Mantova 1911 facts for kids
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| Full name | Mantova 1911 S.r.l. | |||
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| Nickname(s) | I Virgiliani (The Virgilians) I Biancorossi (The White and Reds) I Rossobandati (The Red-Banded) |
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| Founded | 1911 as Associazione Mantovana del Calcio 1994 as Mantova Calcio 2010 as Mantova Football Club Error: first parameter is missing. as Mantova 1911 |
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| Ground | Stadio Danilo Martelli | |||
| Capacity | 14,884 | |||
| Chairman | Filippo Piccoli | |||
| Manager | Davide Possanzini | |||
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Mantova 1911, often just called Mantova, is a professional football club from Mantua, Italy. They play in Italy's second-highest league, Serie B.
Mantova played in Serie B from 2005 to 2010. After that, the club faced financial troubles twice. They played in lower leagues like Serie D and Serie C. In 2023, after being readmitted to Serie C, Mantova won the league. This victory brought them back to Serie B in 2024, after 14 years.
Contents
Club History: From Founding to Today
Early Years and "Little Brazil" Era
Mantova was founded in 1911. The team played in Italy's top league, Serie A, for seven seasons. These were in the 1960s and early 1970s. During this time, they were nicknamed "Little Brazil." This was because their green and yellow shirts looked like Brazil's national team kit. This period was the best in the club's history. Mantova also played eight seasons in Serie B, winning the title in 1970–71.
Challenges and Comebacks
In 1994, Mantova had to stop playing because of financial problems. However, the club was restarted.
Later, Mantova achieved two promotions in a row. They went from Serie C2 to Serie B in 2003–04 and 2004–05. In 2005–06, Mantova started strong in Serie B. They even led the league for a while. They reached the promotion playoffs but lost to Torino in the final.
In the 2006–07 season, Mantova made history. They were the first club to beat Juventus in a Serie B match. Juventus had been relegated to Serie B that season. Mantova finished eighth, showing they were a strong team.
Changes in Management and Financial Struggles
After 2007, Mantova changed coaches several times. Famous players like Stefano Fiore and Tomas Locatelli joined the team. However, the club struggled to reach the top spots.
By 2009–10, Mantova's financial situation worsened. In 2010, the club went bankrupt again. A new club was formed and started playing in Serie D. They quickly won their league and moved up to Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.
Recent Years and Return to Serie B
Mantova continued to play in various lower leagues. In 2017, the club faced more financial issues. A new club, Mantova 1911 S.S.D., was formed and started in Serie D.
In 2018, Maurizio Setti, who also owns Hellas Verona, took over the club. He invested money to help Mantova get promoted to Serie C. They achieved this goal in 2020, even though the season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mantova played in Serie C for a few seasons. In 2023, they were relegated back to Serie D. However, they were soon readmitted to Serie C. In the 2023–24 season, Mantova had an amazing year. They won the league in a dominant way, including a big 5–0 win against Padova. This victory meant Mantova returned to Serie B after 14 years.
Team Colours and Badge
Colours
Mantova's original colours were sky blue and white until 1956. Then, a sponsor changed their colours to white and red. This was a unique design for Italian football, with a white shirt and a red sash. This was the kit they wore when they first played in Serie A.
Later, a red shirt with white shorts became the home kit. In the 2000s, the white and red sash kit was brought back. It has been their main home kit ever since.
The away kit often uses the same design but with inverted colours: a white sash on a red background. Sky blue is mostly used for their third kits. For their 100th anniversary in 2010-11, they wore a special sky blue shirt with a white and red sash.
Between 2005 and 2008, Mantova also used a yellow kit with a green sash. This was to remember the "Little Brazil" team from the late 1950s and early 1960s.
Badge
The Mantova club badge always features two main things. It has the coat of arms of the town of Mantua. It also has a light blue semicircle, which reminds everyone of the team's original colours. These elements are usually put together in a round shape. This round part is then placed inside a red and white shield. The club's name is written on a white stripe at the top of the shield.
Current Squad
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Out on loan
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Coaching Staff
| Position | Name |
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| Head coach |  Davide Possanzini |
| Assistant coach | Andrea Massolini |
| Goalkeeper coach | Michele Arcari |
| Fitness coach | Nicola Pasin |
| Rehab coach | Corrado Merighi |
| Match analyst | Nicolò Brenna |
Notable Former Players
Notable Former Coaches
- Ottavio Bianchi
- Roberto Boninsegna
- Mario Corso
- Alessandro Costacurta
- Edmondo Fabbri
- Nándor Hidegkuti
Honours
Images for kids
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Mantova Calcio logo from 1994
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Mantova FC logo
See also
In Spanish: Mantova 1911 para niños
