Udinese Calcio S.p.A (in short Udinese, called simply Udin in Friulian) is an Italian football club. Based in the town of Udine (Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, northern Italy), the club currently (2005) plays in Serie A. The team home kit is black and white quartered shirt, black shorts, and white socks. The club plays in the Stadio Friuli, which can seat 41,705. It has a good number of fans in Friuli and surrounding areas, and it is sometimes seen as the best symbol of Friulian pride. The club was founded in 1896 as part of the Società Udinese di Ginnastica e Scherma. In its very first season, the club won a regional tournament organised by the National Federation of Gymnastics (FGNI). This is considered by some the first national Italian football title.

The club played in the regional leagues until 1929 when it joined Serie B. Never outstandingly successful, the club was quickly relegated and did not return to that division until 1939. Promotion to the top division was first achieved in 1950, but the club was relegated in 1955 following a nine point deduction for irregularities, the club bounced back the next season.

The club was relegated in 1961-62 and fell all the way to Serie C by 1964. The club remained in C for fourteen seasons before returning to B, and then reaching A in 1979. The club stayed in A until 1987 and then moved between the top two divisions for a time before re-establishing themselves in A from 1995, with the club's highest finish ever coming in 1997-98 when they were third.

The club has never had success at the top level or in European competition. They have been Serie B champions twice (1955-56 and 1978-79), Serie C champions three times (1938-39, 1948-49, and 1977-78), they won the Anglo-Italian Cup once (1978), the Mitropa Cup once (1980) and the UEFA Intertoto Cup once (2000).

At the end of 2004-2005 season, the club gained the fourth position in the Italian league, and subsequently qualified for the Champions League for the first time in its history.

Al-Saadi Qadhafi (Son of Libyan leader, Muammar al-Qaddafi) is a player for this team, having given up his shares in Juventus to join. The club has recently signed an agreement with the Chilean club, Cobreloa, for the magnificent 17-year old chilean striker, Alexis Sanchez, who will debut in the 06/07 season.

Current first team squad

Squad change during 06/07 season

(co-ownership)

Out:

(co-ownership with Palermo renewed) (co-ownership with Atalanta under discusssion) (co-ownership) (co-ownership with Palermo renewed)

(co-ownership with A.S. Cisco Roma resolved in favour of Udinese) (end of loan spell)

Famous players

• Márcio Amoroso
• Stephen Appiah
• Abel Balbo
• Jerónimo Barbadillo
• Oliver Bierhoff
• Franco Causio
• David Di Michele
• Edinho
• Stefano Fiore
• Giuliano Giannichedda
• Thomas Helveg
• Marek Jankulovski
• Martin Jørgensen
• Paolino Pulici
• David Pizarro
• Roberto Nestor Sensini
• Johan Walem
• Zico

Famous Coaches

• Alberto Zaccheroni
• Luciano Spalletti

References