Vicenza Calcio

Vicenza Calcio is an Italian football club based in Vicenza, Veneto. The club was formed in 1902 and currently plays in Italian Serie B, having spent a large part of recent years in Serie A. It was relegated to Serie B in 2001 and C in 2005, but admitted back to Serie B because of some relegations decided by the Italian football federation. The team's colors are red and white.

History

Vicenza took place for the first time in the Italian Championship in 1911, reaching the finals for the title, but they were defeated by Pro Vercelli, the best Italian team of those years.

During the 20's and the 30's Vicenza played in lower division and only in 1942 they reached Serie A for the first time. At last round of the league they won 6-2 versus Juventus in Turin and avoided the relegation.

In 1947 Vicenza reach the 5th position in Serie A, but the following year was relegated. The early 1950s were trouble year for the team, due to economic problems, but in 1953 it was bought by Lanerossi, a woolen firm from Schio, so the team was renamed Lanerossi Vicenza.

Between 1955 and 1975 Vicenza never left Serie A, giving a hard time to much titled and estabilished clubs. In this period the side was also known as Nobile Provinciale (Noble Provincial). In 1966 it reched 6th (as well as in 1964) and the brazilian Luis Vinicio was the top-scorer with 25 goals.

In 1975 it was relegated, but in 1977 it won Italian Serie B league and the following season, 1977-78, the club was the runner-up of Serie A and Paolo Rossi the league topscorer with 24 goals. In that year the side was nicknamed Real Vicenza.

The chairman Giuseppe Farina bought Paolo Rossi from Juventus for the record fee of 2,6 bilions of lire, but following years the team was relegated to Serie B, and in 1981 to Serie C1.

In the middle of 1980s Roberto Baggio started his career in Lanerossi Vicenza and led the team to Serie B again. In 1986 was first promoted to Serie A, but then the promotion was denied. Vicenza came back to Serie C1 in 1987.

In 1990 Vicenza took back its current name and it was promoted to Serie B in 1993. The coach Francesco Guidolin led the team back to Serie A in 1995, with a surprising 1996 season.

Vicenza won its first Coppa Italia in 1997 and reached the Cup Winners' Cup semi-finals the next year, before being defeated by Chelsea FC.

In 1999 the team was relegated to Serie B and played only 2000-01 season in Serie A. In 2005 Vicenza was even relegated in Serie C after losing the relegation playoffs against Triestina, but was readmitted to Serie B after Genoa and Perugia were relegated by the Italian Football Federation.

Current first team squad

As of July 14, 2006Lista convocati per il ritiro

2006/2007 Summer transfers

Note: these transfers will not be effective before the opening of the transfer market.

In:

(end of loan)

(end of loan) (end of loan)

(co-ownership resolved in favour of Vicenza)

Out:

(retired)

(end of contract) (co-ownership) (co-ownership resolved in favour of Reggina) (end of loan) (end of contract) (on loan)

References

Notable former players

External links