U.S. Catanzaro 1929
U.S. Catanzaro 1929 is an Italian football club based in Catanzaro, Calabria.
Founded in 1927, plays since that year.
In the course of its history the society was refounded twice: in 2006 and again in 2011, both for financial reasons.
The official colors of the club are, since its foundation, yellow and red. Its symbol is the golden eagle, same as the city of Catanzaro. The team plays its home matches at the Stadio Nicola Ceravolo, built in 1919, the oldest sports facility in Calabria.
In the 2019–2020 season, Catanzaro was playing in Serie C, the third level of the Italian soccer championship
In its history, Catanzaro has played for seven seasons in Serie A, five of which were consecutive. The best performance in Serie A was a seventh place in 1981-82 and an eighth place obtained in 1980–81. From its foundation to date it as only won seven championship: 1 of the First Division, 2 of Serie C, 3 of Serie C1 and 1 of the IV Series. Also at national level, a title of the IV Series, among the cups, is a Cup of the Alps in 1960 together with Rome, Alessandria, Verona, Naples, Catania, Triestina, Palermo for the Italian Federation and, at youth level, a Dante Berretti Trophy of Serie C in 1991–1992.
In Coppa Italia it has a second place, in the season 1965–1966, and two semi-finals in 1978–1979 and 1981–1982.
On 30 May 2018 the company, which already used the historic logo since 2011, announced the return of the old name "Unione Sportiva Catanzaro", with the final addition of "1929".
History
Foundation and refoundations
The club were founded in 1927 as Unione Sportiva Catanzarese, then changed their denomination to Unione Sportiva Fascista Catanzarese in 1929, in 1946 to Unione Sportiva Catanzaro, and in 2006 to Football Club Catanzaro. The team assumed the current title in 2011, following the cancellation of the previous club's registration because of financial troubles.From Serie A to the first bankruptcy
Catanzaro achieved promotion to Serie B in 1959, and reached the Coppa Italia final in 1966. In 1971, they defeated Bari in a play-off to win promotion to Serie A for the first time.Catanzaro's inaugural Serie A season saw them struggle and succumb to relegation on the final day with only 3 wins and 15 draws for 21 points. However, their first-ever Serie A win came in Round 16 with a 1–0 win over Juventus. After narrowly missing out on a return to Serie A in 1975, they bounced back in 1976 but once again lasted just one year.
A third promotion in 1978 ushered in the club's golden era with a five-year stay in Serie A. With a team including Claudio Ranieri, Gianni Improta and the iconic Massimo Palanca, Catanzaro managed a highly credible 9th place in 1979. Though they finished 14th and would have been relegated for the following season, they won a reprieve thanks to forced relegations of AC Milan and Lazio. They managed 8th place in 1981 and 7th the following year before a dismal relegation in 1983. Much of the next four years was spent bouncing between Serie B and C1.
Catanzaro emerged as promotion contenders once more in 1988, with the ageless Palanca having returned to the club after a fruitless spell at Napoli. Finishing 5th, they succumbed to successive relegations in 1990 and 1991, staying in Serie C2 until 2003.
In 2005, after two consecutive promotions, Catanzaro returned to Serie B after a 15-year absence. However, after a poor season they ended their Serie B campaign in last place, meaning relegation to Serie C1. Catanzaro would immediately get another chance, the team being reinstated to Serie B due to vacancies related to the exclusion of other teams from Serie B. In its 2005/2006 Serie B campaign, Catanzaro came last again and was relegated to Serie C1; the relegation was followed by financial troubles which led to the federation cancelling the club's registration.
F.C. Catanzaro
In the summer 2006 the club was refounded with the new name of F.C. Catanzaro and registered to Serie C2 for the 2006–2007 season, with the hope to return to the upper divisions.In season 2010–11, they were initially relegated from Lega Pro Seconda Divisione group C to Serie D, but due to the relegation of Pomezia to last place, the club was saved from relegation.
On 18 July 2011 it is excluded by the Federal Council from Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, but on 27 July 2011 it wins appeal to Tnas and then can play in 2011–12 Lega Pro Seconda Divisione.
U.S. Catanzaro 1929
On 30 June 2011 the company Catanzaro Calcio 2011 acquired permanently the company branch of the bankrupt F.C. Catanzaro.Since 6 August 2011, the company switched to the current denomination, after having purchased the historical brand and logo of U.S. Catanzaro.
In the 2011–12 season, Catanzaro obtained a respectable second place in the Lega Pro Seconda Divisione and was promoted to Lega Pro Prima Divisione after playoffs. The following two seasons saw Catanzaro ending in tenth and fourth place respectively, and also a participation in the promotion play-offs in the latter case.
Colors and badge
ColoursThe team's colours, since foundatuon, are red and yellow, just as the whole city
The most used uniform in the eighty years of history of the Aquile is the solid red one, with the yellow V collar with red shorts and socks with yellow edges.
Those pairings have accompanied the Calabrians in the golden years of the Serie A and therefore are the most dear to the Catanzaro environment. Equally used was the vertical striped yellow and red shirt with red shorts and socks with yellow edges, especially in the post-failure years of 2006.
Most rarely Catanzaro has used a shirt with yellow and red horizontal stripes. However, this uniform was used by the Calabrians in the historic match in Turin, won against Juventus, in the Italian Cup 1965-66, which was to launch the Catanzaro in the final, then lost against the lilies of Florence.
As for the away shirt is, the most used is completely blue with references to the Giallorossi,but also completely white or yellow seals were worn
Occasionally le Aquile, have also used a third uniform which, depending on the color of the home squad, could be either blue or white or yellow. Same for the fourth currency
Badges
The corporate coat of arms consists of a shield in which stands the historic symbol of Catanzaro, the Golden eagle, faithfully taken from the city's coat of arms, which holds a blue ribbon on its beak bearing the motto Sanguinis effusione, motivated by the losses reported in various battles by the Catanzaro fighters.
On the belly of the eagle takes place a shield that reproduces the three hills on which the city stands. A vertical line splits the emblem in two, so as to allow the insertion of the team's social colors, which is completed by the name of the company, placed at the top on a blue background.
Presidential history
Below is a presidential history list of Catanzaro, from when they were founded in 1927, until the present day.Managerial history
Current squadOut on loan |
