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, Catanzaro, Italy |
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| Capacity | 14,650 | |||
| Owner | Unione Sportiva Catanzaro 1929 S.r.l. | |||
| Chairman | Floriano Noto | |||
| Manager | Fabio Caserta | |||
| League | Serie C Group C | |||
| 2018–19 | Serie C Group C, 3rd of 19 | |||
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Unione Sportiva Catanzaro 1929, or just Catanzaro, is a professional football team from Catanzaro, Calabria, Italy. They play in Serie B, which is the second-highest football league in Italy. They recently returned to this league after 17 years!
The club started in 1927 when two local teams joined together. Then, in 1929, it was officially founded. Over the years, the team mostly played in lower leagues. They even had to restart twice, in 2006 and 2011, because of money problems.
Catanzaro's official colors are red and yellow. You'll often see them playing in all-red kits with yellow details, or in red and yellow stripes. Their team symbol is a golden eagle, which is also on the city's coat of arms. The team plays its home games at the Stadio Nicola Ceravolo. This stadium was built in 1919 and is the oldest sports place in Calabria.
In its history, Catanzaro has played seven seasons in Serie A, Italy's top league. Five of these were in a row! Their best finish in Serie A was 7th place in the 1981–82 season. They also finished 8th in 1980–81.
The club has won seven championships since it started. Six of these were in the third league (like Serie C). They also won the IV Serie (fourth league) in 1953. That year, they also won the national title for that league, called the Scudetto IV Serie. At the youth level, they 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.
In 2018, the club officially went back to its original name, "Unione Sportiva Catanzaro," adding "1929" to show the year it was founded.
Contents
Club History
Early Years and First Promotions
The club began in 1927 when two local teams merged to form Unione Sportiva Catanzarese. They played in the fourth Italian league. In 1929, the club officially changed its name to Unione Sportiva Fascista Catanzarese.
They quickly moved up, reaching the third league (Prima Divisione) in 1930. After three seasons there, Catanzarese made it to Serie B for the first time in 1933. They spent a few years in Serie B but faced money problems in 1937 and had to go back to regional leagues. World War II then stopped all football competitions.
After World War II and National Title
After World War II, the club dropped the "Fascista" part of its name and became Unione Sportiva Catanzaro. They mostly played in Serie C. In 1952, they were relegated to IV Serie but quickly bounced back. In the 1952–53 season, they not only won their league group but also became national champions of the IV Serie!
In 1959, the club won their Serie C group and earned promotion back to Serie B after 13 years.
Rise to Serie A
From 1959, Catanzaro had a good run, staying in Serie B for 12 years in a row. They often finished in the middle of the league table. During this time, they reached the Coppa Italia final in 1966.
Then, in 1971, they made history by getting promoted to Serie A for the very first time! They won a special play-off match against Bari and Atalanta.
Their first season in Serie A was tough, and they were relegated. But they did get their first Serie A win against Juventus! They went up to Serie A again in 1976 but only stayed for one year.
The Golden Era
In 1978, Catanzaro was promoted to Serie A for the third time. This started their "golden era," where they stayed in the top league for five years. With famous players like Claudio Ranieri and Massimo Palanca, they finished an amazing 9th in 1979. Even though they were supposed to be relegated the next year, they got to stay because other teams (AC Milan and Lazio) had to go down.
They finished 8th in 1981 and 7th in 1982, which was their best-ever Serie A finish. But in 1983, they were relegated again. For the next few years, they moved between Serie B and Serie C1.
Challenges and Rebirths
In 1988, Catanzaro almost got promoted again, finishing 5th. However, they were relegated twice in a row in 1990 and 1991, ending up in Serie C2 for 12 seasons.
In 2005, after two promotions, Catanzaro returned to Serie B after 15 years. But they had a bad season and were relegated. They were given another chance in Serie B because other teams were removed, but they finished last again in 2006 and went back to Serie C1. After this, the club faced serious money problems, and its registration was canceled.
New Beginnings
In the summer of 2006, the club was restarted with a new name, F.C. Catanzaro. They started in Serie C2. They hoped to climb back up the leagues.
In 2011, the club faced more financial issues and was almost excluded from the league. But they won an appeal and were allowed to play.
On June 30, 2011, a new company called Catanzaro Calcio 2011 took over the club. Soon after, on August 6, 2011, they bought back the old, historic name and logo of U.S. Catanzaro.
In the 2011–12 season, Catanzaro finished second in their league and were promoted to Lega Pro Prima Divisione. They continued to play well, even reaching the promotion play-offs in 2014.
Finally, in 2018, the club officially changed its name back to Unione Sportiva Catanzaro 1929, adding the "1929" to the logo. They reached the promotion play-offs for three years in a row but stayed in Serie C.
In the 2021–22 season, Catanzaro played very well. They changed managers in November 2021, bringing in Vivarini. The team improved a lot, finishing second in the league. They made it to the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia Serie C and the promotion play-offs, but lost to Padova both times.
In the 2022–23 season, Catanzaro won their league (Serie C Group A) and earned promotion back to Serie B!
Stadium, Colors, and Badge
Stadium
Catanzaro plays its home games at Stadio Nicola Ceravolo. This stadium was built in 1919 and is the oldest sports building in Calabria.
Colors
The team's colors are red and yellow, just like the city of Catanzaro.
The most common uniform for the Aquile (Eagles) is a solid red shirt with a yellow V-neck, red shorts, and red socks with yellow edges. These colors were worn during their best years in Serie A and are very special to the club. They also often use a yellow and red striped shirt with red shorts and socks.
Sometimes, 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. That win helped Catanzaro reach the cup final, which they later lost.
For away games, the team usually wears a blue uniform with red and yellow details. They have also worn all-white or all-yellow kits. Sometimes, they even have a third or fourth uniform in blue, white, or yellow.
Badges
The club's badge is a shield with the historic symbol of Catanzaro: a Golden eagle. This eagle is also on 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's a smaller shield showing the three hills where the city stands. A line splits the badge in two, showing the team's red and yellow colors. The club's name is at the top on a blue background.
Derbies and Rivalries
Catanzaro has played many exciting matches against other teams from the Calabria region in Italian football. These special games 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 very first game was in 1912! They have played 54 times, with Catanzaro winning 21 times, 24 draws, and Cosenza winning 9 times.
- Reggina – The Classic (U-classicu) – Catanzaro is the capital of Calabria, and Reggio Calabria is the region's biggest city, making this match very important. They first played in 1930. This derby has had the most Serie B games (20 matches). It's also the only derby where they played in the Coppa Italia. 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 area where Crotone is located was part of the Province of Catanzaro. That's where the derby name comes from. These teams first met in Serie B in 2004. They have spent seven seasons together in Serie C and one in Serie C2. They have never played each other in Serie A. Out of 28 games, Catanzaro has 8 wins, 11 draws, and Crotone has 9 wins.
Players
Current Squad
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Players on Loan
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Club Staff
Technical Staff
| Position | Staff |
|---|---|
| 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
Here are some of the most famous players who have been added to 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 League)
- Runners-up (2): 1975–76, 1977–78
- Promoted through play-offs (1): 1970–71
- Serie C / Serie C1 (Third League)
- Winners (6): 1935–36, 1958–59, 1984–85, 1986–87, 2003–04, 2022–23
- IV Serie (Fourth League)
- Winners (1): 1952–53
Cup Wins
- Coppa Italia
- Finalists (1): 1965–66
- Semi-finalists (2): 1978–79, 1981–82
- Supercoppa di Serie C
- Winners (1): 2023
- Runners-up (1): 2004
- Scudetto IV Serie
- Winners (1): 1952–53
European Competitions
- Cup of the Alps
- Winners (1): 1960
League History
| Level | League | Seasons | First Season | Last Season | Total |
| A | Serie A | 7 | 1971–72 | 1982–83 | 7 |
| B | Serie B | 29 | 1933–34 | 2023–24 | 29 |
| C | Prima Divisione | 3 | 1930–31 | 1932–33 | 31 |
| Serie C | 22 | 1935–36 | 2022–23 | ||
| Serie C1 | 6 | 1984–85 | 2013–14 | ||
| Serie C2 | 18 | 1991–92 | 2011–12 | 18 | |
| D | IV Serie | 1 | 1952–53 | 1 | |
Cup History
| Competition | Times Played | First Season | Last Season | Best Result |
| Coppa Italia | 45 | 1935–36 | 2022–23 | Runners-Up (1966) |
| Coppa Italia Serie C | 31 | 1984–85 | 2022–23 | Semifinalist (2021–22) |
| Supercoppa di Serie C | 2 | 2004 | 2023 | Champions (2023) |
| Scudetto di IV Serie | 1 | 1952–53 | Champions (1953) | |
International Games
Cup of the Alps
| Season | Opponent | Home Score | Away Score | Total Score | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 |  SC Brühl |
5–1 | 0–0 | 5–1 |
Anglo-Italian Cup
| Season | Round | Opponent | Home Score | Away Score | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | Group Stage |  Stoke City |
0–3 | 0–2 | |
| 1972 | Group Stage | Carlisle United |
0–1 | 1–4 |
Overall International Record
| Competition | Games Played | Won | Drew | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cup of the Alps | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | +4 | 50.00 |
| Anglo-Italian Cup | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 10 | −9 | 0.00 |
| Total | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | −5 | 16.67 |
Images for kids
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The official logo of US Catanzaro 1929.
See also
In Spanish: Unione Sportiva Catanzaro 1929 para niños
