 1938 FIFA World Cup. Three Genova players were part of that winning team: Sergio Bertoni, Mario Genta, and Mario Perazzolo. The club ended the decade strongly, staying in the top five teams in Italy.
World War II greatly affected Italian football. In 1945, the club changed its name back to Genoa Cricket and Foot-Ball Club. After the war, the club was still popular. Former players and managers like Ottavio Barbieri and William Garbutt returned. Genoa also got a new rival, Sampdoria, which was formed in 1946. They now shared the Stadio Luigi Ferraris stadium.
After the War: Ups and Downs
After World War II, Genoa found it harder to finish at the top of Serie A. In the late 1940s, the club usually finished in the middle of the table. The 1948–49 season saw some big wins for Genoa. They beat Inter 4–1, the famous Grande Torino team 3–0, and Padova 7–1. The 1950s started poorly. They bought Argentine player Mario Boyé from Boca Juniors, but he only stayed one season. The club was relegated after finishing last. However, after two seasons, they returned to Serie A by winning Serie B. Ragnar Nikolay Larsen was a key player during this time.
Genoa was relegated in 1959–60 but promoted back to Serie A in 1961–62. They also had some cup success in the early 1960s. The club won the Coppa delle Alpi in 1962. This was the first time the competition was played between club teams. Genoa beat French club Grenoble Foot 38 1–0 in the final. Genoa won the same competition again two years later. The final was in Switzerland, and Genoa beat Catania 2–0.
However, this success did not last long. The year after their last cup win, they were relegated to Serie B again. This time, they stayed in the second division for much longer. The club was not stable and changed managers often. Genoa was even relegated to Serie C for the first time in 1970. The club also faced financial problems and had several changes in ownership.
Moving Between Leagues
Throughout the 1970s, Genoa mostly played in the second division. Under manager Arturo Silvestri, the club returned to Serie A for the 1973–74 season, but they were relegated right away. When Il Grifone returned to Serie A a few seasons later, the team included players like Roberto Rosato, Bruno Conti, and a young Roberto Pruzzo. This time, they stayed in the top division for two seasons before being relegated in 1977–78. This relegation was tough because the team above them, Fiorentina, survived by just one goal difference.
The relegation was bad for the club. They lost some of their best players, like Roberto Pruzzo, who moved to Roma and became very successful. After a few years in Serie B, Genoa earned promotion in the 1980–81 season under manager Luigi Simoni. They finished second, behind AC Milan.
With Simoni still as manager, Genoa managed to stay in Serie A for their return season. They finished just one point ahead of AC Milan, who were relegated. In a dramatic last game of the season, Genoa was losing 2–1 to Napoli with five minutes left. Then, in the 85th minute, Mario Faccenda scored a goal that gave Genoa the point they needed. This moment started a lasting friendship between the fans of the two clubs.
A couple of seasons later, in 1983–84, Genoa was not so lucky. Even though they beat champions Juventus on the last day, the club was relegated. They had the same number of points as Lazio, but Lazio had better results in games against Genoa.
European Adventures and Challenges
Calabrese businessman Aldo Spinelli bought the club in 1985. Even without Simoni as manager, Genoa was finishing in the top half of Serie B. After a dip in form, Genoa focused and earned promotion back to Serie A in 1988–89, finishing as champions. Genoa, with experienced coach Osvaldo Bagnoli and talented players like Carlos Aguilera and Tomáš Skuhravý, reached great heights in the 1990–91 season. They finished fourth and were undefeated at home all season. They won games against big teams like Juventus, Inter, Milan, and their local rivals Sampdoria.
Because of this success, the club entered the UEFA Cup in the 1991–92 season. Genoa had a good run, reaching the semi-finals before being knocked out by Ajax. Notably, Genoa beat Liverpool twice in the quarter-finals, becoming the first Italian team to beat Liverpool at their home stadium, Anfield. Unfortunately, this success was followed by a difficult period after Osvaldo Bagnoli left. The club struggled to replace key players. Famous Genoa players during this time included Gianluca Signorini, Carlos Aguilera, Stefano Eranio, and John van 't Ship.
Chairman Spinelli managed Genoa like a business, focusing on making money. He often sold good players for a lot of money and did not always reinvest much into the team. For example, he sold striker Carlos Aguilera and replaced him with Kazuyoshi Miura. In the same season as their UEFA Cup run, Genoa finished just above the relegation zone. In the following seasons, Genoa stayed in the lower half of the table.
In the 1994–95 season, Genoa was barely relegated. They finished with the same points as Padova, leading to a play-off game in Florence. The game was 1–1 after extra time and went to a penalty shootout. Genoa lost 5–4. Back in Serie B, the club had another international cup success. They won the last ever Anglo-Italian Cup in 1996, beating Port Vale 5–2.
Chairman Spinelli sold Genoa in 1997. The late 1990s and early 2000s were very tough for the club. They had many managerial changes, financial problems, and little hope of promotion. From 1997 to 2003, Genoa had three different owners and four different chairmen. Then, Enrico Preziosi, a toy and game tycoon, took over.
Recent Years: Rebuilding and Returning
Preziosi took over in 2003. Genoa should have been relegated to Serie C1 after a bad season. However, the football federation decided to expand Serie B to 24 teams, which saved Genoa. Things started to improve for Genoa. They won Serie B in 2004–05. But there were claims that the club had fixed a match on the last day of the season against Venezia. Genoa won the match 3–2, which helped them win the league. However, the Disciplinary Committee of the FIGC decided to place Genoa at the bottom of the league and relegate them to Serie C1 with a three-point penalty on July 27, 2005.
For their season in Serie C1 in 2005–06, Genoa started with a six-point penalty. After leading for much of the season, they finished second. They then entered the play-offs, beating Monza 2–1 to get promoted back to Serie B. During the summer break, Gian Piero Gasperini became the new manager. He helped the club get promoted in the 2006–07 season. This was confirmed on the last day of the season when they drew 0–0 with Napoli. Both clubs were happy to be promoted back to Serie A.
The 2007–08 season was Genoa's first in Serie A in 12 years. They finished in a good tenth place.
In the 2008–09 season, Genoa aimed for a UEFA Cup spot. They achieved this by finishing fifth in Serie A. They beat big teams like Juventus, Roma, and Milan. They also won both Genoa derbies against Sampdoria. Diego Milito was one of the top scorers that season. Genoa later lost Milito and midfielder Thiago Motta to Internazionale. They brought in striker Hernán Crespo. However, the team had many injuries and was knocked out early from the Europa League and Coppa Italia. They finished ninth in Serie A in 2010.
In the 2010–11 season, Genoa struggled in the middle of the league. Chairman Preziosi fired manager Gian Piero Gasperini and hired Davide Ballardini. The team stayed in a safe position and won two derby matches against Sampdoria.
The 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons saw Genoa finish 17th both times, just one spot away from being relegated to Serie B.
In the 2014–15 season, Genoa finished sixth and should have qualified for the UEFA Europa League. However, they were denied a UEFA license because they submitted paperwork late. Also, their stadium was not ready for UEFA competitions. The spot went to 7th-placed Sampdoria.
This hurt Genoa's progress. They finished eleventh in the 2015–16 season. In 2016–17, Genoa avoided relegation, finishing 16th. They finished in the middle of the table again in the 2017–18 season. In the 2018–19 season, Genoa avoided relegation from Serie A. They had the same points as Empoli, but Genoa stayed up due to better results against Empoli.
In the 2021–22 season, Genoa finished 19th and was relegated after fifteen years in the top division. In the 2022–23 season, the club finished second in Serie B. This meant they were promoted back to Serie A after just one season. In the 2023–24 season, Genoa Football Club stayed in Serie A. The club continues to play in Italy's top football league.
Meet the Players: Current Squad
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Players on Loan
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Retired Jersey Numbers
- 6 –
Gianluca Signorini, sweeper, 1988–95 - 7 – Marco Rossi, midfielder, 2003–04, 2005–13
- 12 – The fans of Gradinata Nord, "the twelfth man" (This number is retired to honor the fans, who are seen as the team's 12th player.)
Club Leadership: Chairmen and Coaches
Chairmen History
Here is a list of the chairmen of Genoa, from the club's beginning until today.
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
 Charles De Grave Sells |
1893–97 |
 Hermann Bauer |
1897–99 |
| Daniel G. Fawcus |
1899–04 |
| Edoardo Pasteur |
1904–09 |
| Vieri Arnaldo Goetzlof |
1909–10 |
| Edoardo Pasteur |
1910–11 |
| Luigi Aicardi |
1911–13 |
| George Davidson |
1913–20 |
| Guido Sanguineti |
1920–26 |
| Vincent Ardissone |
1926–33 |
| Alessandro Tarabini |
1933–34 |
| Alfredo Costa |
1934–36 |
 Juan Culiolo |
1936–41 |
| Giovanni Battista Bertoni |
1941–42 |
| Giovanni Gavarone |
1942–43 |
| Giovanni Battista Bertoni |
1943–44 |
| Aldo Mairano |
1944–45 |
| Antonio Lorenzo |
1945–46 |
| Edoardo Pasteur |
1946 |
| Giovanni Peragallo |
1946 |
| Massimo Poggi |
1946–50 |
| Ernesto Cauvin |
1951–53 |
| Ugo Valperga |
1953–54 |
| Presidential Committee |
1954–58 |
| Fausto Gadolla |
1958–60 |
| Presidential Committee |
1960–63 |
| Giacomo Berrino |
1963–66 |
| Ugo Maria Failla |
1966–67 |
| Renzo Fossati |
1967–70 |
| Virgilio Bazzani |
1970 |
| Angelo Tongiani |
1970–71 |
| Gianni Meneghini |
1971–72 |
| Giacomo Berrino |
1972–74 |
| Renzo Fossati |
1974–85 |
| Aldo Spinelli |
1985–97 |
| Massimo Mauro |
1997–99 |
| Gianni Scerni |
1999–01 |
| Luigi Dalla Costa |
2001–02 |
| Nicola Canal |
2002–03 |
| Stefano Campoccia |
2003 |
| Enrico Preziosi |
2003–2021 |
| Alberto Zangrillo |
2021– |
Coaching Staff
Here are the people who help manage and train the Genoa team.
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Manager |  Patrick Vieira |
| Assistant manager | Kristian Wilson |
| Technical coach | Roberto Murgita Tonda Eckert |
| Goalkeeper coach | Stefano Raggio Garibaldi Alessio Scarpi |
| Athletic coach | Filippo Gatto Alessandro Pilati Gaspare Picone |
| Video analyst |  Aitor Unzué |
| Match analyst | Mirco Vecchi |
| Head of medical | Alessandro Corsini |
| Club doctor | Marco Stellatelli |
| Physiotherapist | Federico Campofiorito Pietro Cistaro |
| Medical director physiotherapy | Matteo Perasso |
| Sporting director | Marco Ottolini |
| Technical director | Marcel Klos |
| Chief executive officer | Flavio Ricciardella |
| Global sports director | Johannes Spors |
| Chief scout | Sebastian Arenz |
| Scout |  Nikola Ladan |
| Team Manager | Christian Vecchia |
Managerial History
Genoa has had many managers and trainers over the years. Some seasons, two managers worked together. Here is a list of them from 1896, when the club became a football club.
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| Technical Commission | 1893–1896 |
| James Richardson Spensley | 1896–1907 |
| Technical Commission | 1907–1912 |
| William Garbutt | 1912–1927 |
| Renzo De Vecchi | 1927–1930 |
| Géza Székány | 1930–1931 |
| Luigi Burlando Guillermo Stábile |
1931–1932 |
| Karl Rumbold | 1932–1933 |
| József Nagy | 1933–1934 |
| Vittorio Faroppa then Renzo De Vecchi |
1934–1935 |
| György Orth | 1935–1936 |
| Hermann Felsner | 1936–1937 |
| William Garbutt | 1937–1939 |
| Ottavio Barbieri William Garbutt |
1939–1940 |
| Ottavio Barbieri | 1940–1941 |
| Guido Ara | 1941–1943 |
| Ottavio Barbieri then József Viola |
1945–1946 |
| William Garbutt | 1946–1948 |
| Federico Allasio | 1948–1949 |
| David John Astley then David John Astley and Federico Allasio then Manlio Bacigalupo |
1949–1950 |
| Manlio Bacigalupo | 1950–1951 |
| Imre Senkey then Valentino Sala and Giacinto Ellena |
1951–1952 |
| Giacinto Ellena | 1952–1953 |
| György Sárosi then Ermelindo Bonilauri |
1953–1955 |
| Renzo Magli | 1955–1958 |
| Annibale Frossi | 1958–1959 |
| Antonio Busini Gipo Poggi then Jesse Carver then Annibale Frossi |
1959–1960 |
| Annibale Frossi | 1960–1961 |
| Renato Gei | 1961–1963 |
| Beniamino Santos | 1963–1964 |
| Paulo Amaral then Roberto Lerici |
1964–1965 |
| Luigi Bonizzoni | 1965–1966 |
| Giorgio Ghezzi then Paolo Tabanelli |
1966–1967 |
| Livio Fongaro then Aldo Campatelli |
1967–1968 |
| Aldo Campatelli then Aldo Campatelli and Maurizio Bruno |
1968–1969 |
| Franco Viviani then Maurizio Bruno and Ermelindo Bonilauri then Aredio Gimona and Ermelindo Bonilauri |
1969–1970 |
| Arturo Silvestri | 1970–1974 |
| Guido Vincenzi | 1974–1975 |
| Gigi Simoni | 1975–1978 |
| Pietro Maroso then Ettore Puricelli then Gianni Bui |
1978–1979 |
| Gianni Di Marzio | 1979–1980 |
| Gigi Simoni | 1980–1984 |
| Tarcisio Burgnich | 1984–1986 |
| Attilio Perotti | 1986–1987 |
| Gigi Simoni then Attilio Perotti |
1987–1988 |
| Franco Scoglio | 1988–1990 |
| Osvaldo Bagnoli | 1990–1992 |
| Bruno Giorgi then Luigi Maifredi then Claudio Maselli |
1992–1993 |
| Claudio Maselli then Franco Scoglio |
1993–1994 |
| Franco Scoglio then Giuseppe Marchioro then Claudio Maselli |
1994–1995 |
| Gigi Radice then Gaetano Salvemini |
1995–1996 |
| Attilio Perotti | 1996–1997 |
| Gaetano Salvemini | 1997 |
| Claudio Maselli | 1997 |
| Tarcisio Burgnich | 1997–1998 |
| Giuseppe Pillon | 1998 |
| Luigi Cagni | 1998–1999 |
| Delio Rossi | 1999–2000 |
| Bruno Bolchi | 2000 |
| Guido Carboni Alfredo Magni |
2000 |
| Bruno Bolchi | 2001 |
| Claudio Onofri | 2001 |
| Franco Scoglio | 2001 |
| Edoardo Reja | 2001–2002 |
| Claudio Onofri | 2002 |
| Vincenzo Torrente Rino Lavezzini |
2002–2003 |
| Roberto Donadoni | 2003 |
| Luigi De Canio | 2003 |
| Serse Cosmi | 2004–2005 |
| Francesco Guidolin | 2005 |
| Giovanni Vavassori then Attilio Perotti then Giovanni Vavassori |
2005–2006 |
| Gian Piero Gasperini | 2006–2010 |
| Davide Ballardini | 2010–2011 |
| Alberto Malesani | 2011 |
| Pasquale Marino | 2011–2012 |
| Alberto Malesani | 2012 |
| Luigi De Canio | 2012 |
| Luigi Delneri | 2012–2013 |
| Davide Ballardini | 2013 |
| Fabio Liverani | 2013 |
| Gian Piero Gasperini | 2013–2016 |
| Ivan Jurić | 2016–2017 |
| Andrea Mandorlini | 2017 |
| Ivan Jurić | 2017 |
| Davide Ballardini | 2017–2018 |
| Ivan Jurić | 2018 |
| Cesare Prandelli | 2018–19 |
| Aurelio Andreazzoli | 2019 |
| Thiago Motta | 2019 |
| Davide Nicola | 2019–2020 |
| Rolando Maran | 2020 |
| Davide Ballardini | 2020–2021 |
| Andriy Shevchenko | 2021–2022 |
| Alexander Blessin | 2022 |
| Alberto Gilardino | 2022–2024 |
Team Colors, Badge, and Nicknames
Genoa was started by British people, so their first team colors were those of the England national football team. Later, in 1899, the kit changed to white and blue stripes. Blue was chosen to represent the sea, as Genoa is a port city. In 1901, the club decided on their famous red and blue halves shirt. This led to their nickname rossoblù (red and blues).
One of Genoa's nicknames is Il Grifone, which means "the griffin". This comes from the coat of arms of the city of Genoa. The city's coat of arms has two golden griffins on either side of the Saint George's Cross. The cross is also a nod to the club's English founders. Saint George was also the patron saint of the old Republic of Genoa. The club's badge is very similar to the city's coat of arms, but it also includes the club's red and blue colors.
Fans and Rival Teams
Most of Genoa CFC's fans live in Liguria, but they are also popular in Piedmont and the Aosta Valley. Because Genoa is a port city, many people from Genoa traveled the world. This helped spread the club's popularity beyond Italy. Fans have even started clubs in places like Buenos Aires, Amsterdam, Tokyo, Toronto, New York, San Francisco, Barcelona, and Iceland.
Genoa's biggest rivalry is with their local city rival, Sampdoria. They share the same stadium. The games between them are called the Derby della Lanterna ("Derby of the Lantern"), named after the Lighthouse of Genoa. Genoa's fans also have a strong dislike for AC Milan.
On the other hand, Genoa fans have long-standing friendships with Napoli fans. This friendship started after a match in 1982. On the last day of the 2006–07 season, Genoa and Napoli drew 0–0. This result meant both clubs were promoted back to Serie A. Genoa fans held up banners saying "Benvenuto fratello napoletano" (Welcome, Neapolitan brother). The two groups of fans celebrated together.
In the past, Genoa also had a good relationship with Roma fans. This was partly due to player transfers in the 1970s and 80s. However, this friendship has cooled down recently. Another strong friendship was with Torino fans. This began after a player transfer in 1964 and a sad event in 1967. But this friendship may have ended after a match in the 2008–09 season. Torino needed points to avoid relegation, and their fans expected Genoa to go easy on them. However, Genoa was fighting for a spot in the Champions League and beat Torino. This result contributed to Torino's relegation.
Club Ownership and Other Sports
777 Partners Ownership
On September 23, 2021, a US-based investment company called 777 Partners bought Genoa. The company was founded by Steven W. Pasko and Josh Wander. The team was bought for about $175 million. Even though Genoa was relegated to Serie B in their first season under 777 Partners, they quickly returned to Serie A the next year.
Genoa Cricket Club
In its early days, Genoa was a multi-sport club. It later focused only on football. In 2007, some club supporters started a cricket section. It is now called Genoa Cricket Club 1893 and plays in Serie A of the Italian cricket league.
Genoa in European Competitions
UEFA Cup/Europa League Matches
Genoa has played in European competitions like the UEFA Cup (now Europa League). Here are some of their results:
| Season | Round | Opponent | Home | Away | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991–92 | First round | Oviedo |
3–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 |
| Second round |  Dinamo București |
3–1 | 2–2 | 5–3 | |
| Third round | Steaua București |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | |
| Quarter-finals | Liverpool |
2–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | |
| Semi-finals |  Ajax |
2–3 | 1–1 | 3–4 | |
| 2009–10 | |||||
| Play-off round |  Odense |
3–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | |
| Group B | Valencia |
1–2 | 2–3 | 3rd | |
| Lille |
3–2 | 0–3 | |||
 Slavia Prague |
2–0 | 0–0 |
Club Achievements: Trophies and Titles
League Titles
- Italian Football Championship / Northern League / Serie A:
- Winners (9): 1898, 1899, 1900, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1914–15, 1922–23, 1923–24
- Serie B:
- Winners (6): 1934–35, 1952–53, 1961–62, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1988–89
- Serie C / Serie C1 (North):
- Winners (1): 1970–71
Cup Titles
- Coppa Italia: 1
- Winners: 1936–37
- Runners-up: 1939–40
Other Trophies
- Coppa delle Alpi: 2
- Winners: 1962, 1964
- Anglo-Italian Cup: 1
- Winners: 1996
Youth Team Titles
- Campionato Nazionale Primavera: 1
- Winners: 2009–10
- Coppa Italia Primavera: 1
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- Winners: 2008–09
- Primavera Super Cup: 2
- Winners: 2009, 2010
- Torneo di Viareggio: 2
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- Winners: 1965, 2007
- Campionato Nazionale Under-18: 2
- Winners: 2020–21, 2023-24
- Campionato Nazionale Under-17:
- Runners-up: 2020–21
- Campionato Nazionale giovanile: 2
- Winners: 1939, 1942
League History: Promotions and Relegations
This table shows how Genoa has moved between different Italian football leagues over the years.
| Series | Years | Last Season | Promotions | Relegations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 57 | 2024–25 | – |  9 (1934, 1951, 1960, 1965, 1974, 1978, 1984, 1995, 2022) |
| B | 34 | 2022–23 |  9 (1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1976, 1981, 1989, 2007, 2023) |
2 (1970, 2005) |
| C | 2 | 2005–06 | 2 (1971, 2006 |
never |
| 93 years of professional football in Italy | ||||
| Founding member of the Football League's First Division in 1921 | ||||
This includes 105 seasons at a national level from the start of the Italian football league. It also includes 27 seasons of Prima Categoria and Prima Divisione (from 1898 to 1922, the Italian Football Championship was called Prima Categoria). It also includes the Prima Categoria 1907–1908 season, which Genoa did not enter.
Team Gear: Kit Suppliers and Sponsors
| Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978–1980 | Puma | n.a. | |
| 1980–1981 | Mauri Sport | ||
| 1981–1982 | Seiko | ||
| 1982–1983 | Adidas | ||
| 1983–1984 | Elah | ||
| 1984–1985 | Carrera | ||
| 1985–1988 | Levante Assicurazioni | ||
| 1988–1989 | Erreà | ||
| 1989–1992 | Mita | ||
| 1992–1994 | Saiwa | ||
| 1994–1995 | Kenwood | ||
| 1995–1996 | Giocheria | ||
| 1996–1997 | Santal | ||
| 1997–1998 | Costa Crociere | ||
| 1998–2000 | Kappa | Festival Crociere 2024 | |
| 2000–2001 | Nube che Corre | ||
| 2001–2003 | Erreà | n.a. | |
| 2003–2005 | Costa Crociere | ||
| 2005–2007 | n.a. | ||
| 2007–2008 | Eurobet | ||
| 2008–2009 | Asics | ||
| 2009–2010 | Gaudi | ||
| 2010–2012 | iZi Play | ||
| 2012–2014 | Lotto | ||
| 2014–2015 | n.a. | McVitie's | |
| 2015–2016 | AT.P.CO/LeasePlan | ||
| 2016–2017 | Prénatal | Zenitiva, LeasePlan | |
| 2017–2018 | Eviva | ||
| 2018–2019 | Giocheria | ||
| 2019–2022 | Kappa | n.a. | |
| 2022–2023 | Castore | Radio 105, MSC Crociere | |
| 2023–2027 | Kappa | Pulsee, MSC Crociere | |
Images for kids
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The official document that founded Genoa CFC in September 1893.
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Genoa CAC in 1898, the first team to win the Italian Championship.
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The last Genoa team to win the Italian Football Championship in 1924.
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Genoa's team celebrating their Coppa Italia win in Florence in 1937.
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The Genoa team during the 1956–57 season.
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Genoa celebrating their Cup of the Alps victory in 1962.
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The first Genoa team of the 1980s.
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Genoa fans celebrating their return to Serie A in June 2007 at Piazza de Ferrari.
