U.S. Città di Palermo season 2007-08

Infobox Football club season
club = U.S. Città di Palermo

---

season = 2007–08
manager = Stefano Colantuono (Days 1–13)
Francesco Guidolin (Days 14–30)
Stefano Colantuono (From Day 31)
chairman = Maurizio Zamparini
league = Serie A
league result = 11th
cup1 = UEFA Cup | cup1 result = 1st Round (eliminated)
cup2 = Coppa Italia | cup2 result = Round of 16 (eliminated)
league topscorer = Amauri (15)
season topscorer = Amauri (15)
highest attendance = 34,271
vs Juventus, April 6, 2008
lowest attendance = 21,829
vs Cagliari, February 17, 2008

U.S. Città di Palermo is playing the season 2007–08 in the Serie A, being the fourth season in a row for Palermo in the league since their return in 2004.

Review and events

Following a hard season ended in fifth place, Francesco Guidolin, sacked and successively recalled during the final days of the 2006–07 season, was not confirmed as Palermo head coach. On May 31, 2007 Atalanta boss Stefano Colantuono was announced to fill the vacant managing position. [cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may31k.html |publisher=Football Italia |title=Palermo confirm Colantuono deal |date=2007-05-31 |accessdate=2007-06-14]

Regarding the team players, Giovanni Tedesco announced, immediately following the final 2006–07 matchday, to have agreed for a one-year contract extension. [cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/may28h.html |publisher=Football Italia |title=Tedesco pens new deal |date=2007-05-28 |accessdate=2007-06-14] The first two signings for the new season, midfielder Giulio Migliaccio from Atalanta and goalkeeper Samir Ujkani from Anderlecht, were announced on June 8;cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun8o.html |publisher=Football Italia |title=Corini's Palermo heartbreak |date=2007-06-09 |accessdate=2007-06-14|format= |work= ] the same day, Palermo captain Eugenio Corini announced his intention not to renew his contract with the "rosanero", due to expire on June 30, following a dispute with the club management. The June 22 deadline for resolution of co-ownership brought to the return of Davide Matteini from Empoli F.C., whereas Stephen Makinwa, previously in co-ownership between Palermo and Lazio, was ultimately acquired by the "biancazzurri".cite web |url=http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/it/0607/news_scheda.jsp?id=7252 |publisher=US Città di Palermo|title=Riscattato Matteini, Makinwa alla Lazio |date=2007-06-22 |accessdate=2007-06-22|language=Italian] In the same day, Andrea Caracciolo was announced to have been sold to Sampdoria in a co-ownership bid.cite web |url=http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/it/0607/news_scheda.jsp?id=7250 |publisher=US Città di Palermo|title=Caracciolo alla Sampdoria in compartecipazione|date=2007-06-22 |accessdate=2007-06-22|language=Italian] , whereas Mariano González, back from a season loan to Inter, was loaned out once again, this time to FC Porto. [cite web|url=http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/it/0607/news_scheda.jsp?id=7309|title=Gonzalez in prestito al Porto|publisher=US Città di Palermo|date=2007-07-17|accessdate=2007-07-17|language=Italian] On June 28, the club unveiled the signing of Serbian international Boško Janković from Mallorca. [cite web|url=http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/it/0607/news_scheda.jsp?id=7261|title=Preso Jankovic dal R. C. D. Mallorca|date=2007-06-29|accessdate=2007-06-29|language=Italian|publisher=US Città di Palermo] [cite web |url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun29o.html |publisher=Football Italia |title=Palermo sign Serb Jankovic |date=2007-06-29 |accessdate=2007-07-02] On July 5 two moves were made by Palermo, with David Di Michele being sold to Torino [cite web|url=http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/it/0607/news_scheda.jsp?id=7270|title=Di Michele ceduto al Torino|date=2007-07-05|accessdate=2007-07-05|language=Italian|publisher=US Città di Palermo] and Fabrizio Miccoli signed from Juventus. [cite web|url=http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/it/0607/news_scheda.jsp?id=7271|title=Preso Miccoli dalla Juventus|date=2007-07-05|accessdate=2007-07-05|language=Italian|publisher=US Città di Palermo]

Palermo's pre-season phase begun on July 12, when all the players gathered in Udine and then moved to the training camp of Bad Kleinkirchheim, Austria, where the team stayed until August 4. From August 6 to 12, the team successively moved to Villach, [cite web|url=http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/it/0607/news_scheda.jsp?id=7235|title=Fissate le date del ritiro precampionato|date=2007-06-11|accessdate=2007-07-06|language=Italian|publisher=US Città di Palermo] and then returned to Palermo in a training session at Stadio Renzo Barbera in front of 10,000 spectators. They made their Serie A debut on August 26, a 2–0 home loss to AS Roma, and achieved their first seasonal win in the next matchday, a 4–2 away win at Livorno. The season ticket sale closed on September 11 with 19,992 tickets being altogether sold. [cite web|url=http://www.ilpalermocalcio.it/it/0708/news_scheda.jsp?id=7661|language=Italian|publisher=US Città di Palermo|title=Sono 19.992 gli abbonati per la stagione 2007/2008|accessdate=2007-09-11|date=2007-09-11]

Palermo started their UEFA Cup campaign, their third consecutive, challenging Czech side FK Mladá Boleslav in the first round. The first leg, played at Mlada's home venue, ended in a 1–0 win for the "rosanero" thanks to a late winner goal by Boško Janković. This was followed by two Serie A consecutive wins, a 1–0 away victory at Cagliari and a last-minute 2–1 triumph against AC Milan, with Miccoli scoring a late winning goal during injury time. [cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0708/pal-mil.html|publisher=Football Italia|title=Palermo 2 - 1 Milan|accessdate=2007-09-27|date=2007-09-26]

However, in the return leg of the UEFA Cup first round, Palermo lost 1–0 at home, with a Mladá goal scored during injury time, and were defeated in the subsequent penalty shootouts, causing an unexpected elimination. [cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/eurogames/pal-bol.html|publisher=Football Italia|title=Palermo 0-1 Mlada Bolseslav (Agg 1-1, 2-4 after pens)|date=2007-10-04|accessdate=2007-10-20] On October 2007, Palermo managed just to achieve four ties out of four matches, causing the team to slide down to ninth place, six points behind the fourth UEFA Champions League spot; increasing fans disappointment for these poor results led them to whistle and jeer the players during their October 31 home match, a home match with Parma ended in a 1–1 tie thanks to a late penalty equaliser scored by Amauri. In the aftermath of the match, Palermo captain Andrea Barzagli heavily criticized the fans for what he felt to be a hostile reception. [cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/nov1a.html|publisher=Football Italia|date=2007-11-01|accessdate=2007-11-01|title=Barzagli rages at Sicilian fans] They returned to win on November 10, in a 2–1 home win to Napoli, after five consecutive ties. A crushing 5–0 away loss at Juventus on November 25 however persuaded club chairman Zamparini to sack Colantuono the next day and reappoint Guidolin at the helm of the "rosanero". [cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Palermo/Primo_Piano/2007/11_Novembre/26/colantuono.shtml|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|title=Palermo, via Colantuono. Guidolin pronto al ritorno|language=Italian|accessdate=2007-11-26|date=2007-11-26] Guidolin marked his debut on December 2, losing the Sicilian derby 3–1 in Catania. [cite web|url=http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sa0708/cat-pal.html|publisher=Football Italia|title=Catania 3 - 1 Palermo|date=2007-12-02|accessdate=2007-12-03] This was followed by two consecutive wins to Fiorentina and Atalanta and a home tie with Lazio, which allowed the "rosanero" to end the 2007 solar year in sixth place, four points shy of the fourth UEFA Champions League spot. Still in December, Palermo made their Coppa Italia seasonal debut with a 0–0 draw against Udinese at Stadio Friuli. They were however later defeated at home, and thus eliminated from the competition, by the "bianconeri" on the return leg, with a goal by Antonio Floro Flores scored during injury time.

During the January transfer market, Palermo loaned out Franco Brienza, the only player to have been a "rosanero" in all the top three Italian tiers, to Reggina. They successively sold Marco Pisano (on loan) and Aimo Diana (permanent transfer) to Torino, and signed full back Federico Balzaretti from Fiorentina and youngsters Luca Di Matteo and Edgar Çani from Pescara. The "rosanero" ended the first Serie A half in eighth place, after two consecutive league defeats to Sampdoria and Siena (the latter at home), and notably with the second-worst defensive line in terms of goals allowed. Palermo ended their negative row of results of four consecutive defeats (including Coppa Italia matches) with a 1–0 home win to Livorno on February 2. However, a disappointing row in March, with two points in four matches, and Palermo down to eleventh place, causing Zamparini to attack Guidolin for the poor performances of his team. [cite news |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Primo_Piano/2008/03_Marzo/20/zamparini.shtml |publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport |language=Italian |accessdate=2008-03-20 |date=2008-03-20 |title=Zamparini è una furia: "Guidolin non ci crede più"] This was followed by a third consecutive defeat, a disappointing 3–2 home loss to Genoa, and subsequent criticism by Guidolin who attacked Palermo fans declaring "it's like playing in hell here".cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=631713 |publisher=Goal.com |title=Palermo Blast Guidolin Comments |accessdate=2008-03-22 |date=2008-03-22] These remarks were immediately criticized by the club management, who consequently declared they might reconsider Guidolin's position as head coach in the very next future. On March 24 Palermo announced to have sacked Guidolin and reappointed Colantuono at the helm of the "rosanero". [cite news |url=http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,3033_3343524,00.html |title=Palermo sack Guidolin again |publisher=TeamTalk.com |accessdate=2008-03-24 |date=2008-03-24] In the debut match for his second tenure, Palermo lost 1–0 to Napoli, suffering the match's lone goal during injury time, [cite news |language=Italian |publisher=La Repubblica |url=http://www.repubblica.it/2008/03/sezioni/sport/calcio/serie_a/giornata-31/napoli-palermo/napoli-palermo.html |title=Napoli, un'altra vittoria notturna. Hamsik batte il Palermo al 92' |accessdate=2008-03-31|date=2008-03-30] but managed to defeat 3–2 third-placed Juventus the following week thanks to a late goal by full back Mattia Cassani, [cite news |language=Italian |publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport |url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/SerieA/Squadre/Palermo/Primo_Piano/2008/04_Aprile/06/palermojuve.shtml|title=Juve, che doccia fredda nel momento più caldo |accessdate=2008-04-06|date=2008-04-06] and then winning the Sicilian derby the following week thanks to a free kick by Fabrizio Miccoli.

Palermo ended the league in eleventh place, their worst result since the "rosanero"'s return to the top-flight in 2004.

Match results

Legend

Coppa Italia

ee also

*2007-08 in Italian football

References