Bologna FC 1909 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Bologna

Full name	Bologna Football Club 1909 S.p.A.
Nickname(s)	I Rossoblù (The Red and Blues) I Veltri (The Greyhounds) I Felsinei (The Felsinians) I Petroniani (The Petronians)
Founded	3 October 1909; 115 years ago (1909-10-03)
Ground	Stadio Renato Dall'Ara
Ground Capacity	38,279
Owner	BFC 1909 Lux SPV S.A. (99.93%)
Chairman	Joey Saputo
Head coach	Vincenzo Italiano
League	Serie A
2018–19	Serie A, 10th of 20
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Bologna Football Club 1909, often called Bologna, is a professional football team from Bologna, Italy. They play in Serie A, which is the top football league in Italy. The club has won seven top league titles, two Coppa Italia cups, and one UEFA Intertoto Cup.

Bologna was started in 1909 and was one of the first teams in Serie A. They won many of their league championships in the late 1930s. Their last league title was in 1964. In the 1970s, they won two Coppa Italia titles. Later, the club faced money problems and changed owners many times. Now, a Canadian group led by Joey Saputo owns the team.

Bologna has played in Serie A for 75 seasons. This is the ninth-highest number in Italian football history. Since 1927, the team has played at the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. This stadium is the tenth largest in Serie A.

Bologna FC: A Club's Journey Through Time

Bologna's performance in the Italian football league since 1929/30.

The idea for Bologna Football Club came from Emilio Arnstein. He was an Austrian who loved football from his time at university. He had even started another football club in Austria before this.

The club was founded on October 3, 1909, in the city of Bologna, Italy. Carlo Sandoni was the club's first sponsor. Louis Rauch from Switzerland became the first president.

On March 20, 1910, Bologna played its first game against Virtus. Bologna won easily with a score of 9–1. The first team included players like Koch, Chiara, and Gradi.

In their first season, Bologna won their regional league. This helped them move up to a league called Group Veneto-Emiliano. They played there for four seasons. Football leagues were then paused because of World War I.

Champions of the 1920s and 1930s

After World War I, Bologna started to become very successful. They reached the semi-finals of a big Northern Italian competition in 1919–20. The next season, they made it to the Northern League finals.

Bologna became champions of Northern Italy and the whole country for the first time in 1924–25. They beat Genoa after five tough final matches. A few seasons later, Bologna won the Italian championship again in 1928–29. This helped them become a strong team in Italian football. This was the last time the league used the old system. Serie A started the next year.

The Bologna team that won the Italian championship in 1936–37.

Bologna won the Scudetto (the league title) three more times before World War II. They won in 1935–36, 1936–37, and 1938–39. They also won one title during the war in 1940–41.

Bologna After World War II

After World War II, the club had less success. In the 1950s and 1960s, Bologna usually finished in the middle of the league table. Then, in 1963–64, they won the league title again. This is still their last Serie A championship. This win brought the club's total titles to seven.

The Bologna team that won the scudetto in the 1963–64 season.

This victory allowed Bologna to play in the 1964–65 European Cup (now the UEFA Champions League). However, they were knocked out early by Anderlecht.

But it wasn't all bad news. In the 1970s, Bologna won the Italian Cup twice. In the second final, they played against Palermo. The game ended 1–1 and went to a penalty shootout. Bologna won 4–3.

Moving Up and Down the Leagues

In the 1981–82 season, the club started to struggle. They were relegated from Serie A. They were relegated again the next year and fell into Serie C1, a lower league. They quickly won their way out of Serie C1. After four years in Serie B, they returned to Serie A for the 1988–89 season.

However, they did not stay long. They were relegated in 1991 and went back to Serie C1 in 1993. The club returned to Serie A in 1996. Two years later, Bologna had success in Europe. They won the UEFA Intertoto Cup and played in the UEFA Cup. The club stayed in Serie A until the 2004–05 season. They lost to Parma in the playoffs and were relegated.

Time in Serie B

Even though they lost some important players, Bologna hoped to get promoted from Serie B in the 2005–06 season. But they started poorly, and their coach, Renzo Ulivieri, was fired. Andrea Mandorlini took over.

During this time, the team was sold to Alfredo Cazzola, a local businessman. Mandorlini also struggled, so Ulivieri was brought back as coach. Bologna finished eighth in the 2005–06 Serie B season. In the 2006–07 season, they finished seventh. There were many disagreements between chairman Cazzola and coach Ulivieri. Ulivieri was fired again and Luca Cecconi became caretaker coach. For the 2007–08 season, Daniele Arrigoni led Bologna. He helped the team get promoted back to Serie A by finishing second in Serie B.

Back in Serie A

In 2008, a group from America wanted to buy the club, but the deal fell through. The club was then sold to a local group led by Francesca Menarini. She became the second female chairman in Serie A history. Arrigoni stayed as coach. Bologna started well with a surprising 2–1 win against Milan. However, Bologna then lost eight of their next nine matches. After a big 5–1 loss to Cagliari, Daniele Arrigoni was fired. Siniša Mihajlović became the new coach.

On April 14, 2009, Giuseppe Papadopulo became the new manager. He helped the team avoid being relegated to Serie B on the very last day of the season. In the 2009–10 season, Bologna played in Serie A for the 65th time. They avoided relegation again, even with money problems under new coach Franco Colomba.

In June 2010, Sergio Porcedda bought the club. Franco Colomba was fired just before the 2010–11 season started. The president said it was because Colomba "was skeptical of the team."

New Owners: "Bologna 2010"

On December 23, 2010, a group called Bologna 2010 bought the club from Sergio Porcedda. Porcedda had not paid the club's wages, and Bologna was at risk of going bankrupt. Massimo Zanetti became the new chairman. Famous Italian musician Gianni Morandi, a long-time Bologna fan, became honorary president.

After only 28 days, Massimo Zanetti and CEO Luca Baraldi resigned. They had disagreements with other partners. Stefano Pedrelli became the new general director. Marco Pavignani was chairman for 76 days.

From April 7, 2011, Albano Guaraldi became the new chairman. He was the second-largest shareholder in the "Bologna 2010" group.

The 2013–14 season saw Bologna relegated to Serie B again. There were also many money problems with the club and its owner, Albano Guaraldi. Fans criticized him for many decisions, including selling star player Alessandro Diamanti. A new coach, Diego López, was hired. Guaraldi wanted to sell his share of Bologna. A North American group led by Joe Tacopina and Joey Saputo (who owns CF Montréal) showed interest. Another offer came from former chairman Massimo Zanetti. On October 15, 2014, the club was sold to BFC 1909 Lux SPV. Tacopina became the new chairman.

The "BFC 1909 Lux Spv" Era

Bologna FC players celebrating their qualification for the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League in May 2024.

Under the new owners, Bologna was promoted back to Serie A in 2015. Joey Saputo then became the new chairman of Bologna on November 17, 2014.

In their first season back in Serie A, Bologna finished 14th and avoided relegation. In the next two seasons, they finished 15th. In the 2018–19 Serie A season, Bologna finished a good 10th. For the next three seasons, Bologna stayed in the middle of the Serie A table. They finished 12th twice and 13th in the 2021–22 season.

On September 12, 2022, Thiago Motta became Bologna's head coach. The club finished 9th in the 2022–23 season, earning 54 points. This was a new record for the team. In the 2023–24 season, under Motta's leadership, the club earned a spot in the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League. This was their first time since 1964–65! They finished in the top five in Serie A and set a new record of 68 points.

Bologna's Home: Stadio Renato Dall'Ara

Stadio Renato Dall'Ara

Bologna's official stadium is the Stadio Renato Dall'Ara. It is the biggest sports building in Bologna. The stadium is named after Renato Dall'Ara, a former chairman of the club. He passed away just three days before a Serie A final. The stadium can hold 38,500 people.

The curva Bulgarelli (Bulgarelli curve) is where Bologna's most passionate fans sit. It is named after player Giacomo Bulgarelli, who died in 2009. The other curve is partly for visiting fans. It is named after Árpád Weisz, who coached Bologna's winning team before the war. He was killed in a concentration camp during WWII.

Bologna FC: Current Players

Current Squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Łukasz Skorupski 2 DF Emil Holm 3 DF Stefan Posch 5 DF Martin Erlić 6 MF Nikola Moro 7 FW Riccardo Orsolini (vice-captain) 8 MF Remo Freuler 9 FW Santiago Castro 10 FW Jesper Karlsson 11 FW Dan Ndoye 14 FW Samuel Iling-Junior (on loan from Aston Villa) 15 DF Nicolò Casale (on loan from Lazio) 16 DF Tommaso Corazza 17 MF Oussama El Azzouzi 18 MF Tommaso Pobega (on loan from Milan)

No. Position Player 19 MF Lewis Ferguson (captain) 20 MF Michel Aebischer 21 FW Jens Odgaard 22 DF Charalampos Lykogiannis 23 GK Nicola Bagnolini 24 FW Thijs Dallinga 26 DF Jhon Lucumí 28 FW Nicolò Cambiaghi 29 DF Lorenzo De Silvestri 30 FW Benja Domínguez 31 DF Sam Beukema 33 DF Juan Miranda 34 GK Federico Ravaglia 80 MF Giovanni Fabbian 82 MF Kacper Urbański

Other Players Under Contract

No. Position Player MF Niklas Pyyhtiä

Bologna Primavera (Youth Team)

No. Position Player 25 GK Massimo Pessina 32 MF Naïm Byar

Players Out on Loan

No. Position Player DF Kevin Bonifazi (at Lecce until 30 June 2025) DF Mihajlo Ilić (at Partizan until 30 June 2025) DF Mattia Motolese (at Carrarese until 30 June 2025) DF Joaquín Sosa (at CF Montréal until 31 December 2024) DF Riccardo Stivanello (at Juventus Next Gen until 30 June 2025) MF Andri Baldursson (at IF Elfsborg until 31 December 2024)

No. Position Player MF Manuel Rosetti (at Sestri Levante until 30 June 2025) FW Gianmarco Cangiano (at Pescara until 30 June 2025) FW Orji Okwonkwo (at Reggiana until 30 June 2025) FW Antonio Raimondo (at Venezia until 30 June 2025) FW Andrea Mazia (at Varesina until 30 June 2025)

Club Leadership: Chairmen History

Bologna has had many chairmen throughout its history. Some were owners, and others were honorary chairmen. Here is a list of Bologna chairmen from 1909 to today.

Bologna FC: Team Staff

Position	Name
Sporting director	Marco Di Vaio
Head coach	Vincenzo Italiano
Assistant Head Coach	Daniel Niccolini
Athletic Coach	Piero Campo Ivano Tito Mirko Balestracci Paolo Aiello Nicolo' Prandelli
Goalkeeping coach	Vincenzo Sicignano Antonio Rosati
Match analyst	Stefano Fricano Paolo Riela
Data analyst	Luca Benedetti
Team manager	Tommaso Fini
Head of Medical	Gianni Nanni
Team Doctor	Giovanbattista Sisca Luca Bini
Physiotherapist	Luca Ghelli Luca Govoni Gianluca Scolaro Simone Spelorzi Juan Manuel Parafita
Kit Manager	Matteo Campagna Nicola Capelli Davide Nicolini
Secretary	Maurizio Rizzi
Scout	Pasquale Ussia
Technical Director	Giovanni Sartori

Bologna FC: Managerial History

Bologna has had many managers and coaches. Sometimes, two managers worked together to lead the team. Here is a list of them from 1920 onwards.

Bologna FC: Sponsors

Kit Sponsors

• 1978–1979: Admiral
• 1980–1982: Tepa Sport
• 1982–1988: Ennerre
• 1988–1993: Uhlsport
• 1993–1996: Erreà
• 1996–2000: Diadora
• 2000–2001: Umbro
• 2001–present: Macron

Official Sponsors

• 1981–1982: Febal
• 1982–1983: Pasta Bertagni
• 1983–1984: Pasta Corticella
• 1984–1985: Ebano
• 1985–1986: Idrolitina
• 1986–1989: Segafredo
• 1989–1992: Mercatone Uno
• 1992–1993: Sinudyne
• 1993–1994: Buona Natura
• 1994–1997: Carisbo
• 1997–2001: Granarolo
• 2001–2004: Area Banca
• 2004–2005: Amica Chips
• 2005–2006: Europonteggi
• December 2006: Motor Show
• January–March 2007: Woolrich
• March–June 2007: Volvo
• December 2007 – March 2008: Joe Marmellata
• April–June 2008: Carisbo
• September 2008 – June 2009: Unipol
• August–September 2009: Cogei
• October–November 2009: Cerasarda
• November 2009 – June 2010: BIGPoker.it
• October 2010 – Cerasarda
• October 2009 – Ceramica Serenissima
• August 2014 – June 2015: +energia
• August 2011 – June 2015: NGM
• September 2015 – June 2018: FAAC – Illumia
• June 2018–June 2020: Liu·Jo
• September 2020–June 2022: Facile Ristrutturare – Selenella – Illumia
• June 2022–Present: Cazoo – Lavoropiù

Bologna FC: Player Statistics

Bologna FC: Trophies and Awards

Domestic Titles

President Renato Dall'Ara (left) and captain Mirko Pavinato (right) with the 1961 Mitropa Cup trophy.

League Wins

• Serie A
  • Winners (7): 1924–25, 1928–29, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1938–39, 1940–41, 1963–64
• Serie B
  • Winners (2): 1987–88, 1995–96
• Serie C1
  • Winners : 1994–95

Cup Wins

• Coppa Italia
  • Winners (2): 1969–70, 1973–74

International Titles

• Mitropa Cup
  • Winners (3): 1932, 1934, 1961
• UEFA Intertoto Cup
  • Winners (1): 1998
• Anglo-Italian League Cup
  • Winners (1): 1970

Friendly Tournament Wins

• Nova Supersports Cup
  • Winners (1): 2001

Bologna FC: League History

Series	Years	Last Season	Promotions	Relegations
A	77	2023–24	—	4 (1982, 1991, 2005, 2014)
B	12	2014–15	4 (1988, 1996, 2008, 2015)	2 (1983, 1993)
C	3	1994–95	2 (1984, 1995)	never
92 years of professional football in Italy since 1929
Founding member of the Football League’s First Division in 1921

See also

In Spanish: Bologna Football Club 1909 para niños

• Scudetto of the Pistols