Delfino Pescara 1936

Pescara

Full name	Delfino Pescara 1936 S.p.A.
Nickname(s)	I Delfini (The Dolphins) I Biancazzurri (The White and Blues) Gli Adriatici (The Adriatics)
Founded	1936;88 years ago (1936)
Ground	Stadio Adriatico
Capacity	20,515
Chairman	Daniele Sebastiani
Manager	Zdeněk Zeman
League	Serie C Group B
2022–23	Serie C Group C, 3rd of 20
Website	Club website
Home colours Away colours Third colours
Current season

Delfino Pescara 1936, commonly referred to as Pescara, is a professional Italian football club based in Pescara, Abruzzo.

The club was formed in 1936 and currently plays in Serie C. Pescara has competed in seven seasons in Serie A, 1977–78, 1979–80, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1992–93, 2012–13 and last participated in 2016–17. The team's official colors are white and light blue varied between either azure or sky blue, manifested in striped shirts with white socks and shorts.

History

Aside from a spell in Serie B in the 1940s, Pescara had a relatively^{[ according to whom? ]} undistinguished history^{[ according to whom? ]} until promotion to Serie B in 1974.^{[ citation needed ]} With players like Giorgio Repetto^{[ dubious ][ clarification needed ]} and Bruno Nobili in the midfield, they managed to^{[ tone ]} win their first promotion to Serie A in 1977 after winning the promotion play-off, but ultimately finished their first season in Serie A in last place.^{[ citation needed ]} A second promotion after a play-off followed, but once more^{[ vague ][ clarification needed ]} they would be relegated from the top flight and then descended to Serie C1 within two years.^{[ citation needed ]}

The performance of Pescara in the Italian football league structure since the first season of a unified Serie A (1929/30)

Nonetheless, after returning to Serie B after a year, Pescara would enjoy^{[ tone ]} a revival after the appointment of Giovanni Galeone as coach in 1986.^{[ citation needed ]} His philosophy of attacking football saw the Biancazzurri promoted to Serie A as champions in 1987, where they lasted two years with players such as Júnior and Blaž Slišković among the club's stars.^{[ tone ][ citation needed ]} Galeone would return during the 1990–91 season and oversaw another promotion the following year.^{[ vague ][ clarification needed ][ citation needed ]}

After relegation, Pescara remained in Serie B side throughout the 1990s, narrowly missing promotion in 1999.^{[ citation needed ]} Relegation to C1 followed in 2001, with promotion in 2003 being followed by two revoked relegations in a row due to bankruptcy and scandals affecting other clubs.^{[ citation needed ]} Pescara was ultimately relegated in the 2006–07 season, with three presidential and managerial changes during the season.^{[ citation needed ]} In December 2008, the debt-ridden club^{[ tone ]} was legally declared out of business and its control passed to a bankruptcy trustee appointed by the Court of Pescara. In February 2009, a takeover from a group named Delfino Pescara 1936 was finalized, with Deborah Caldora becoming the first woman to serve as chairman of the club.^{[ citation needed ]} In the meantime,^{[ tone ]} results did not improve significantly^{[ according to whom? ]} and in March, Giuseppe Galderisi was dismissed from the head coaching post, with Antonello Cuccureddu being appointed as the new boss.^{[ citation needed ]}

At the beginning of the 2009–10 season, Eusebio Di Francesco was appointed as the new coach.^{[ citation needed ]} Pescara finished second in Girone B of Lega Pro Prima Divisione and qualified for the promotional play-offs.^{[ citation needed ]} They defeated Reggiana in the semi-final and Verona in the final, and subsequently returned to Serie B after a three-year absence.^{[ citation needed ]} The following season started with the appointment of Zdeněk Zeman as new head coach; the Czech manager immediately brought Pescara back into national coverage thanks to his well-known^{[ according to whom? ]} all-attacking playing style that turned out to match perfectly^{[ according to whom? ]} with promising youngsters such as Marco Verratti with loanees Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne, who guided the squad to promotion to Serie A.^{[ vague ][ clarification needed ]} Pescara secured promotion to the top-level after a 19-year absence after defeating Sampdoria with a 3–1 score in an away match on 20 May 2012.^{[ citation needed ]} In the last minute of the final game of the regular season, Pescara striker Riccardo Maniero netted the winner in a match against Nocerina to claim Pescara's second Serie B title after Torino's draw away to AlbinoLeffe.^{[ vague ][ clarification needed ]}

Pescara's 2012–13 campaign in Serie A – after losing Zeman, Verratti, Immobile and Insigne – ended with relegation back to the second tier. ^[1] Three years later, under World Cup winner^{[ relevant? ]} Massimo Oddo, the team returned to Serie A with a 3–1 aggregate win over Trapani in the playoff final. ^[2] Zeman returned in February 2017 to the team, ^[3] who again lasted just one year at the top before being relegated in last place. ^[4]

In August 2018, Pescara launched a public mini-bond investment opportunity via sports investment platform Tifosy to raise a minimum of €2,000,000. ^[5] The investment scheme raised a total of €2,300,000 to develop the club's youth sector and facilities. ^[6]

Following an online competition to ease children's boredom during the coronavirus lockdown, the team adopted six-year-old Luigi D'Agostino's shirt design for the 2020 season. ^[7]

After a poor 2020-21 campaign, the side were relegated to Serie C, the third tier of Italian football.^{[ citation needed ]}

Supporters

Pescara's most passionate fan groups began to form in the early 1970s, in conjunction with the rise of the 'ultras' movement in Italy. The Rangers group, which to date is the most renowned section of the club's fanbase, was founded in 1976. Other historical fan groups include Bad Boys (founded in 1985 and dissolved during the Serie B 2003-2004 season) and Cherokee (founded in 1987 and merged with Rangers in 1999 alongside minor fan groups). In 2002, a set of supporters from the nearby seaside resort of Silvi joined the Rangers group. In 2012, a new ultras group called A Difesa di una Fede was formed, and is usually seated in Curva Sud or - if the sector is assigned to away fans - in Tribuna Adriatica.

During home games, Rangers and most fan groups are located in Curva Nord, which is named after Marco Mazza (nicknamed Bubù), a head ultras who passed away prematurely in 2006.

Pescara is widely supported across Abruzzo, with most supporters residing in the actual city of Pescara and nearby towns.

'Gemellaggi' and rivalries

Pescara's fanbase has been twinned, in what is known as a gemellaggio, with Vicenza's supporters since 9 January 1977. It is the world's first gemellaggio in football, and the bond and sense of affinity between Pescara and Vicenza supporters is still strong to this day.

One of Pescara's biggest rivals is Lazio. The rivalry started on 30 October 1977 when Lazio fans attacked Pescara supporters after the game. The initial assault was followed by several other clashes in coming years both in Pescara and Rome.

Another important rivalry is with Hellas Verona, originated due to localist reasons and Verona's friendship with Lazio ultras. The rivalry was cemented at the end of the 2009/2010 season when the clubs met in the Serie C play-off finals - Pescara won and was promoted to Serie B.

Other noticeable rivals include Ascoli, Bari, Sambenedettese, Salernitana, Foggia, Cesena and Catania.

Players

Current squad

As of 1 February 2024 ^[8]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   ITA Manuel Gasparini (on loan from Potenza ) 2 DF   ITA Lorenzo Milani 5 DF   ITA Davide Di Pasquale (on loan from Arezzo ) 6 MF   ITA Niccolò Squizzato 7 FW   ITA Michele Masala 8 MF   ITA Salvatore Aloi 9 FW   ITA Edoardo Vergani 10 FW   ITA Davide Merola (on loan from Empoli ) 11 MF   ITA Federico Accornero (on loan from Genoa ) 13 DF   ITA Riccardo Brosco 15 DF   ITA Romano Floriani Mussolini (on loan from Lazio ) 17 MF   EST Georgi Tunjov 18 DF   ITA Roberto Pierno

No. Pos. Nation Player 19 FW   ITA Luca Sasanelli 20 MF   ITA Lorenzo Meazzi 21 FW   ITA Andrea Capone 22 GK   ITA Alessandro Plizzari 23 DF   ITA Filippo Pellacani 24 DF   SVK Ivan Mesík 25 DF   MDA Cornelius Staver 27 DF   ITA Brando Moruzzi 28 MF   ITA Antonino De Marco 29 FW   ITA Luigi Cuppone 30 MF   ITA Matteo Dagasso 33 MF   ITA Simone Franchini (on loan from Padova ) 34 FW   CAN Michael Zeppieri

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK   ITA Mattia Barretta(at Notaresco until 30 June 2024) — MF   ITA Denis Manu(at Pineto until 30 June 2024) — FW   ALB Aristidi Kolaj (at Sorrento until 30 June 2024)

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW   ARG Facundo Lescano (at Triestina until 30 June 2024) — FW   ITA Christian Tommasini (at Monopoli until 30 June 2024)

Coaching staff

As of 16 November 2023 ^[9]

Position	Name
Head coach	Zdeněk Zeman
Assistant coach	Giovanni Bucaro
Goalkeeper coach	Giovanni Di Fiore
Match analyst	Diego Labricciosa
Team manager	Francesco Troiano
Sporting director	Daniele Delli Carri

Managerial history

Name	Nationality	Years
Edmondo De Amicis		1937–38
Pietro Piselli		1938–39
Armando Bonino		1939–40
Mario Pizziolo		1940–41
Luigi Ferrero		1941–43
Edmondo De Amicis		1944–45
Giuseppe Marchi		1945–46
József Bánás		1946–47
Mario Pizziolo		1947–48
Gino Piccinini		1948–49
Benedetto Stella		1949–50
Luigi Del Grosso		1950–53
Umberto De Angelis		1953–55
Alfredo Notti		1955–56
Alfredo Monza Renato Piacentini Orazio Sola		1956–57
Renato Piacentini		1957–58
Aurelio Marchese Mario Tontodonati		1958–59
Ljubo Benčić Mario Tontodonati		1959–61
Umberto De Angelis		1961–62
Leonardo Costagliola		1962–63
Ljubo Benčić Renato Piacentini		1963–64
Ljubo Benčić Vincenzo Marsico		1964–65
Antonio Giammarinaro Alfredo Notti		1965–66
Sergio Cervato		1966–67
Antonio Giammarinaro		1967–68
Gianni Seghedoni Mario Tontodonati		1968–69
Dante Lacorata Mario Tontodonati		1969–70
Francesco Capocasale		1970–71
Enzo Falini Vitaliano Patricelli		1971–72
Domenico Rosati		1972–76
Giancarlo Cadé		1976–78
Antonio Valentín Angelillo		1978–79
Gustavo Giagnoni Claudio Tobia Mario Tontodonati		1979–80
Aldo Agroppi		1980–81
Giuseppe Chiappella Saul Malatrasi Mario Tiddia		1981–82
Domenico Rosati		1982–84
Enrico Catuzzi		1984–86
Giovanni Galeone		1986–89
Ilario Castagner Edoardo Reja		1989–90
Giovanni Galeone Carlo Mazzone		1990–91
Giovanni Galeone		1991–92
Vincenzo Zucchini		1992–93
Gianni Corelli Giorgio Rumignani Franco Scoglio Vincenzo Zucchini		1993–94
Francesco Oddo Giorgio Rumignani		1994–95
Luigi Maifredi Francesco Oddo		1995–96
Delio Rossi		July 1996 – June 1997
Adriano Buffoni Maurizio Viscidi		1997–98
Luigi De Canio Francesco Giorgini		July 1998 – June 1999
Giovanni Galeone		July 1999 – Nov 2000
Tarcisio Burgnich Giovanni Galeone Delio Rossi		2000–01
Ivo Iaconi		July 2001 – May 2004
Cetteo Di Mascio		May 2004 - June 2004
Giovanni Simonelli		June 2004 – June 2005
Maurizio Sarri		July 2005 – July 2006
Davide Ballardini Aldo Ammazzalorso Luigi De Rosa Vincenzo Vivarini		July 2006 – June 2007
Franco Lerda		July 2007 – June 2008
Giuseppe Galderisi		July 2008 – March 2009
Antonello Cuccureddu		2009–10
Eusebio Di Francesco		Jan 2010 – June 2011
Zdeněk Zeman		June 2011 – June 2012
Giovanni Stroppa		June 2012 – November 2012
Cristiano Bergodi		November 2012 – March 2013
Cristian Bucchi		March 2013 – June 2013
Pasquale Marino		June 2013 – February 2014
Serse Cosmi		February 2014 – July 2014
Marco Baroni		August 2014 – May 2015
Massimo Oddo		May 2015 – February 2017
Luciano Zauri (caretaker)		February 2017
Zdeněk Zeman		February 2017 – March 2018
Massimo Epifani		March 2018 – April 2018
Giuseppe Pillon		April 2018 – May 2019
Luciano Zauri		June 2019 – January 2020
Nicola Legrottaglie		January 2020 – July 2020
Andrea Sottil		July 2020 – August 2020
Massimo Oddo		August 2020 – November 2020
Roberto Breda		November 2020 – January 2021
Gianluca Grassadonia		January 2021 – June 2021
Gaetano Auteri		June 2021 –

Honours

• Serie B
  • Champions (2): 1986–87,^{[ citation needed ]} 2011–12 ^{[ citation needed ]}
• Serie C
  • Champions (1): 1973–74 ^{[ citation needed ]}
• Serie D
  • Champions (1): 1972–73 ^{[ citation needed ]}

Divisional movements

Series	Years	Last	Promotions	Relegations
A	7	2016–17	-	6 (1978, 1980, 1989, 1993, 2013, 2017)
B	39	2020–21	6 (1977, 1979, 1987, 1992, 2012, 2016)	5 (1949, 1982, 2001, 2007, 2021)
C	29	2021–22	5 (1941, 1974, 1983, 2003, 2010)	3 ( 1935✟, 1950, 1972)
75 out of 90 years of professional football in Italy since 1929
D	10	1972–73	1 (1938, 1958, 1973)	never
E	1	1936–37	1 (1937)	never

• Forerunner red-blue AC Pescara (1932–1935) included

References

1. Sargeant, Jack (27 May 2013). "Serie A 2012-13 season review: Pescara sink into Serie B". SB Nation. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
2. Manfredi, Jacopo (9 June 2016). "Trapani-Pescara 1-1, Verre porta i biancazzurri in A con un gol da 40 metri" [Trapani-Pescara 1-1, Verre takes the Biancazzurri to A with a goal from 40 metres]. La Repubblica (in Italian). Retrieved 21 April 2020.
3. Bandini, Nicky (20 February 2017). "Zemanlandia back open for business as Pescara exchange freefall for free-scoring". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
4. "Empoli relegated as Crotone beat Lazio to secure Serie A survival". FourFourTwo. 28 May 2017. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
5. "Il Pescara lancia un mini-bond su Tifosy: obiettivo 3 milioni, renderà l'8% annuo" [Pescara launches a mini-bond on Tifosy: target 3 million, will make 8% per annum]. Calcio e Finanza (in Italian). 12 September 2018.
6. "Pescara, completata la sottoscrizione del bond su Tifosy: incassati 2,3 milioni" [Pescara, bond campaign of Tifosy complete: 2.3 million raised] (in Italian). Calcio e Finanza. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
7. "Pescara football club adopts Italian boy's shirt design". BBC News. 21 April 2020.
8. "Pescara squad". Soccerway. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
9. "ORGANIGRAMMA" (in Italian). Delfino Pescara 1936. 17 June 2016. Retrieved 16 November 2023.

External links

• Official website (in Italian)
• Soccerway profile
• ESPN profile. Archived 4 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine .