LR Vicenza facts for kids

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Vicenza

Full name	L.R. Vicenza S.p.A.
Nickname(s)	Biancorossi, Lanerossi/Lane, Nobile provinciale, I Berici
Founded	9 March 1902
Ground	Stadio Romeo Menti
Ground Capacity	12,000
Owner	OTB Group S.p.A.
Chairman	Stefano Rosso
Head coach	Stefano Vecchi
League	Serie C Group B
2018–19	Serie C Group B, 8th of 20
Home colours Away colours

L.R. Vicenza S.p.A., usually called Vicenza, is an Italian football club. It is based in the city of Vicenza. The team plays in Serie C, which is the third level of Italian football.

The club was started on March 9, 1902. Its first name was Associazione del Calcio in Vicenza. It is the oldest football club in north-eastern Italy. Vicenza has played in Serie A (Italy's top league) 30 times. They even played 20 seasons in a row between 1955 and 1975. This makes them one of the most traditional clubs in Italy.

Vicenza has won the Italian Cup once (in 1996–1997). They also won the Italian Cup Serie C twice (in 1981–1982 and 2022–2023). Their best international result was reaching the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1997–1998. In 1910–1911, they reached the final of the First Division championship. In 1977–1978, they finished second in Serie A, which was amazing for a newly promoted team!

The club went through some tough times and went bankrupt in 2018. But it was reformed thanks to the OTB Group, which moved another team, Bassano Virtus, to Vicenza. This new club, L.R. Vicenza, continues the long history of football in Vicenza that started in 1902.

History of Vicenza Football Club

Vicenza was founded in 1902 by a group of people, including Professor Tito Buy. It is one of Italy's oldest football clubs. The first board of directors met on March 9, 1902. The team played its first match on May 18, 1903.

Their first professional season was 1910–1911. Vicenza, then called ACIVI, won many games and reached the final for the national title. However, they lost to Pro Vercelli, who were very strong at that time. Before World War I, Vicenza often played in national finals, showing they were one of Italy's best teams.

In the 1920s, Vicenza faced some challenges. They struggled with new league rules and financial issues. By 1929, the club had dropped to the fourth level of Italian football.

The Rise of Romeo Menti

The 1930s were a time of recovery for Vicenza. In 1932–1933, the team was promoted to Serie B. They produced many talented players, like the brothers Umberto and Romeo Menti. Romeo Menti became a club legend and is still their top scorer.

A new stadium was opened on September 8, 1935. It was located along the Bacchiglione river. The first game there was against a Hungarian team, Soroksár. A 16-year-old Romeo Menti made his professional debut in that match. After Romeo Menti sadly died in the Superga air disaster in 1949, the stadium was named in his honor.

In the early 1940s, Vicenza reached Italy's top division, Serie A. They had a fantastic midfield with players like Osvaldo Fattori and Alfonso Santagiuliana.

Serie A in 1942–1943: A Big Win Against Juventus

In the 1942–1943 Serie A season, Vicenza avoided relegation on the very last day. They achieved a historic 6-2 victory against Juventus in Turin. After World War II, Vicenza returned to Serie A. In 1946–1947, they finished fifth, which was a big surprise! However, the next year, they finished last and were relegated.

The Lanerossi Vicenza Era

On June 26, 1953, something big happened. The old ACIVI club was bought by Lanerossi, a huge wool company. This was a unique deal at the time. The football club became part of the textile company. They even put the company's name and "R" symbol on their jerseys. This "R" became a famous symbol for the club.

Luís Vinício and Giulio Savoini were two key players during this time. They are remembered as some of the club's best.

Twenty Golden Years in Serie A (1955–1975)

With new money and confidence, Vicenza returned to Serie A in 1955. They finished ninth, which was a great result for a newly promoted team. The youth team also did well, winning the famous Viareggio tournament twice in a row (1954 and 1955). Many young players from this team, like Azeglio Vicini and Mario David, later played for the main team.

In the late 1950s, the team added South American players like Américo Murolo and Francisco Lojacono. Vicenza continued to be a strong team, known for developing young talent. They also welcomed great players at the end of their careers.

In 1962, the Brazilian striker Luís Vinício joined the team. In 1963–1964, Vicenza even reached first place in the league for three matches! Luis Vinicio was the league's top scorer in 1965–1966 with 25 goals. Lanerossi finished that season in fifth place.

However, after these great years, the team often struggled to avoid relegation. In 1975, after 20 consecutive seasons in Serie A, they were relegated to Serie B.

After a difficult 1975–1976 season, Vicenza hired a new coach, Giovan Battista Fabbri. He had a brilliant idea: he changed a young player named Paolo Rossi from a winger to a central striker. This move helped Rossi become a superstar. He later led the Italian National Team to win the 1982 World Cup. Thanks to Rossi's goals and a strong team, Vicenza was promoted back to Serie A.

The "Real Vicenza" Season: 1977–1978

In the 1977–1978 season, Vicenza, a newly promoted team, finished second in Serie A! Only Juventus did better. This is still the best result ever for a newly promoted team in Italy's top league. Paolo Rossi became a national hero. He was the top scorer with 24 goals.

After this amazing season, the club faced financial problems. They had to sell some of their best players. In their European debut, they were knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the first round. In Serie A, they struggled and were surprisingly relegated. Two years later, they even dropped to Serie C1. They did win the Coppa Italia Serie C in 1981–1982.

A young player named Roberto Baggio, who grew up in Vicenza, started his professional career with the club in 1984–1985. He later became one of the best Italian footballers ever. In 1985, Vicenza was promoted back to Serie B. The next season, they almost returned to Serie A. However, their promotion was cancelled because of a betting scandal. This was a big blow, and in 1987, they fell back to Serie C1.

Vicenza Calcio: A New Name

In 1989, the club changed its name to Vicenza Calcio, saying goodbye to the "Lanerossi" name and its "R" symbol. The team struggled at first, almost being relegated to Serie C2. But they managed to stay up with the help of their loyal fans.

In 1993–1994, under coach Renzo Ulivieri, Vicenza returned to Serie B. The team played well together, focusing on teamwork rather than individual stars. This style continued with the next coach, Francesco Guidolin. In the following year, Vicenza was promoted back to Serie A, finishing ninth.

Winning the 1996–97 Coppa Italia

On May 29, 1997, Vicenza achieved a historic victory: they won the Italian Cup! They had a great Serie A season, even beating big teams like Juventus, Inter, and Milan. In the Coppa Italia final, they lost the first game 1-0 against Napoli. But in the return match at their home stadium, Romeo Menti, they won 3-0 in extra time. This was the most important trophy in the club's history.

English Owners and European Adventures

In 1997, the ENIC Group, an English company, bought most of the club. Vicenza became the first Italian team with foreign owners. As Coppa Italia winners, they played in the Italian Super Cup but lost to Juventus.

In the 1997–1998 season, Vicenza did well in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. They surprisingly reached the semi-finals, where they lost to Chelsea, who went on to win the competition. Pasquale Luiso was the top scorer in the cup.

After coach Guidolin left, the team was relegated to Serie B. However, they were immediately promoted back to Serie A in 1999–2000, winning the Serie B championship. But their stay in Serie A lasted only one year. The 2000–2001 season ended with relegation, and this was Vicenza's last season in Italy's top league.

Challenges and Re-foundation

In 2004, local businesspeople took over the club again. For the next decade, Vicenza spent most of its time in Serie B. They often narrowly avoided relegation to Serie C. Twice, in 2005 and 2012, they were saved from relegation because other teams committed rule violations.

In 2013, due to ongoing financial problems, Vicenza was finally relegated to Italy's third league. They almost got promoted back to Serie A in 2014–2015, reaching third place in Serie B, but lost in the play-offs.

In 2017, the club was relegated to Serie C again, and its financial crisis worsened.

2018: Bankruptcy and a New Beginning

In 2018, Vicenza Calcio went bankrupt. The club's official football license was taken away. However, businessman Renzo Rosso (who owns the Diesel brand) bought the club's assets. He moved his other team, Virtus Bassano, to Vicenza and renamed it L.R. Vicenza Virtus. This new club became the official continuation of Vicenza's football history. They were able to stay in Serie C.

In the 2019–2020 season, Vicenza was declared the winner of their Serie C division. This meant they were promoted back to Serie B. In 2021, the club's name was officially changed to L.R. Vicenza.

The 2021–2022 season was difficult, and Vicenza was relegated back to Serie C. In the following season, they didn't perform as well as hoped in the league. However, on April 12, they won the Coppa Italia Serie C for the second time!

The 2023–2024 season started slowly. But after a new coach, Stefano Vecchi, arrived, the team had an amazing run of 23 games without a loss. They reached the play-off final for promotion to Serie B but lost, missing out on promotion once more.

Colors and Symbols of Vicenza

Since 1902, Vicenza's team colors have been white and red. These are the same colors as the city's official emblem. The home uniform is usually a red and white striped jersey, with white shorts and socks.

Over the years, the uniform has changed a lot. In the early days, the stripes were very narrow. In the 1920s and 1930s, they sometimes wore white or red shirts with a horizontal band. After World War II, the team used a wider range of colors.

From the 1970s, the vertical stripes became standard. The company Lanificio Rossi also provided second and third jerseys in bright colors like green, blue, and yellow. These jerseys always had the company's classic "R" symbol on the chest.

The first official sponsor, Yuma Jeans, appeared on the jerseys in 1981–1982.

From 1996 to 1999, the uniform had fewer stripes. The numbers and names on the home jerseys were usually black until 2007. Other colors like red, white, light blue, and gold have also been used.

In 2001–2002, to celebrate the club's 100th anniversary, Umbro designed a special classic jersey. It featured the historic "R" and a golden "V" logo in the center.

In the 2016–2017 season, a special badge was added to the jersey. It celebrated the 20th anniversary of their 1996–1997 Coppa Italia victory.

Since 2020–2021, the Vicenza provincial coat of arms has been on the back of the shirts. It shows four military shrines from World War I and the city's coat of arms.

The two most famous jerseys in Vicenza's history are from the "Real Vicenza" team (1977–1978) and Francesco Guidolin's "Vicenza of miracles" (mid-1990s) with the sponsor Pal Zileri.

Origins	1920–1930s	1930–1940s	1940–1960s	1960–1970s	1970s-present

Official Symbols of the Club

The Club Badge

From 1902 to 1953, the club's symbol was a shield with a white cross on a red background. This came from the city of Vicenza's coat of arms. It also had white and red stripes and the words "A.C. VICENZA".

When Lanerossi bought the club in 1953, a new badge was used. It had the name "LANEROSSI A.C. VICENZA" and the famous "R" symbol of the textile company.

The "R" of Lanerossi was the main symbol on the team's jerseys until 1989.

In 1989, when the club became Vicenza Calcio, a new badge was designed. It was a modern white shield with a big red "V" and a white stripe inside. This "V" also looked like a cross, linking back to the city's symbol. It said "VICENZA CALCIO 1902".

The "R" of Lanerossi returned to the jerseys in 2001–2002 to celebrate the club's 100th anniversary. It became a "secondary crest" on the jerseys from 2006–2007 onwards.

In 2018, after the bankruptcy, the new club L.R. Vicenza Virtus decided to use only the "R" as the main team crest. A new logo was also created for official use, featuring the Lanerossi symbol inside a circle with "L.R. VICENZA 1902" written below.

Club Anthem

The official club anthem is Inno biancorosso. It is the main and oldest song for the fans, dating back to the early 1960s. It was created at the request of the Lanerossi owners. Fans still sing this anthem at the stadium today. After the club was re-founded in 2018, it became the official anthem again.

There are other songs too, like "Cuore biancorosso," which was sung by coach Francesco Guidolin and players to celebrate the 1997 Coppa Italia win.

Club Mascot

Vicenza has an official mascot named Gatton Gattoni. His story began in 1994–1995. An advertising agency wanted to create a character for the team. They chose a cat wearing a Vicenza shirt.

When Vicenza was promoted to Serie A that season, Gatton Gattoni became the team's lucky charm. At first, he appeared in newspapers and flyers. Later, a two-and-a-half-meter-tall mascot was created to entertain fans at matches. Gatton Gattoni first appeared physically on May 12, 1996. He also became a popular product for fans to buy. He was the first official mascot of a Serie A club and became famous across Italy. Gatton Gattoni continued to appear at matches until the club went bankrupt in 2018.

Stadium and Training Facilities

The first stadium for A.C. Vicenza was the Borgo Casale field. It was a simple field without stands. After World War I, the club looked for a new place to play.

In 1919, a new stadium was built in San Felice. It was modern for its time, with a wooden grandstand and changing rooms. It was nicknamed stadio dea carbonea (charcoal stadium) because they used charcoal to level the field.

Since 1935, the team has played its home matches at the Stadio Romeo Menti. This stadium is owned by the city.

It was first called Campo Sportivo del Littorio. It was damaged during World War II but quickly repaired. In 1946, it was renamed Municipal.

After Romeo Menti, a former Vicenza player, died in the Superga air disaster, the city decided to name the stadium after him in 1949.

The stadium has been renovated many times. It is an "English-style" stadium, meaning the stands are very close to the pitch. In the 1970s, it could hold 30,000 spectators. Today, it holds up to 12,000.

Training Centre

From 2006 to 2017, the club used a modern training center called the Centro Tecnico Piermario Morosini. It had a large area with five football pitches, changing rooms, a gym, and offices. It was named after Piermario Morosini, a former Vicenza player who sadly passed away.

After the club's bankruptcy, this center was no longer used.

Since October 2021, the first team trains at the new Sporting Club 55. This facility is owned by the OTB Group, which controls the club. It has two full-size football pitches, synthetic grass pitches, padel courts, tennis courts, swimming pools, a gym, and a wellness area.

Company Structure

The club's offices are located at the Stadio Romeo Menti area. Casa Vicenza, a club house, is also nearby.

L.R. Vicenza is a joint-stock company. Since May 29, 2018, it has been owned by the OTB Group of Breganze, led by entrepreneur Renzo Rosso. Other companies and businesspeople from Vicenza also own shares in the club.

Club Ownership Over Time

• 1902–1953 Shared player ownership
• 1953–1989 Lanerossi Spa
• 1989–1997 Pieraldo Dalle Carbonare
• 1997–2004 ENIC Group
• 2004–2016 Finalfa Srl
• 2016–2017 Vi.Fin. Spa
• 2017–2018 Vicenza bankruptcy court
• 2018–present OTB Group Spa

Youth Sector

Vicenza's youth academy is very successful. They won the Viareggio Tournament twice in a row, in 1954 and 1955.

The youth sector has different levels:

• Competitive activity: Teams that play in championships for different age groups (U17, U16, U15, etc.).
• Grassroots activities: Teams for younger players.
• Football School: For very young children (5–8 years old).
• Vicenza Academy: A network of almost 40 football clubs in the Veneto region that work with L.R. Vicenza to find and develop young talent.

Many famous players started in Vicenza's youth system. These include Vicenza native Roberto Baggio, who is considered one of the best players ever. Other notable players are Romeo Menti, Luigi Menti, Bruno Quaresima, Mirko Pavinato, and Christian Maggio.

The youth teams train at various facilities in Vicenza and Bassano. Many former Vicenza players now coach in the youth sector.

Honours

Domestic Trophies

Cups

• Coppa Italia
  • Winners: 1996–97
• Coppa Italia Serie C
  • Winners: 1981–82, 2022–23

League Titles

• Serie B
  • Winners: 1954–55, 1976–77, 1999–2000
• Serie C
  • Winners: 1932–33, 1939–40, 2019–20

International Trophies

• Benelux Cup
  • Winners: 1961
• Uhrencup
  • Winners: 1965

In Europe Competitions

UEFA Cup Winners' Cup

Season	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1997–98	First Round	Legia Warsaw	2–0	1–1	3–1
	Second Round	FC Shakhtar Donetsk	2–1	3–1	5–2
	Quarter-finals	Roda JC Kerkrade	5–0	4–1	9–1
	Semi-finals	Chelsea F.C	1–0	1–3	2–3

UEFA Cup

Season	Round	Club	Home	Away	Aggregate
1978–79	First round	Dukla Prague	1–1	0–1	1–2

Source:

Divisional Movements

Series	Years	Last	Promotions	Relegations
A	30	2000–01	-	6 (1922, 1948, 1975, 1979, 1999, 2001)
B	37	2021–22	5 (1942, 1955, 1977, 1995, 2000)	8 (1923, 1926, 1935, 1981, 1987, 2013, 2017, 2022)
C	24	2023–24	7 (1924, 1933, 1940, 1985, 1993, 2014, 2020)	1 (1928)
91 out of 92 years of professional football in Italy since 1929
Founding member of the Football League's First Division in 1921
D	1	1929–30	1 (1930)	never

Players

Current Squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Samuele Massolo 4 MF Marco Carraro 5 MF Fausto Rossi 6 DF Maxime Leverbe 7 FW Nicola Rauti (on loan from Torino) 8 MF Simone Della Latta 9 FW Franco Ferrari 10 MF Ronaldo 11 FW Alex Rolfini 12 GK Emilio Pietro Gallo 14 DF Giuseppe Cuomo 15 MF Jean Freddi Greco 19 DF Alessandro Zorzi 20 FW Christian Capone (on loan from Atalanta) 21 MF Stefano Cester

No. Position Player 23 DF Giuliano Laezza 26 DF Filippo De Col 28 MF Tobia Mogentale 29 MF Loris Zonta 30 FW Luca Zamparo 32 DF Filippo Costa 33 DF Matteo Vescovi 44 MF Raul Talarico 55 DF Vladimir Golemić 68 MF Matteo Tonon 73 DF Thomas Sandon 76 DF Nicholas Fantoni 90 FW Claudio Morra 98 GK Alessandro Confente 99 MF Matteo Della Morte

Out on Loan

No. Position Player MF Michele Cavion (at Carrarese until 30 June 2025) FW Filippo Alessio (at Atalanta U23 until 30 June 2025)

No. Position Player FW Giovanni Busato (at Treviso until 30 June 2025)

Retired Numbers

3– Giulio Savoini 25– Piermario Morosini, (2007–09, 2011)– honored after his death.

Famous Former Players

• Paolo Rossi
• Roberto Baggio

Notable Former Managers

Over the years, 75 coaches have led Vicenza. Most of them have been Italian.

The first coach was Antonio Libero Scarpa, from 1902 to 1908. He was also the club's president.

Giulio Fasolo coached the team for the longest time, 10 seasons. He was the coach when Vicenza almost won the Scudetto in 1910–1911.

Many foreign coaches led the team in the 1920s and 1930s. The first was Austrian Franz Sedlacek.

A very important coach was Giovan Battista Fabbri. He coached Vicenza from 1976 to 1979. He helped the team almost win Serie A in 1977–1978. He also had the smart idea to move Paolo Rossi to a central striker position.

Francesco Guidolin coached Vicenza from 1994 to 1998. He led them to win the 1996–97 Coppa Italia and reach the semi-finals of the 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup. He focused on teamwork.

Under Edoardo Reja, the team was promoted to Serie A for the last time at the end of the 1999–2000 season.

Some people have been both players and coaches for Vicenza. These include Giulio Fasolo, Roberto Lerici, Chinesinho, Giulio Savoini, Giovanni Lopez, and Domenico Di Carlo.

Kit Manufacturer and Sponsors

Kit Manufacturers

Sponsors

See also

In Spanish: L.R. Vicenza para niños