Salernitana Calcio 1919

Football club infobox
clubname = Salernitana


fullname = Salernitana Calcio 1919 SpA
nickname = "Granata" (Dark-Reds),
"Cavallucci marini" (Seahorses)
founded = 1919
ground = Stadio Arechi,
Salerno, Italy
capacity = 37,245 [cite web|url=http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/listeuefa2.html|publisher=Fussballtempel.net| title=http://www.fussballtempel.net/uefa/listeuefa2.html]
chairman = flagicon|Italy Antonio Lombardi
manager = flagicon|Italy Fabrizio Castori
league = Serie B
season = 2007–08
position = Serie C1/B, 1st (promoted)
pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_whiteshoulders|pattern_ra1=
leftarm1=AA0000|body1=AA0000|rightarm1=AA0000|shorts1=AA0000|socks1=AA0000
pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF

Salernitana Calcio 1919, commonly referred to as simply Salernitana, is an Italian professional football club from Salerno, Campania. Founded in 1919, Salernitana have spent the vast majority of their history bouncing between the Serie B and Serie C levels of Italian football. Currently the club are competing in Serie B for the 2008–09 season; in fact on April 27, 2008 they mathematically won the league title of Serie C1, thus ensuring a place in Serie B for the 2008–09 season. [cite news |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2008/04/sezioni/sport/calcio/ritornano-in-b/ritornano-in-b/ritornano-in-b.html |publisher=La Repubblica |title=Sassuolo e Salernitana in serie B, promozione storica per gli emiliani |accessdate=2008-04-27 |date=2008-04-27 |language=Italian]

In their earliest years, Salernitana competed in the Italian Football Championship when it was competed on a regional basis, they played at this level for four seasons during the 1920s. Since that time the club returned to the top level of Italian football twice; they played in Serie A during 1947–48 and 1998–99.

Salernitana, who wear an all maroon kit have had several name changes since they first appeared in 1919; one was after a merger with Audax Salerno. The most recent change was in 2005, when the club went bankrupt but were refounded by Antonio Lombardi, they were however forced to give up their "Salernitana Sport" name for the present one.

History

Unione Sportiva Salernitana was founded on 19 June 1919 by Adalgiso Onesti,cite news|url=http://www.salernitana.it/storia/stagione.asp?id=5|publisher=Salernitana.it|title=La Storia: 1910-1919|date=24 June 2007] who initiated the merger of an older club using the same name; which itself was founded in 1911 by a merger of four local clubs; and "Foot-Ball Club Salerno".cite news|url=http://users.skynet.be/pluto/Textworld/Europe/Ita-teams.html|publisher=Sky Net|title=Italy - Overview of teams|date=24 June 2007]

The club was known as "Società Sportiva Salernitanaudax" for a time during the 1920s. It can be argued that Salernitana's best period as a club was 1997-1999. In the 1997-98 season, Salernitana topped Serie B and gained their second promotion to Serie A (first was in 1947-48). A young Marco Di Vaio led the scoring charts with 21 goals. In the 1998-99 season, their first in Serie A after 50 years, Salernitana fought hard and were led by Cameroonian international Rigobert Song and Salvatore Fresi in defense, a young Gennaro Gattuso in midfield, and Marco Di Vaio and David Di Michele leading the attack. They recorded surprise wins against Inter, Juventus, Roma and Lazio. Unfortunately, they finished 1 point shy of salvation and were relegated.

Since then, the club did not manage to return back to the top flight, and was excluded by Serie B in 2005. A new club, who started back from Serie C1, was then established. In 2008, Salernitana finally returned back to Serie B as Serie C1/B champions.

Current squad

"As of 2008-08-27" [cite web|url=http://www.salernitana1919.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16|title=Prima squadra e staff tecnico|accessdate=2008-08-27|language=Italian|publisher=Salernitana Calcio 1919]

Notable players

Presidential history

Below is the complete presidential history of Salernitana, from when Adalgiso Onesti was first in place at the club in 1919, until the present day.cite news|url=http://www.salernitanafans.tk|title=La Storia della Salernitana|date=24 June 2007]

width="30"|
valign="top"

Colours, badge and nicknames

Football kit box
align = left
pattern_la=_lightblue_stripes|pattern_b=_whitestripes|pattern_ra=_lightblue_stripes
leftarm = fffFFF
body = 00BFFF
rightarm = fffFFF
shorts = ffffff
socks = ffffff
title = Salernitana's original kit.Salernitana originally wore light blue and white striped shirts, known in Italy as "biancocelesti".cite news|url=http://www.salernitana.it/storia/stagione.asp?id=5|publisher=Salernitana.it|title=La Storia: 1910-1919|date=24 June 2007] The blue on the shirt was chosen to represent the sea, Salerno the city lies right next to the Gulf of Salerno and has a long tradition as a porting city. During the 1940s the club changed to their current and most recognised maroon coloured shirts, which has gained them the nickname "granata" in their homeland.

Honours

Serie B::* Winners (2): 1947–48; 1997–98

Serie C / Serie C1::*Winners (2): 1937–38; 1965–66; 2007–08:*Runners-up (2): 1989–90; 1993–94

Coppa Italia Serie C::*Runners-up (1): 1980

References

External links

* [http://www.salernitana1919.it Salernitana Calcio's official website] it icon
* [http://www.salernitana.pl Salernitana Calcio fan site] pl icon