2008–09 Serie B


The 2008–09 Serie B season was the seventy-seventh since its establishment. A total of 22 teams will contest the league, 15 of which will be returning from the 2007–08 season, four of which will have been promoted from Serie C1, and three relegated from Serie A.

Teams

Noted teams featured in the league include Parma F.C., who last played Serie B in 1989–90 when under coach Nevio Scala they won their first promotion to the top flight.
U.S. Sassuolo Calcio, promoted to Serie B as Serie C1/A champions, are competing at the highest level in the club's history. A vacancy created by the withdrawal of Sicilian squad F.C. Messina Peloro was filled by the federation by including U.S. Avellino, who were the best team slated to be relegated in 2007–08.
ClubCityStadiumCapacity2007–08 season
U.C. AlbinoLeffeAlbino and Leffe
Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia26,3934th in Serie B
A.C. AnconaAnconaStadio del Conero26,000Serie C1/B Play-off Winners
Ascoli Calcio 1898Ascoli PicenoStadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca20,0008th in Serie B
U.S. AvellinoAvellinoStadio Partenio26,30819th in Serie B
A.S. BariBariStadio San Nicola58,24811th in Serie B
Brescia CalcioBresciaStadio Mario Rigamonti27,5475th in Serie B
A.S. CittadellaCittadellaStadio Pier Cesare Tombolato7,623Serie C1/A Play-off Winners
Empoli F.C.EmpoliStadio Carlo Castellani19,79518th in Serie A
Frosinone CalcioFrosinoneStadio Matusa9,68010th in Serie B
U.S. Grosseto F.C.GrossetoStadio Olimpico Carlo Zecchini8,35013th in Serie B
A.S. Livorno CalcioLivornoStadio Armando Picchi19,23820th in Serie A
A.C. MantovaMantovaStadio Danilo Martelli14,8449th in Serie B
Modena F.C.ModenaStadio Alberto Braglia20,50716th in Serie B
Parma F.C.ParmaStadio Ennio Tardini27,90619th in Serie A
Piacenza CalcioPiacenzaStadio Leonardo Garilli21,66815th in Serie B
Pisa CalcioPisaArena Garibaldi - Stadio Romeo Anconetani17,0006th in Serie B
Rimini Calcio F.C.RiminiStadio Romeo Neri9,7687th in Serie B
Salernitana Calcio 1919SalernoStadio Arechi37,245Serie C1/B Champions
U.S. Sassuolo CalcioSassuolo
Stadio Alberto Braglia20,507Serie C1/A Champions
Treviso F.B.C. 1993TrevisoStadio Omobono Tenni9,99618th in Serie B
U.S. Triestina CalcioTriesteStadio Nereo Rocco32,45412th in Serie B
Vicenza CalcioVicenzaStadio Romeo Menti17,16317th in Serie B

Events

Following the end of the 2007–08 season, rumours spread out regarding Messina's financial struggles which might lead the team to insolvency and following exclusion from the Serie B teamlist. This was implicitly confirmed by the fact that Messina has not organized a pre-season camp as of 10 July, and the team being still without a coach. On 14 July 2008 the club board announced their intention to resign from the Serie B due to financial difficulties, also stating their intention to start again from amateur league Serie D.
On 25 July 2008 the Italian Football Federation confirmed that Avellino had been readmitted to Serie B to replace Messina.
On 31 July 2008 Treviso was penalized 3 points; however it ultimately changed to €15,000 fine by Camera di Conciliazione e Arbitrato per lo Sport of CONI.
Brescia and Parma were the first clubs to sack their managers. The rondinelle sacked Serse Cosmi, with past UEFA Champions League experience at Udinese, replacing him with well-experienced 67-year-old boss Nedo Sonetti, whereas Parma opted to dismiss Luigi Cagni from the coaching post and appoint former Palermo boss Francesco Guidolin. Brescia completed its replacement prior to the two club's meeting in Brescia in Week 6, Parma the day after. Several other coaching dismissals soon followed, regarding Avellino, Ascoli and Mantova. Chiarenza and Salernitana gaffer Fabrizio Castori went in December, but Castori was soon reinstated after Bortolo Mutti's inconsistency. The shortest reign was former Argentina striker Abel Balbo, who resigned after only 4 weeks in the job. Castori was sacked again after a 2–2 draw with Treviso, and Grosseto, Modena, Pisa and Mantova also lost their coaches.
On 8 May 2009 Livorno 0–1 home loss to Triestina ensured Bari to be mathematically promoted to Serie A in advance of four weeks. The galletti, coached by former Juventus player Antonio Conte, will therefore make their return to the top flight after eight years in the Italian second division. On 11 May, Treviso was mathematically relegated to Lega Pro Prima Divisione following a 0–1 home loss to Veneto rivals Vicenza after being in the Serie A as late as the 2005–06 season.
On 16 May, Parma joined Bari by ensuring automatic promotion to Serie A in Week 40, following a 2–2 tie with Cittadella that left a gap of seven points between Francesco Guidolin's team and closest rivals Livorno with only two games remaining.

League table

Results

Top goalscorers

Updated to games played on 30 May 2009
; 24 goals
; 23 goals
; 18 goals
; 17 goals
; 16 goals
; 15 goals
; 13 goals
; 12 goals

Promotion

Relegation

Managerial changes