A.C. Ancona

Football club infobox
clubname = Ancona


fullname = Associazione Calcio Ancona SpA
nickname = "Dorici"
founded = 1905
ground = Stadio del Conero, Ancona, Italy
capacity = 26,000 | chairman = Sergio Schiavoni
manager = Francesco Monaco
league = Serie B
season = 2007-08
position = Serie C1/B, 2nd (promoted)
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Associazione Calcio Ancona is an Italian football club, based in Ancona, Marche. The club was founded in 1905 as "Unione Sportiva Anconitana", changing its denomination to "Ancona Calcio 1905" in 1981 (as stated in the [http://www.anconacalcio.it/societa/storia.asp official web site] it icon), and refounded in 2004 as AC Ancona. Ancona currently plays in Serie C1/B. However, it was in Serie A as recently as the 2003/04 season, when Ancona finished last and was relegated to Serie B. The club was then forced into bankruptcy, and was sent down two divisions to Serie C2. The team's colors are all-red.

History

Ancona had spells in Serie B before World War II and shortly after, but would not return to that level until 1988. Under coach Vincenzo Guerini, the club's rise was meteoric: 5th place in 1990 and promotion was achieved two years later. Although they would finish 17th and were relegated after just one year, the club nonetheless played in some memorable high-scoring games including a 3-0 home win over Inter. Midfielder Lajos Detari, winger Fabio Lupo and striker Massimo Agostini ensured Ancona had a respectable "Goals For" tally but conceded goals at an alarming rate.

The following year, Ancona reached an Italian Cup final but were heavily beaten by Sampdoria. Near misses in the promotion race was followed by relegation in 1996 and again in 1998. After returning to Serie B in 2000, Ancona would achieve another promotion in 2003.

Its second Serie A season would be one of the worst enjoyed by any Serie A club, with a record-equalling 28-game winless streak from the start. They finishied the season with a pitiful 13 points. This was followed by bankruptcy and condemnation to Serie C2.

Ancona finished 5th in 2005-2006 season and lost promotion play-off against Sassuolo by finishing best place but promoted after expulsions of Gela and Sassari Torres due to financial troubles. They finished 16th in Serie C1/B and played relegation play-off against Teramo in 2006-2007 season. Ancona won 4-2 by aggregate and remained in Serie C1.

In October 2007 it was reported that Centro Sportivo Italiano (CSI), run by the Vatican's Conference of Bishops, had purchased an 80% share in the club. The report read:

"It is a way to moralise football, to bring some ethics to a sector that is going through a deep crisis of values," said Ancona Archbishop Edoardo Menichelli, who recently played a benefit game against an Italian national team of singers.

CSI president Edio Costantini said the centre wanted "to invest in the true meaning of sport. We want football to be again a means of education and not tied to strictly monetary values".

"We will show that, for boys, football is not just an illusion or a bad example." [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/04/wvatican104.xml Vatican buys team to clean up Italian football] , "The Daily Telegraph" online, October 4, 2007 "Retrieved on October 4, 2007"]

According to Catholic World News on October 9, 2007, the Vatican was distancing itself from the move, claiming the CSI was a group of 'lay Catholics' and the Vatican had 'nothing to do' with the project [ [http://www.cwnews.com/news/viewstory.cfm?recnum=54041 Vatican not sponsoring soccer team, spokesman clarifies] Catholic World News, October 9, 2007 "Retrieved on October 10, 2007"] . Yet in a Reuters report on October 11, 2007, both the Vatican Secretary of State and the Pope endorsed the move, quoted as saying respectively:

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone praised the project in a statement read at its presentation, saying it was designed to 'bring out the human and spiritual values in sport'.

Pope Benedict XVI also encouraged the team after receiving a shirt with his name and the number 16 on from them at a general audience in St Peter's Square [ [http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=97372 Vatican backs club's mission] SBS Television (Aust.) "The World Game" website, October 11, 2007 "Retrieved on October 11, 2007"]

The club has had several Papal connections. The 'Project Soccer' initiative was blessed by Pope Benedict XVI with a letter sent by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone to the Centro Sportivo Italiano. [ [http://www.csi-net.it/vedi_notizia.php?id=264 CSI e Ancona insieme nel progetto Soccer] Centro Sportivo Italiano "Centro Sportivo Italiano" web-site, October 10, 2007 "Retrieved on January 1 2008"] The 'Del Conero' stadium was visited by Pope John Paul II twice. [ [http://www.anconacalcio.it/societa/stadio.asp Lo Stadio] A.C. Ancona "A.C. Ancona" web-site, January 1, 2008 "Retrieved on January 1 2008"]

The club has been promoted back to Serie B after winning promotion playoff after defeating Perugia by finished best place and Taranto by 2-1 aggregate in 2007-2008 season.

Current squad

"As of 2008-09-12" [cite web|url=http://www.anconacalcio.it/squadra/squadra.asp|publisher=AC Ancona|language=Italian|title=La rosa della stagione 2008/2009|accessdate=2008-08-02]

Notable former players

*flagicon|Sweden Daniel Andersson
*flagicon|Italy Massimo Agostini
*flagicon|Italy Dino Baggio
*flagicon|Italy Nicola Caccia
*flagicon|Italy Felice Centofanti
*flagicon|Hungary Lajos Détári
*flagicon|Italy Maurizio Ganz
*flagicon|Italy Dario Hübner
*flagicon|Italy Alessandro Melli
*flagicon|Italy Davide Micillo
*flagicon|Italy Mauro Milanese
*flagicon|Italy Alessandro Nista
*flagicon|Macedonia Goran Pandev
*flagicon|Croatia Milan Rapaić

upporters and rivalries

The main rivals of Ancona is Ascoli.cite news|url=http://website.lineone.net/~view_from_the_terrace/italsce.html
publisher=View from the Terrace|title= Italian Ultras Scene|date=29 June 2007] The ultras of Ancona are noted for their anti-racist and anti-fascist stances.cite news|url=http://website.lineone.net/~view_from_the_terrace/italsce.html
publisher=View from the Terrace|title= Italian Ultras Scene|date=29 June 2007]

References

External links

* [http://www.anconacalcio.it/ Official site]