Venezia FC

Last updated

Venezia
2022 Venezia FC logo.svg
Full nameVenezia Football Club S.r.l.
Nickname(s)I Leoni alati (The Winged Lions)
I Lagunari (The Lagoonal Ones)
Gli Arancioneroverdi (The Orange-Black-Greens)
Founded14 December 1907;116 years ago (14 December 1907), (as Venezia Foot Ball Club)
Ground Pier Luigi Penzo
Capacity11,150
OwnerVFC Newco 2020 LLC
Chairman Duncan L. Niederauer
Head coach Paolo Vanoli
League Serie B
2022–23 Serie B, 8th of 20
Website Club website
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

Venezia Football Club, commonly referred to as Venezia, is a professional Italian football club based in Venice, Veneto, that currently plays in Serie B.

Contents

Originally founded as Venezia Foot Ball Club in 1907, the club have spent a large part of their history in Italy's top two divisions.

Venezia's biggest achievement to date was winning the Coppa Italia in the 1940–41 season. They followed this cup success up with their highest Serie A finish of third place in the following season.

History

Foundation and early years

Venezia Foot Ball Club was founded on 14 December 1907 in Venice by about 20 enthusiasts through the merger of the football sections of two Venetian sports clubs: the Martial Gymnastics Society and Costantino Reyer. The place chosen by the founders to give life to the new football club was the restaurant "Da Nane in Corte dell'Orso" near Campo San Bortolomio. Among the founders were Davide Fano, the first president; Walter Aemisseger, from Swiss club FC Winterthur, the first coach and captain; Guido Battisti; Antonio Borella; Gerardo Bortoletti; ; Aldo Federici, known as "Baciccia"; Pietro Golzio, known as "Pioppa"; Silvio Lorenzetti, Pietro Piccoli; Primo Pitteri; Alessandro Santi; Marcello Santi; Luigi Vianello; Pietro Visintin; and Mario Vivante. [1]

In its early years, the club's matches were played in the pine forest of Sant'Elena. Venezia's first matches were played against the Veneto teams of Padova, Verona, and Vicenza, as well as against the crews of the ships arriving at the port of Venice. Venezia's first match was played on December 22, 1907, against Vicenza, ending 1–1. [2]

Venezia participated in Italy's top division for the first time in the 1909 Italian Football Championship. As the only Veneto club, Venezia were directly admitted to the semifinals against the winners of the Lombardia group, US Milanese, and lost the first leg 7–1 and the return leg 11–2. [3]

Venezia participated in the Prima Categoria, Italy's top division, from the 1910–11 season through the 1914–15 season, which would be the last season played before Italy entered the First World War.

In the 1911–12 season, Venezia won the Veneto-Emilian group and reached the national final against Pro Vercelli, losing 7–0 in the first leg and 6–0 in the second leg. [4]

On 7 September 1913, Campo Sportivo Comunale di Sant’Elena, the Venetian stadium on the island of Sant'Elena, later to be named Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, was opened, complete with a covered grandstand for more than 500 spectators. [5] Venezia lost the inaugural match to Genoa, 0–7.

In the 1914–15 season, Venezia qualified for the semifinals, and finished fourth in Group A, before the season was suspended due to the war.

1919 to 1939

AC Venezia

In April 1919, at Palazzo Gritti-Faccanon, in the then headquarters of Il Gazzettino, the members of Venezia F.B.C. and the Aurora F.B.C., a minor lagoon club, decided to join forces and rename the club as Associazione Calcio Venezia. On the occasion, the government contributed to the relaunch of the lagoon club with an extraordinary contribution of 40,000 lire, as compensation for having used the sports field as a military base. [4]

In the 1921–22 season, Venezia were relegated to the Seconda Divisione. Venezia returned to the Prima Divisione in the 1926–27 season, however, following the creation of the Divisione Nazionale as the new top flight, the Prima Divisione had become the second level of Italian football.

In the 1927–28 Prima Divisione season, Venezia finished second in Group A behind Atalanta, and were automatically admitted to the Divisione Nazionale by resolution of the Italian Football Federation, which expanded the league to 32 clubs, with two groups of 16 clubs each.

In the 1927–28 Divisione Nazionale season, Venezia finished 11th in Group B and were relegated to Serie B, which began operating in the 1929–30 season. Venezia finished 7th in Serie B that season.

SS Serenissima

In the summer of 1930, Venezia was renamed Società Sportiva Serenissima, and the club colors were also changed with the adoption of the red of the Flag of the Republic of Venice, while the Lion of Saint Mark was placed on the chest. [6]

In May 1931, on the occasion of the International Women's Gymnastic Competition, the Venetian stadium of Sant'Elena was named after World War I pilot Pier Luigi Penzo. [7]

After five consecutive seasons in Serie B since 1929–30, S.S. Serenissima finished last in Group B in the 1933–34 Serie B season and were set for relegation, but they would keep their place in the league as a result of an expansion from 26 to 32 teams for the following season.

AC Venezia and promotion to Serie A

On 1 August 1934, the club returned to its former name Associazione Calcio Venezia (albeit with the addition, inevitable at the time,[ vague ] of the adjective Fascista) and its traditional neroverde (black and green) colors. [8]

In the 1934–35 Serie B season, Venezia finished tied for 11th and were relegated to the nascent Serie C. But Venezia's stay in Serie C would be short, as they finished top of the table in the 1935–36 season and earned direct promotion back to Serie B. Venezia also reached the Round of 32 of the 1935–36 Coppa Italia, defeating Padova, Fiumana (now Rijeka), and Pistoiese, before being eliminated by S.S. Lazio, 2–0. The strong point of that team was the mediana di ferro (iron median) of Armando Varini, Aldo Biffi, and Attilo Kossovel.

The following season, Venezia reached the Round of 16 of the 1936–37 Coppa Italia, losing to AC Milan, 2–0, and survived a relegation tie-breaker with Pro Vercelli, Messina, and Catania in the 1936-37 Serie B season to keep their place in the league.

In 1937, with the emergence of Arnaldo Bennati as club president, Venezia began a period of ascent. In the 1937–38 Serie B season, Venezia finished 8th in the table, and Bennati would bring in some important[ according to whom? ] players including Víctor Tortora and Giovanni Alberti.

In the 1938–39 Serie B season, Venezia finished second and earned promotion to Serie A, which was achieved in dramatic fashion[ tone ] by defeating Atalanta in Bergamo, 0–1, on the last day of the season and overtaking them for second place despite being tied on points due to a better goal ratio. [9] The winning goal, coming in front of 5,000 Venezia fans, was scored by Francesco Pernigo, who is still Venezia's all-time leading scorer (45) in Serie A. [10] Venezia's manager was Giuseppe Girani.

Venezia's rise to Serie A prompted a new renovation of Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo, with capacity increased from 10,000 to 22,000 after expansion of the existing stands. [11]

1939 to 1968

Golden era

Upon returning to Serie A after a 12-year absence, the Venezia squad was strengthened, with the arrival of players including Luigi Busidoni, Silvio Di Gennaro, Sergio Stefanini, and, most importantly,[ tone ] Valentino Mazzola. Mazzola was in Venice for military service, and after having showcased himself playing with military representatives in Campo dei Bacini, Venezia took him on trial and then bought him from Serie C club Alfa Romeo Milano. [12] In the 1939–40 Serie A season, Venezia finished 10th in the table — highlighted by a win over eventual champions Ambrosiana Inter in Venice — and took a step towards the two most successful seasons in the club's history.

In 1940, Venezia hired Giovanni Battista Rebuffo as manager, and further strengthened the squad with the arrival of Ezio Loik from AC Milan, who would form a famous partnership with Valentino Mazzola in Venice. Although they would finish a modest 12th in the 1940–41 Serie A season, Venezia would go on to win the 1940–41 Coppa Italia — the club's first major trophy. Venezia defeated MU Borzacchini in the Round of 32, Udinese in the Round of 16, Bologna in the quarterfinals, and SS Lazio in the semifinals, meeting AS Roma in the final. After a 3–3 draw in Rome, Venezia won the return leg at Stadio Penzo, 1–0, on a goal from Loik. [13]

The following year, Venezia would make a run for the Scudetto. In the 1941–42 Serie A season, the Loik-Mazzola duo was outstanding,[ tone ] while Francesco Pernigo would score 12 league goals. A few rounds from the end of the season, Venezia faced Roma in a critical match at Stadio Penzo, but Venezia would lose after missing a penalty, and Roma would go on to win the championship on 42 points, with Torino second on 39 points and Venezia third on 38 points. The third-place finish remains Venezia's best-ever result in Serie A.[ citation needed ] In the 1941–42 Coppa Italia, Venezia defeated Torino in the Round of 32, Pisa in the Round of 16, and Bologna in the quarterfinals, but would lose to AC Milan in the semifinals, 2–1.

In the summer of 1942, Venezia sold Loik and Mazzola to Torino, for the then exorbitant figure of 1,200,000 lira. Venezia would struggle in the 1942–43 Serie A season, finishing 14th in the table and needing to defeat Bari in a relegation tie-breaker to remain in Serie A. But in the 1942–43 Coppa Italia, Venezia would reach their second final in three years. In the final, Venezia would lose to Torino, 4–0, with Mazzola scoring against his former club. [14]

After the 1942–43 season, football competitions in Italy were suspended due to the Second World War.

Postwar period

After the Second World War, Venezia reestablished its name as Associazione Calcio Venezia.

In Italy, national football resumed with the 1945–46 Italian Football Championship, and Venezia struggled, finishing 13th in the table. Serie A was restored in the 1946–47 season, and despite the 13 goals by Valeriano Ottino (the most goals in a Serie A season by a Venezia player) Venezia were relegated to Serie B. At the same time, Arnaldo Bennati would leave the presidency. Following the highest point in the club's history, a period of uncertainty began.

After finishing in fourth in Serie B in the 1947–48 season, sporting director Giuseppe Girani and manager Mario Villini led Venezia to promotion back to Serie A in the 1948–49 season, finishing second, just one point ahead of Vicenza.

But Venezia faced serious financial uncertainty, to the point that in the 1949–50 Serie A season the club was chaired by a local council. Venezia were forced to sell goalscorer Adriano Zecca to Roma, and did not have the quality to compete in the top flight, finishing last with only 16 points. In the summer of 1950, Mario Renosto was sold to AC Milan, and he immediately won the Scudetto with the rossoneri the following season.

Upon falling back to Serie B, Venezia would finish sixth in the table in the 1950–51 season despite 20 goals from Pietro Broccini, who would leave for Inter Milan in the summer.

In the 1951–52 season, Venezia would be relegated to Serie C, and they would spend four seasons in the third tier, before earning promotion back to Serie B in the 1956–57 season under manager Carlo Alberto Quario. [15]

Despite still playing in Serie B, Venezia would make an impressive run in the 1958–59 Coppa Italia, eliminating Roma and Torino on their way to the semifinals, where they would lose to Inter, and then lose a third place match with Genoa. [16] At the end of the season, manager Carlo Alberto Quario would leave the bench, and Venezia would narrowly avoid another relegation to Serie C in the 1959-60 season, surviving a relegation tie-breaker with Monza and Taranto. [17]

In the 1960–61 Serie B season, entrepreneur Anacleto Ligabue took over as extraordinary commissioner of the club, and he immediately recalled Carlo Alberto Quario to the bench. It would be a winning move, as Venezia finished top of the table, and returned to Serie A after an 11-year absence. The promotion-winning team featured the young Venetian Gianni Rossi plus new arrivals Virginio De Paoli, Sergio Frascoli, Gianni Grossi, and striker Luigi Raffin, who scored 17 goals during the year. The triumph was celebrated with a procession of gondolas escorting the bissona Serenissima, the traditional Venetian ship, carrying the players from Stadio Penzo to Piazza San Marco. [18]

On Venezia's return to Serie A in the 1961–62 season, Count Giovanni Volpi di Misurata became club president, with Ligabue and Enrico Linetti as his deputies. Although the team got off to a slow start, Venezia would ultimately put together a respectable campaign, earning wins over Juventus and AC Milan, and finishing 12th in the table. The team featured midfielder Juan Santisteban who had arrived from Real Madrid, while Raffin would score 11 goals during the season. [19]

But in the 1962–63 Serie A season, Venezia finished 17th in the table and were again relegated to Serie B. At the end of the season, there would be several departures, including Carlo Alberto Quario and Gino Raffin, who had scored 39 goals in total in the previous three seasons.

After three seasons in Serie B, Venezia earned promotion to Serie A once again, finishing first in the 1965–66 Serie B season. But in the 1966–67 Serie A season, Venezia were directly relegated back to Serie B, and they would not see the top flight again for more than 30 years. In the following 1967–68 Serie B season, Venezia would be relegated to Serie C.

1968 to 1986

Following the relegation from Serie B in 1968, Venezia would languish in Serie C, Serie C1, Serie C2, and Serie D through the 1980s.

1987 to 2005

Maurizio Zamparini arrival and merger with Mestre

Ahead of the 1986–87 season, Venezia was acquired by businessman Maurizio Zamparini, who would lead the club for the next 16 seasons.

After his first season in charge, Zamparini would merge Venezia with mainland club AC Mestre, who were also playing in Serie C2. The merger was executed on 26 June 1987. Zamparini temporarily changed the name of the club to Calcio VeneziaMestre, though the club would be renamed Associazione Calcio Venezia in November 1989. With the merger, the club's colors changed from neroverde (green-black) to arancioneroverde (orange-black-green). Further, the team's home matches were moved from Stadio Penzo in Venice to Stadio Francesco Baracca in Mestre. [20] [21]

In the 1987–88 season, Venezia achieved promotion from Serie C2 to Serie C1, returning to the third tier for the first time since the 1976–77 season.

Over the next two seasons, the team — featuring players including Andrea Poggi, Giancarlo Filippini, and a young Paolo Poggi — steadily improved, and built towards a return to Serie B.

Return to Serie B

In the 1990–91 season, Venezia, under manager Alberto Zaccheroni, earned promotion back to Serie B after a 23-year absence. In a playoff for second place, Venezia defeated Como, 2–1, with 7,000 fans from Venice and Mestre attending the match in Cesena.

Due to the insufficient capacity at Stadio Baracca in Mestre for Serie B, Venezia would move back to Stadio Penzo in Venice, renovating and expanding the stadium, with the elimination of the athletics track.

Venezia would spend the next seven seasons in Serie B, before finally achieving promotion.

Return to Serie A

Alvaro Recoba played for Venezia. Alvaro Recoba.jpg
Álvaro Recoba played for Venezia.

In the 1997–98 Serie B season, Venezia, under manager Walter Novellino, finished second in the table and earned promotion back to Serie A after a 31-year absence.

Ahead of the 1998–99 Serie A season, sporting director Beppe Marotta would strengthen the team, including the double signing of striker Filippo Maniero and goalkeeper Massimo Taibi from AC Milan. Through the first half of the season, though, Venezia were bottom of the table, and Maniero hadn't scored a goal. But a turning point came in January with the arrival of young playmaker Álvaro Recoba on loan from Inter Milan. Maniero and Recoba would form a prolific partnership in attack, scoring 23 goals between them in the second half of the season — Maniero with 12, Recoba with 11 — and gradually pulling Venezia out of the relegation zone. In the penultimate week of the season, Venezia needed a win against Recoba's parent club Inter to preserve their Serie A status, and Recoba contributed a goal and an assist in a 3–1 win, as Venezia completed the comeback and finished in 11th place, four points above the relegation zone. [22]

Going into the 1999–2000 Serie A season, Venezia replaced Novellino with Luciano Spalletti.[ citation needed ] But without Recoba, Venezia would struggle. During the campaign, they would go through three coaches — Spalletti was sacked in the autumn, then recalled after Giuseppe Materazzi lasted just 27 days, until Francesco Oddo was hired in February. Venezia would make a run in the 1999–2000 Coppa Italia, eliminating Udinese and Fiorentina among others on their way to the semifinals, where they were finally beaten by Lazio, but that form wouldn't carry over to league play. Venezia ultimately finished 16th and were relegated to Serie B.

For the 2000–01 Serie B season, Venezia hired manager Cesare Prandelli, and he would lead Venezia right back to Serie A. But it wouldn't last, as Prandelli was let go early into the 2001–02 Serie A season, and Venezia would go on to finish last and suffer[ tone ] its second relegation in three years.

Zamparini exit, relegation, and bankruptcy

On 21 July 2002, Zamparini left Venezia and took over Palermo. The following day, in a move called the furto di Pergine — the "theft of Pergine" — Zamparini has 12 players plus manager Ezio Glerean withdrawn by bus from Venezia's preseason camp in Pergine Valsugana and taken to Palermo's preseason camp in Longarone.[ citation needed ] In the mass transfer, Palermo took goalkeeper Generoso Rossi, defenders Fabio Bilica, Kewullay Conteh and Francesco Modesto, midfielders Valentino Lai, Antonio Marasco, Stefano Morrone, Frank Olivier Ongfiang, Mario Santana and Evans Soligo (later returned to Venice), and strikers Arturo Di Napoli and Filippo Maniero.[ citation needed ] A few days later, striker Igor Budan and the sporting director Rino Foschi also moved from Venezia to Palermo. [23]

Venezia finished 15th in the 2002–03 Serie B season, then 20th in the 2003–04 Serie B season, surviving a relegation playoff by defeating Bari, 2–1 on aggregate.[ citation needed ] But the club's financial situation could not be saved.[ vague ]

At the end of the 2004–05 Serie B season, Venezia was relegated and declared bankrupt.

2005 to 2015

Società Sportiva Calcio Venezia

In the summer of 2005, the club was re-founded as Società Sportiva Calcio Venezia and was admitted to Serie C2 by Lodo Petrucci. In the 2005–06 Serie C2 season, Venezia earned promotion to Serie C1, and would spend the next three seasons in the third tier, but the club would be declared bankrupt once again by the end of the 2008–09 season. [24] [25] [26] [27]

Foot Ball Club Unione Venezia

In the summer of 2009, with Venice in danger of being a city without a football club, mayor Massimo Cacciari personally supervised the foundation of a new club.[ citation needed ] On July 27, 2009, the club was re-founded as Foot Ball Club Unione Venezia, recognized as the legitimate successor of SSC Venezia, and was admitted to Serie D. Venezia won Serie D in the 2011–12 season and earned promotion from Lega Pro Seconda Divisione to Lega Pro Prima Divisione in the 2012–13 season, but would last just two seasons in the third tier before going bankrupt for the third time in 10 years.

2015 to Present

Venezia FC

In September 2015, a group of American investors led by attorney Joe Tacopina moved to acquire the club out of bankruptcy, [28] and re-founded the club as Venezia FC. [29] In the 2015–16 season, Venezia earned promotion from Serie D to Serie C.

Filippo Inzaghi tenure

In June 2016, Venezia hired Filippo Inzaghi as manager. [30] The former Italian national team star's previous managerial experience was with AC Milan in 2014–15. [31]

In Inzaghi's first season, the 2016–17 Lega Pro season, Venezia earned promotion to Serie B and won the Coppa Italia Serie C. The Serie C title was secured on 19 April 2017, after beating Parma to top spot. [32]

In the 2017–18 Serie B season, Venezia's first at that level for 12 years, the club was a surprise contender for promotion to Serie A, managing to finish fifth in the table. [33] This was their highest Serie B finish since ending the 2000–01 season in fourth place, when they were last promoted to the top-flight. In the first round of the Serie B promotion playoffs, Venezia defeated Perugia 3–0 at the Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo to advance to the semi-finals. However, the club then lost to Palermo due to a 1–0 defeat in the away leg, and was knocked out by a 2–1 aggregate scoreline. [34]

In June 2018, Inzaghi decided to leave Venezia, [35] and he would later join Bologna. [36]

Joe Tacopina exit

After Inzaghi's departure, Venezia went through three coaches in the 2018–19 Serie B season — Stefano Vecchi, [37] Walter Zenga, [38] and Serse Cosmi [39] — and finished 15th in the table.[ citation needed ] After losing the Serie B relegation play-out to Salernitana, Venezia were set for relegation to Serie C, [40] but they were ultimately spared[ tone ] when Palermo were punished with relegation due to "administrative non-compliance." [41]

Ahead of the 2019–20 Serie B season, Venezia hired Alessio Dionisi as manager. In February 2020, with the team in another relegation battle, Venezia was recapitalized and the club's ownership removed Joe Tacopina as club president. [42]

VFC Newco and Duncan Niederauer

Upon the club's reorganization, Venezia owner Duncan Niederauer, former CEO of the New York Stock Exchange, took on the role of club president. [42] The following month, the 2019–20 Serie B season was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy, but would resume in June. When the season resumed, Venezia would lose just two of their final 10 matches, and defeated Perugia on the final day of the season to remain in Serie B, finishing 11th in the league table, five points clear of the relegation play-out. [43] [44]

Return to Serie A

In August 2020, Venezia rebuilt its technical staff, hiring former long-time Venezia players and local Venetians Mattia Collauto and Paolo Poggi as sporting director and technical director, respectively, [45] a young American Alex Menta as analytics director, [46] and Vicenza-born Paolo Zanetti as manager. [47]

In the 2020–21 Serie B season, Venezia finished fifth in the table, again qualifying for the promotion playoffs to Serie A. In the promotion playoff first round, Venezia defeated ChievoVerona thanks to an extra-time goal from Dennis Johnsen, winning the tie 3–2. [48] The first leg of Venezia's semi-final match against Lecce was settled by a single goal from star[ tone ] striker Francesco Forte, who was particularly crucial[ tone ] to the club's promotion push with 15 goals in the regular season, with a 1–1 tie in the away leg enabling the club to advance. [49] In the final, Venezia met AS Cittadella for a place in Serie A.[ citation needed ] A 1–0 away win at their opponents' Stadio Pier Cesare Tombolato and the following 1–1 result at home, with a late equaliser from veteran forward Riccardo Bocalon, secured Venezia's first season in Serie A in 19 years. [50] [44] This achievement also marked a rapid rise for the club from Serie D to Serie A in only five years.[ citation needed ]

Venezia celebrated their return to Serie A with a parade of historical boats, rowing clubs, and gondolas on the Grand Canal. [51]

On 9 August 2021, the club broke its transfer record with the signing of American midfielder Gianluca Busio for $6.5 million (€5.7 million). [52] [44] The club's first match back in Serie A was a 2–0 defeat against Napoli on 22 August 2021. [53] However, the club's time in Serie A would be short-lived, as they would be again relegated to Serie B at the end of the season. [54]

The performance of Venezia in the Italian football league structure since the first season of a unified Serie A (1929/30). Venezia through the ages 2023.jpg
The performance of Venezia in the Italian football league structure since the first season of a unified Serie A (1929/30).

Colours, badge and nicknames

Kit left arm.svg
Kit body redhalf2.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Venezia's original kit

Originally Venezia's colours were blue and red and the shirt featured halves in those colours; the kit was very similar to that of Genoa. [55] However just a year after the club was founded, it changed colours to black and green. [55]

1963-64 Venezia squad with its historical black and green kit Associazione Calcio Venezia 1963-1964.jpg
1963–64 Venezia squad with its historical black and green kit

Much later, in 1987 when the club merged with local side Associazione Calcio Mestre from Mestre who wore orange and black, [56] orange would also become one of Venezia's official colours, giving them the nickname arancioneroverdi ("orange-black-greens"). [57] Venezia's colours and kit are very distinctive; the shirt, shorts and socks are usually black with the shirt having a green and orange trim. [44]

The symbol of the Venetian club is a winged-lion (see Lion of Venice), commonly mistaken for a griffin. The golden winged-lion is the official symbol carried by the city of province of Venice; [58] the symbol has led to one of the club's most popular nicknames in the form of leoni alati ("winged-lions"). [57]

As the club has been renamed numerous times during its history, the badge has also changed several times; the most common one features the golden winged lion, along with the green and orange club colours with a golden border. [59] As the city of Venice is situated on the Venetian Lagoon, the club is also nicknamed lagunari ("Lagoonal ones"). [60]

Stadium

Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo Venezia - panoramio (151).jpg
Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo

Venezia's Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo first opened in 1913 and takes its name from World War I pilot Pier Luigi Penzo. Stadio Penzo is the second-oldest stadium in Italy, after Genoa's Stadio Luigi Ferraris. [61]

The stadium, located on the island of Sant'Elena, adjacent to the grounds of the Venice Biennale, is notable for being primarily accessible by boat.

The record attendance of 26,000 was for a 1966 Serie A match against A.C. Milan. [62]

Originally constructed from wood, the stadium was largely upgraded with a concrete main stand in the 1920s and further improvements were made in the decades that followed.

On September 11, 1970, a tornado hit Venice and caused extensive damage to the stadium.[ citation needed ] The stadium was only partially reinstated, with the capacity reduced to just over 5,000.

When the club rose back up to Serie A in 1998, additional makeshift stands were added, bringing capacity back up to 13,400, but it has since been reduced again to the current capacity of 7,450.

Honours

Venezia receives the 1940-41 Coppa Italia. Associazione Fascista Calcio Venezia - Coppa Italia 1940-41.jpg
Venezia receives the 1940–41 Coppa Italia.

League

Cups

Divisional movements

SeriesYearsLastPromotionsRelegations
A 13 2021–22 Decrease2.svg 7 (1947, 1950, 1963, 1967, 2000, 2002, 2022)
B 38 2022–23 Increase2.svg 7 (1939, 1949, 1961, 1966, 1998, 2001, 2021)Decrease2.svg 4 (1935, 1952, 1968, 2005✟)
C
C2
23
10
2016–17 Increase2.svg 4 (1936, 1956, 1991, 2017)
Increase2.svg 3 (1988 C2, 2006 C2, 2013 C2)
Decrease2.svg 4 (1977, 1982, 2009✟, 2015✟)
84 out of 91 years of professional football in Italy since 1929
D 7 2015–16 Increase2.svg 4 (1979, 1983, 2012, 2016)Never

Player records

Most appearances

Competitive, professional matches only.
#NameYearsMatches
1 Flag of Italy.svg Gianni Grossi1960–1969269
2 Flag of Italy.svg Mario Tesconi1954–1957, 1958–1964255
3 Flag of Italy.svg Marco Modolo 2009–2010, 2015–241
4 Flag of Italy.svg Giancarlo Filippini1989–1993, 1994–1998220
5 Flag of Italy.svg Mattia Collauto2004–2012218
6 Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Poggi 1989–1992, 2002–2003, 2004, 2006–2009217
7 Flag of Italy.svg Mario Ardizzon 1956–1963, 1971–1974215
8 Flag of Italy.svg Roberto Bellinazzi1967–1969, 1970–1972, 1973–1974202
9 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Francesco Pernigo 1938–1947197
10 Flag of Italy.svg Giovanni Bubacco1957–1969191

Top goalscorers

Competitive, professional matches only.
#NameYearsGoals
1 Flag of Italy (1861-1946).svg Francesco Pernigo 1938–194770
2 Flag of Italy.svg Filippo Maniero 1998–200254
3 Flag of Italy.svg Roberto Bellinazzi1967–1969, 1970–1972, 1973–197452
4 Flag of Uruguay.svg Giovanni Alberti1938–194749
5 Flag of Slovenia.svg Emil Zubin 2010–201248
6 Flag of Italy.svg Paolo Poggi 1989–1992, 2002–2003, 2004, 2006–200944
7 Flag of Italy.svg Gino Raffin 1960–196339
8 Flag of Italy.svg Adriano Zecca 1947–194938
9 Flag of Italy.svg Raffaele Cerbone1993–199635
Flag of Italy.svg Luigi Capuzzo1982–1987

Players

Current squad

As of 12 February 2024 [63]

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Jesse Joronen (3rd captain)
4 DF Flag of Indonesia.svg  IDN Jay Idzes
6 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Gianluca Busio
7 DF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Francesco Zampano
8 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Tanner Tessmann
9 FW Flag of Denmark.svg  DEN Christian Gytkjær
10 FW Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Nicholas Pierini
12 GK Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Bruno Bertinato
13 DF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Marco Modolo (captain)
15 DF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Giorgio Altare (on loan from Cagliari)
18 MF Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  BIH Mato Jajalo
19 MF Flag of Iceland.svg  ISL Bjarki Steinn Bjarkason
20 FW Flag of Finland.svg  FIN Joel Pohjanpalo (vice-captain)
No.Pos.NationPlayer
21 MF Flag of Russia.svg  RUS Denis Cheryshev
23 GK Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Matteo Grandi
24 MF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Nunzio Lella
25 DF Flag of France.svg  FRA Ali Dembélé (on loan from Torino)
27 DF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Antonio Candela
30 DF Flag of Austria.svg  AUT Michael Svoboda
31 DF Flag of Austria.svg  AUT Maximilian Ullmann
33 DF Flag of Croatia.svg  CRO Marin Šverko
38 MF Flag of Denmark.svg  DEN Magnus Kofod Andersen
60 DF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Lorenzo Busato
65 MF Flag of Sweden.svg  SWE Amin Boudri
77 MF Flag of Iceland.svg  ISL Mikael Egill Ellertsson
99 FW Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Marco Olivieri (on loan from Juventus)

Out on loan

As of 12 February 2024

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
GK Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Filippo Neri (at Vis Pesaro until 30 June 2024)
GK Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Tommaso Sperandio(at Treviso until 30 June 2024)
DF Flag of Suriname.svg  SUR Ridgeciano Haps (at Genoa until 30 June 2024)
DF Flag of Portugal.svg  POR Afonso Peixoto (at Vis Pesaro until 30 June 2024)
MF Flag of Slovenia.svg  SVN Domen Črnigoj (at Reggiana until 30 June 2024)
MF Flag of France.svg  FRA Michaël Cuisance (at VfL Osnabrück until 30 June 2024)
MF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Filippo Mozzo (at Mestre until 30 June 2024)
MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Jack de Vries (at Vis Pesaro until 30 June 2024)
MF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Luca Fiordilino (at Feralpisalò until 30 June 2024)
No.Pos.NationPlayer
MF Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Filippo Mozzo (at Mestre until 30 June 2024)
MF Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  CAN Damiano Pecile (at Vis Pesaro until 30 June 2024)
FW Flag of Italy.svg  ITA Lorenzo Da Pozzo (at Vis Pesaro until 30 June 2024)
FW Flag of Senegal.svg  SEN Babacar Diop (at Vis Pesaro until 30 June 2024)
FW Flag of the Netherlands.svg  NED Jay Enem (at Ethnikos Achna until 30 June 2024)
FW Flag of Iceland.svg  ISL Óttar Magnús Karlsson (at Vis Pesaro until 30 June 2024)
FW Flag of Iceland.svg  ISL Hilmir Rafn Mikaelsson (at Kristiansund until 31 December 2024)
FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Andrija Novakovich (at Lecco until 30 June 2024)
FW Flag of Suriname.svg  SUR Daishawn Redan (at Triestina until 30 June 2024)

Club officials

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Udinese Calcio</span> Italian association football club

Udinese Calcio, commonly referred to as Udinese, is a professional Italian football club based in Udine, Friuli Venezia Giulia, that currently competes in the Serie A. It was founded on 30 November 1896 as a sports club, and on 5 July 1911 as a football club.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palermo FC</span> Football club

Palermo Football Club, shortened to Palermo F.C. and usually simply known as Palermo, is an Italian professional football club based in Palermo, Sicily, that currently plays in Serie B. It is part of the City Football Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC Sampdoria</span> Italian association football club

Unione Calcio Sampdoria, commonly referred to as Sampdoria, is an Italian professional football club from Genoa, Italy. They compete in Serie B, the second division of the Italian football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">US Catanzaro 1929</span> Italian football club

U.S. Catanzaro is an Italian football club based in Catanzaro, Calabria that competes in Serie B, the second tier of the Italian football championship, following a 17-year absence from the second tier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SSC Napoli</span> Italian association football club based in Naples

Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli, commonly referred to as Napoli, is an Italian professional football club based in the city of Naples that plays in Serie A, the top flight of Italian football. They are the reigning champions in Italy, having won the Serie A titles in the 2022–23 season. In its history, Napoli has won three Serie A titles, six Coppa Italia titles, two Supercoppa Italiana titles, and one UEFA Cup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Piacenza Calcio 1919</span> Italian football club

Piacenza Calcio 1919, commonly referred to as Piacenza, is an Italian football club based in Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna. The club currently plays in Serie D.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC AlbinoLeffe</span> Italian football club

Unione Calcio AlbinoLeffe is an Italian association football club representing Albino and Leffe, two small towns located in Val Seriana, Lombardy. The club played in Serie B for nine consecutive years and narrowly missed promotion in Serie A at the end of the 2007–08 season. It currently plays in Serie C and has been in the Italian third tier since its relegation in 2011–12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AC Monza</span> Association football club in Monza, Italy

Associazione Calcio Monza is a professional football club based in Monza, Lombardy, Italy. The team plays in the Serie A, the first tier of Italian football, following promotion in the 2021–22 Serie B season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spezia Calcio</span> Association football club in La Spezia, Italy

Spezia Calcio is an Italian professional football club based in La Spezia, Liguria, currently competing in the Serie B. Spezia Calcio was founded in 1906 by the Swiss banker Hermann Hurni, who played for the early Crystal Palace amateur teams in London during his time there as a student.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benevento Calcio</span> Italian professional football team

Benevento Calcio, commonly referred to as Benevento, is an Italian professional football club based in Benevento, Campania. The club was originally founded in 1929 and then re-founded in 2005. They currently compete in Serie C, having been relegated from Serie B in the 2022–23 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SSD Varese Calcio</span> Italian association football club

Società Sportiva Dilettantistica Varese Calcio, commonly referred to as Varese, was an Italian football club based in Varese, Lombardy. It was founded as Varese Football Club on 22 March 1910. It became Associazione Sportiva Varesina in 1923, Varese Sportiva in 1926, reverted to Varese F.C. from 1946 to 2004, and then Associazione Sportiva Varese 1910 from 2004 to 2015. The club dissolved in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Palermo FC</span>

Palermo, as the top football club in Sicily in terms of Serie A appearances and among the major ones in the Italian football panorama, has a long history, which spans from its official foundation in 1900.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AC Mestre</span> Italian football club

Associazione Calcio Mestre is an Italian association football club located in Mestre, Venice, Veneto. It currently plays in Serie D, the fourth tier of the Italian league system. Its colours are orange and black.

The 2003–04 Serie B is the 72nd season since its establishment in 1929. It is the second highest football league in Italy.

Evans Soligo is a retired Italian footballer who played as a midfielder. He spend his entire career at clubs in Italy's Serie B and Serie C.

The 2010–11 Serie D was the sixty-third edition of the top level Italian non-professional football championship. It represented the fifth tier in the Italian football league system. It originally consisted of 166 teams, with two divisions allocated 20 teams each while the other seven allocated 18 teams. After the first matchday, another team was added, increasing the number of teams to 167 and Girone I to 19 teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">US Ancona 1905</span> Defunct Italian football club

Unione Sportiva Ancona 1905, commonly referred to as Ancona, was an Italian football club based in Ancona, Marche.

The history of S.S.D. Parma Calcio 1913 covers nearly 100 years of the football from the club based in Parma, Italy. Established in 1913 the club would eventually go on to win titles on the national and international stage. The club is most famous for the period in which it collected all of its eight major titles, between 1992 and 2002. The club was declared bankrupt in 2015.

The 2012–13 Serie D was the sixty-fifth edition of the top level Italian non-professional football championship. It represented the fifth tier in the Italian football league system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calcio Padova</span> Italian football club

Calcio Padova, commonly referred to as Padova, is an Italian football club based in Padua, Veneto. Founded in 1910, Padova currently play in Serie C Group A, having last been in Serie A in 1996. The team's official colours are white and red.

References

  1. Un Secolo di Calcio Venezia, Il Venezia dalla nascita al girone unico, Michele Gottardi, pp. 3-4.
  2. Un secolo di Calcio Venezia, Il Venezia dalla nascita al girone unico, Michele Gottardi, p. 10.
  3. Agendina Barlassina 1937-38, p. 36.
  4. 1 2 Un Secolo di Calcio Venezia, Il Venezia dalla nascita al girone unico, Michele Gottardi, p. 18.
  5. Un Secolo di Calcio Venezia, Storia del Penzo, Renato Vidal, p. 27.
  6. 1907-2007 Cent'Anni da Leoni, Serenissima per sfuggire ai creditori, Sebastiano Giorgi, p. 23.
  7. Un Secolo di Calcio Venezia, Il Venezia dalla nascita al girone unico, Michele Gottardi, p. 28.
  8. Un Secolo di Calcio Venezia, Dalla Serenissima alla presidenza Bennati, Pietro Bortoluzzi, p. 40.
  9. Almanacco illustrato del calcio italiano 1940, p. 166.
  10. Un Secolo di Calcio Venezia, Dalla Serenissima alla presidenza Bennati, Pietro Bortoluzzi, p. 50.
  11. Un Secolo di Calcio Venezia, Storia del Penzo, Renato Vidal, p. 29.
  12. 1907–2007 Cent'anni da leoni, Verso la gloria con Valentino Mazzola, Sebastiano Giorgi, p. 53.
  13. Un Secolo di Calcio Venezia, Coppa Italia 1941:come entrammo nella leggenda, Giorgio Corsetti, p. 78.
  14. Almanacco illustrato del calcio 1947, p. 158.
  15. Almanacco illustrato del calcio 1955, p. 182.
  16. Almanacco illustrato del calcio 1960, p. 218.
  17. Almanacco illustrato del calcio 1961, p. 162.
  18. "La Storia del Venezia (1957-1967)". venicexplorer.net. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  19. 1907-2007 Cent'anni da Leoni, I mitici anni sessanta, Sebastiano Giorgi, p. 93.
  20. Almanacco illustrato del calcio 1988, Edizioni Panini, p. 352.
  21. Almanacco illustrato del calcio 1990, Edizioni Panini, p. 343.
  22. "Serie A seasons: Venezia 1998-99". Football Italia.
  23. "Luglio '02: Zamparini porta metà Venezia a Palermo". Sky. 21 July 2017.
  24. Corrado Zunino (18 November 2009). "Venezia addio è ancora fallito" . Retrieved 30 July 2011.
  25. "Aeroterminal di Venezia, condannati per bancarotta i due fratelli Poletti. Il Corriere del Veneto" . Retrieved 17 September 2011.
  26. "Arrigo Poletti indagato per truffa a Padova. Geolocal Trentino" . Retrieved 17 September 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  27. "Crac Aeroterminal, la banca pignora case e garage di Arrigo Poletti. Geolocal Trentino" . Retrieved 17 September 2011.[ permanent dead link ]
  28. "Il suo accostamento al Venezia, come partner occulto del presidente James Daniels". Il Gazzettino. 13 September 2015.
  29. "American Tacopina buys Italy club Venezia". ESPN.com. 9 October 2015.
  30. "Inzaghi named Venezia coach". Goal.com. 7 June 2016.
  31. "Assessing Filippo Inzaghi". Football Italia.
  32. "Pippo Inzaghi coy on Venezia future". Football Italia.
  33. Heneage, Kristan (19 April 2017). "The rebirth of Venezia FC". The Set Pieces.
  34. "Serie B: Palermo push past Venezia". Football Italia. 10 June 2018.
  35. "Inzaghi confirms Venezia exit". Football Italia. 11 June 2018.
  36. "Inzaghi arrives for Bologna". Football Italia.
  37. "Serie B: Venezia appoint Vecchi". Football Italia. 14 June 2018.
  38. "Official: Venezia appoint Zenga". Football Italia. 12 October 2018.
  39. "Venezia sack Zenga for Cosmi". Football Italia.
  40. "Serie B: Salernitana send Venezia down". Football Italia. 9 June 2019.
  41. "Official: Palermo out of Serie B". Football Italia.
  42. 1 2 "Venezia, nuova proprietà: via Tacopina, ecco Niederauer". Corriere dello Sport. 19 February 2020.
  43. "Serie B: Promotion and relegation play-offs decided". Football Italia. 31 July 2020.
  44. 1 2 3 4 Gastelum, Andrew (19 October 2021). "The Club Behind the Kit: The Making of Venezia's Miracle". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  45. "Venezia, risoluzione consensuale per il direttore sportivo Lupo". Football Italia. 6 August 2020.
  46. "A 29-year-old West Chester native aims to help return Venice to Italy's soccer spotlight". The Philadelphia Inquirer. 16 November 2020.
  47. "Serie B: Zanetti new Venezia coach". Tuttosport. 14 August 2020.
  48. "Serie B: Venezia victorious in Chievo thriller". Football Italia.
  49. "Serie B: Venezia in play-off final". Football Italia.
  50. "Venezia promoted to Serie A". Football Italia. 27 May 2021.
  51. "Venezia players celebrate return to Serie A with boat parade through city – video". The Guardian. 31 May 2021.
  52. "Gianluca Busio joins Venezia FC". Veneziafc.it. 9 August 2021.
  53. "Serie A 21/22: Napoli 2-0 Venezia". Venezia FC.
  54. "Venezia relegated from Serie A". Forza Italian Football. 14 May 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
  55. 1 2 "Storia". Venezia Calcio. 24 June 2007.
  56. "Italian Ultras Scenedate=29 June 2007". View from the Terrace. Archived from the original on 8 May 2009. Retrieved 23 June 2009.
  57. 1 2 "SSC Venezia Information". ABCGoal.com. 24 June 2007.
  58. "Stemma Provincia di Venezia". Comuni-Italiani. 24 June 2007.
  59. "SSC Venezia". WeltFussballArchiv.com. 24 June 2007.
  60. "La presunta combine Genova-Venezia Preziosi: "Mai fatto quella chiamata"". Repubblica.it. 24 June 2007.
  61. "Residence #54 | 'Stadio Pier Luigi Penzo' Venezia FC". SoccerBible.
  62. "Venezia stadium: Stadio Penzo capacity, location, facts & video tour | Goal.com UK". www.goal.com. 14 April 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  63. "Prima Squadra". Venezia FC. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  64. Board of directors
  65. Technical staff