History of Piacenza Calcio 1919 facts for kids
Piacenza Calcio was an Italian football club from the city of Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna. It was founded in 1919 and played football for 93 years. Sadly, in 2012, the club ran into serious financial trouble and had to close down. A new club, Piacenza Calcio 1919, took over its legacy and continues to play today.
Piacenza Calcio won the Anglo-Italian Cup in 1986. Their best finish in Italy's top league, Serie A, was 12th place. They achieved this twice, in the 1997–98 and 2001–02 seasons. For much of its history, the club played in lower divisions. Piacenza was also known for mostly using Italian players, especially during its time in Serie A.
Contents
The Early Years (1919-1945)
How Football Started in Piacenza
Football became popular in Piacenza in the late 1800s. It was taught in colleges alongside sports like cycling and gymnastics. A student tournament in 1908 really sparked interest in the game. A team from Collegio Morigi in Piacenza even won this competition!
Founding the Club
Before Piacenza Calcio was formed, people in the city mostly played friendly football matches. The club was officially founded in 1919. Its first president was Giovanni Dosi. He was a very driven leader who wanted the club to join Italy's national championship.
In their first season, Piacenza played 12 games. They competed against teams like Parma, Reggiana, and Bologna. It was a great start for Piacenza, as they only lost one game. This success helped them get promoted to the Prima Categoria, a higher league.
For many years, the club played in regional leagues. In the 1935–36 season, they joined Serie C. They almost got promoted to Serie B in 1938 but lost to Fanfulla.
After World War II
After World War II, Piacenza played in Serie B for the first time. They stayed there for two seasons. In 1948, they went back down to Serie C. In 1952, they were close to promotion again but lost to Cagliari.
In 1956, the club faced a penalty and was moved down to Serie D. This was a tough time for the team. They kept moving between Serie C and D until 1964. Piacenza finally returned to Serie B in 1969. This was thanks to coach Tino Molina and president Vincenzo Romagnoli.
The 1970s and 1980s
Piacenza's history was quite quiet until the 1990s. They had short periods in Serie B in the 1940s. They also played in Serie B during the 1969–70, 1975–76, 1987–88, and 1988–89 seasons.
Reaching Serie A
First Time in the Top League
In 1991, Piacenza was promoted, and their luck started to change. Under coach Gigi Cagni, the club reached Serie A for the very first time in 1993.
The 1993 team had great players like midfielder Daniele Moretti and forward Giampietro Piovani. In the 1993–94 season, they played well and stayed in the middle of the league table. They were even close to getting a spot in the UEFA Cup. However, they were unfortunately moved down to a lower league on the last day of the season.
The club decided to keep coach Cagni and most of his players. This was a smart move! They were promoted again as Serie B champions in 1995.
Success and Challenges
For the next five years, Piacenza gained many fans. They were known for having an all-Italian team. They also fought hard to stay in Serie A. In 1997, the club signed the famous defender Pietro Vierchowod. Even though he was older, Vierchowod was an amazing player. He played very well in defense and even scored important goals.
In 2000, the team was moved down to Serie B. But they quickly returned to Serie A for two more years. Players like midfielder Enzo Maresca showed outstanding skill during this time.
After that, the club stayed in Serie B. They didn't really challenge for promotion again. In the 2006–07 Serie B season, they needed to win their last game to get into a promotion playoff. But they only managed a draw, so the top three teams were promoted automatically.
The club also made money by selling players like Daniele Cacia and Hugo Campagnaro.
The Final Years (2010-2012)
Moving Down to Prima Divisione
The 2010–11 Serie B season was not good for Piacenza. They ended up in a special playoff against Albinoleffe. Piacenza lost this playoff because Albinoleffe had finished higher in the league. This meant Piacenza was moved down to the Lega Pro Prima Divisione.
Club Closes Down
On March 22, 2012, Piacenza Calcio was declared bankrupt by the court. This means they had run out of money and could no longer operate. In that same season, they finished 15th and were moved down from the Lega Pro Prima Divisione to the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione after a playoff. On June 19, 2012, the club officially closed down.
Club Identity
Colors and Nicknames
The team's colors were red and white. This led to one of their nicknames, the Biancorossi, which means "White and Reds." They were also known as the Papaveri (Poppies) and the Lupi (Wolves).
Home Stadium
Piacenza Calcio played its home games at the Stadio Leonardo Garilli. This stadium is located in Piacenza and can hold 21,668 fans.
Club Achievements
Anglo-Italian Cup
- Winners: 1986
- Champions: 1994–95
- Runners-up: 2000–01
- Promoted: 1992–93
- Champions: 1986–87, 1990–91
- Runners-up: 1936–37, 1937–38 (*)
Seconda Divisione
- Promoted: 1927–28
- Group runners-up: 1922–23, 1924–25
Emilian Championship
- Champions: 1919–20
(*) Finished equal first position but lost play-off game to A.C. Fanfulla 1874
Piacenza Football Today
Piacenza Calcio 1919
In the summer of 2012, after Piacenza Calcio closed down, a new club took its place. The Salva Piace association gave the rights to the Piacenza brand to a team called Lupa Piacenza. This club was formerly known as LibertaSpes. Their plan was chosen over another local team, Atletico BP Pro Piacenza.
In the summer of 2013, Lupa Piacenza changed its name to Piacenza Calcio 1919. This new club continues the football tradition in Piacenza.
More Information
Former Players
Notable Former Managers
- See Category:Piacenza Calcio 1919 managers.
