Società Sportiva Dilettantistica Lucchese 1905, or simply Lucchese, is an Italian football club, based in Lucca, Tuscany that plays in Serie D, the fourth tier of Italian football. The club was first founded in 1905, having last been in Serie A in 1952.
History
Foundation
The club was founded on 25 May 1905, giving the town of Lucca its first football team. Originally named Lucca Football Club the club was founded by the Vittorio brothers and Guido Mensini. The first large achievement by the club was winning the Goblet of the King during the 1919/20 season, not long after the tournament's foundation. The same season Lucca won the Regional cup of Tuscany.
From U.S. Lucchese-Libertas to A.S. Lucchese Libertas
U.S. Lucchese-Libertas
In 1924 the club merged with another local team and changed its name to Unione Sportiva Lucchese-Libertas. During the 1920s, notable players at the club included Ernesto Bonino and Giovanni Moscardini. The 1930s saw the club been promoted to Serie B, and then in 1936, Lucchese won promotion to Serie A the top league in Italy, they stayed there for three seasons. The club were relegated to Serie B as World War II started. Prior to the war players such as Egri Erbstein, Aldo Olivieri and Antonio Perduca were fan's favorites. Lucchese promoted again to Serie A in 1947 and stayed there for 5 seasons.
A.S. Lucchese Libertas
In 1984 it changed its name to A.S. Lucchese Libertas. The club spent also several seasons in Serie B and Serie C1, being also coached by Luigi Simoni, UEFA Cup-winning coach with Inter Milan. In 2008 the club folded due to financial issues and was admitted in the Italian bottom division Terza Categoria before being declared bankrupt in December 2008.
From S.S.D. Sporting Lucchese to A.S. Lucchese Libertas 1905
S.S.D. Sporting Lucchese
A new franchise called Società Sportiva Dilettantistica Sporting Lucchese was admitted to Serie D to represent the city of Lucca. In its first season of existence, Sporting Lucchese promptly won the Girone E round of Serie D, thus acquiring the right to take part to the 2009–10 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.
A.S. Lucchese Libertas 1905
After the promotion, the club took the denomination of Associazione Sportiva Lucchese Libertas 1905 starting with the new season, after the Sporting Lucchese owner acquired the naming and logo rights of the old franchise in a public auction. Lucchese made a second consecutive promotion after finishing as champions of Group B of Lega Pro Seconda Divisione. The club has spent the 2010–11 season in Lega Pro Prima Divisione. In the summer of 2011, Lucchese was excluded from professional football by COVISOC for financial reasons, and didn't appeal against the decision.
From A.S.D. F.C. Lucca 2011 to A.S. Lucchese Libertas 1905
F.C. Lucca 2011
On 1 August 2011, a new club was founded to represent the city of Lucca: the team was called Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Football Club Lucca 2011 and in it was promoted from Eccellenza Tuscany to Serie D at the end of the 2011–12 season.
F.C. Lucchese 1905
The club changed its name to F.C. Lucchese 1905 soon after being promoted.
A.S. Lucchese Libertas 1905
In the summer 2013 the club changed his name back to A.S. Lucchese Libertas 1905. On that same season, Lucchese returned to professionalism after winning the Group D of the 2013–14 Serie D, and thus ensuring a spot in the inaugural season of the unified 2014–15 Lega Pro league. After a struggling season in the 2018–19 Serie C that was hit by more financial issues involving the club, Lucchese failed to submit its application for the 2019–20 Serie C, and was declared bankrupt once again on 1 July 2019.
S.S.D. Lucchese 1905
Immediately after being excluded from Serie C, a new incarnation of the club, named as S.S.D. Lucchese 1905, was admitted by the Football Federation to Serie D.
Colors and badge
The team's colors are red and black. The players are named Rossoneri.
