Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC

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Ascoli Calcio 1898 F.C., commonly referred to as Ascoli, is an Italian football club based in Ascoli Piceno, Marche. The club was formed in 1898 and currently plays in Serie B.

Ascoli
Full nameAscoli Calcio 1898 F.C. S.p.A.
Nickname(s)Il Picchio (The Woodpecker)
Founded1898; 126 years ago (1898)
GroundStadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca,
Ascoli Piceno, Italy
Capacity12,461[citation needed]
OwnerMassimo Pulcinelli 39%, North Sixth Group 31%, Distretti Ecologici 20%, Rabona 10%[citation needed]
PresidentCarlo Neri
Head coachMassimo Carrera
LeagueSerie B
2022–23Serie B, 12th of 20
WebsiteClub website
Current season

The team traditionally play in vertical black and white stripes.

History edit

Founded in 1898 as "Candido Augusto Vecchi", the team changed its name to Ascoli Vigor in 1905, U.S. Ascolana in 1921, and A.S. Ascoli in 1945.[citation needed] In 1955, the team was acquired and saved from bankruptcy by publishing magnate, Cino Del Duca, who merged it with his own team forming "Del Duca Ascoli".[citation needed] The stadium still bears his and his brother's name.[citation needed] In 1959 the team finally returned in Serie C for the first time since before the beginning of World War II.[citation needed] In 1971, under the chairmanship of Costantino Rozzi, who had acquired the team three years earlier, the team changed its name to the current one, finally being known as Ascoli Calcio 1898.[citation needed] From that same year, the team, led by Carlo Mazzone as coach, gained two consecutive promotions, being promoted in Serie B, and then Serie A, for the first time.[citation needed] The team stayed in Serie A for two seasons before being once again relegated to Serie B.[citation needed]

Ascoli returned to Serie A in 1978 and enjoyed[tone] a seven-year tenure in the top league, during which time they managed to finish a surprising[tone] 4th in 1980 and 6th in 1982. Some of the most notable[vague][why?] players under the management of Mazzone and Giovan Battista Fabbri included Adelio Moro, Alessandro Scanziani, Gianfranco Bellotto, Walter Novellino and Andrea Mandorlini, as well as Walter De Vecchi and Giuseppe Greco.[citation needed] After relegation in 1985, the club immediately bounced back[tone] and stayed for four more years.[citation needed] Another return to Serie A followed in 1991 but this lasted only one season.[citation needed] After just missing out on promotion for two years running, the club went into decline and were relegated to Serie C1 in 1995.[citation needed] They would remain there for seven seasons, returning to B as Serie C1/B champions in 2002.[citation needed]

In August 2005, after the sentence of relegation from Serie A for both Genoa and Torino respectively due to fraud and financial troubles, Ascoli, who obtained a place in the Serie B promotion playoffs the previous season under coach Marco Giampaolo, were arbitrarily admitted to Serie A as replacements, finishing a highly credible[according to whom?][tone] 12th.[citation needed] After the end of the season, Giampaolo, who gained a reputation as one of the finest young Italian coaches,[according to whom?] resigned, being replaced by Attilio Tesser for the 2006/2007 season.[citation needed] Tesser, unable to obtain good results in his time with Ascoli, was fired after a 1–0 loss at home to Empoli FC in the 11th matchday, and replaced by veteran coach Nedo Sonetti.[citation needed]

Ascoli were the first team to be officially relegated to Serie B for the 2007–08 season after a 1–0 loss to Torino FC on 7 May 2007.[citation needed] They ended the season in nineteenth place, one point above last-placed Messina.[citation needed]

German striker Oliver Bierhoff began his experience in Italian football with Ascoli.[relevant?][citation needed]

Success edit

Even though from a small city of 50,000 people, Ascoli have been able to punch above their weight. [tone][citation needed] Ascoli have competed 16 seasons in Serie A since 1974, with an incredible[tone] 4th and 6th spot finish respectively in the seasons of 1979–80 and 1981–82.[citation needed]

To complement Ascoli's success in Serie A, the club has also achieved 2 Cadetti (Serie B Championships) in 1977–78, and 1985–86.[citation needed] The 1977–78 season yielded a record championship with achieving 61 points (2 points for a victory).[vague][clarification needed] Ascoli have competed in Serie B 13 times, with a total of 5 promotion seasons.[citation needed]

Ascoli have made way to Serie B with only two winning seasons in Serie C and C1B.[citation needed] These were in 1971–72, and 2001–02.[citation needed]

Another one of Ascoli's successes is the fact that, for a city of 50,000, their record home attendance has reached 36,500, equivalent to more than 70% of the city's population.[citation needed] In Serie A this was seen against Juventus and the famous[according to whom?] season in 1982–83 where Ascoli saved themselves from relegation in the last game of the Serie A season against Cagliari, who were subsequently relegated.[citation needed] However, with stadium restrictions introduced since then, the maximum attendance allowed in the Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca is now 21,000–24,000.[citation needed] Nonetheless, when filled, it is still an amazing achievement[tone] for such a small city.[tone][citation needed]

Other successes were in the Mitropa Cup in 1986–87, the Capodanno Challenge, and the Red Leaf Cup.[citation needed] Ascoli were also finalists in the Anglo-Italia Cup, during Ascoli's last season in Serie B 1994–95,[citation needed] before Ascoli long await in Serie C1 before an emotional return to Serie B for the 2002–03 season.[vague][clarification needed][citation needed]

Under the reign of the great[tone][according to whom?] president of Ascoli Calcio – Costantino Rozzi, Ascoli competed 14 of their amazing[tone] 16 seasons in Serie A, again another amazing achievement[tone] from a club who were once playing in the regional divisions of Marche.[citation needed] Not only this, but Rozzi was able to implement players who were born and raised through the ranks of Ascoli.[citation needed] In the mid to late 1980s saw[who?][vague][clarification needed] Giuseppe Iachini, Domenico Agostini, Giuseppe Carillo, and Lorenzo Scarafoni, help[vague][clarification needed] Ascoli ensure a return to Serie A and survival the following season.[citation needed] Once Iachini left Agostini, Carillo and Scarafoni, were first team starters as well as Marino Fioravanti and Antonio Aloisi on the bench.[vague][clarification needed] Aloisi went on to compete in many[quantify] season for Ascoli.[vague][which?][clarification needed][citation needed]

Another success is Carlo Mazzone, once at the heart of Del Duca Ascoli's defence playing 9 seasons, led Ascoli[vague][clarification needed] for another 10 or so[vague][quantify] seasons as manager.[citation needed] Mazzone guided Ascoli from Serie C to Serie A, including Ascoli's 6th-placed finish in 1981–82.[citation needed]

Bankruptcy and re-birth edit

During the 2013–14 Lega Pro Prima Divisione season, the Court of Ascoli Piceno declared the bankruptcy of the club.[citation needed] The court also estimated the residual value of the club assets were €862,000.[1] A new company, Ascoli Picchio F.C. 1898 successfully bid the assets.[citation needed] FIGC also accepted the admission of the new company to the new season without relegation.[2]

In mid-2015 Ascoli, originally runners-up to Teramo in 2014–15 Lega Pro, were declared champions of group B and promoted after Teramo's relegation for involvement in the 2015 Italian football scandal.[citation needed]

On 14 June 2018, club president Francesco Bellini, after first having declared the sale of the club, and having received several offers from prospective owners, accepted the offer of a Roman entrepreneur of Bricofer Group, Massimo Pulcinelli.[3] On 18 July 2018, the club was officially re-branded as Ascoli Calcio 1898 F.C. S.p.A. ahead of the then upcoming 2018–19 season.[4]

In the summer of 2021, the North Sixth Group of entrepreneur Matt Rizzetta, based in New York, already present in Italian football with a stake in Campobasso Calcio, acquired a 31% stake in Ascoli Calcio, with an option to increase to 51%.[citation needed] The acquisition combined North Sixth Group with Massimo Pulcinelli and Bricofer, the largest homeware retailer in Italy, to build an ambitious project for Ascoli around the world.[citation needed] Following the acquisition, North Sixth Group negotiated an exclusive content rights agreement with Italian Football TV, the largest online content platform for Italian football fans in North America.[citation needed] The agreement provides Ascoli Calcio the only exclusive content partnership of any Italian professional football club.[citation needed]

Supporters edit

Rivalries edit

The biggest derby in Marche is between Ascoli and Sambenedettese (Samb, Samba), although the derby with Ancona is better known.[according to whom?][citation needed] The last time the "derby" was played between Ascoli and Sambenedettese in a league season was in 1986.[citation needed] San Benedetto del Tronto is a city in the province of Ascoli Piceno, and only 20 minutes from the city of Ascoli Piceno; the derby is fuelled by intense local pride[according to whom?] and rivalry on both sides, and remains passionate[according to whom?] despite the length of time since it was last played.[citation needed]

The Ancona derby was the second largest; Ancona and Ascoli have been the two most successful clubs of Marche.[citation needed] This rivalry stems partly from the fact that Ancona is the capital of Marche, but Ascoli (Asculum) was the capital of ancient Picenun.[citation needed] The battles between the Ascolani and Anconetani have been intense, and there is very much[vague][quantify] a fight to be La Regina Delle Marche (the queen of Marche).[citation needed]

Fermana is the final significant derby for Ascoli; both teams are located near each other in the Province of Ascoli Piceno, alongside San Benedetto del Tronto.[citation needed] Despite the fact that Fermana have historically been weaker than Ascoli, this still is a derby for the Ascolani and Fermani, with both supporters not wanting to lose this game.[citation needed]

Other rivalries include Livorno, Verona, Pescara and Inter.[citation needed]

Stadium edit

Ascoli play their home matches at the 12,461 capacity, Stadio Cino e Lillo Del Duca, located on the outskirts of Ascoli Piceno.[citation needed]

Current squad edit

As of 1 February 2024[5]
No. Pos. Nation Player
2 GK   ITA Emiliano Viviano
3 DF   ITA Valerio Mantovani
6 MF   ALB Erdis Kraja (on loan from Atalanta)
7 FW   FRA Karim Zedadka (on loan from Swift Hesperange)
8 MF   ITA Samuel Giovane (on loan from Atalanta)
10 MF   ITA Fabrizio Caligara
11 FW   FIN Jeremiah Streng (on loan from SJK)
12 GK   ITA Luca Bolletta
13 DF   ITA Raffaele Celia
14 DF   ITA Danilo Quaranta
15 FW   ITA Simone D'Uffizi
16 DF   FIN Sauli Väisänen (on loan from OB)
17 DF   ITA Claud Adjapong
18 MF   ITA Francesco Di Tacchio (on loan from Südtirol)
20 MF   ITA Tommaso Milanese (on loan from Cremonese)
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 GK   ITA Giulio Mengucci
23 MF   ITA Marcello Falzerano
26 DF   CRO Luka Bogdan (on loan from Ternana)
29 FW   SVK Dávid Ďuriš (on loan from Žilina)
30 FW   MKD Ilija Nestorovski
32 GK   COL Devis Vásquez (on loan from AC Milan)
33 DF   BRA Eric Botteghin
40 DF   COD Brian Bayeye (on loan from Torino)
41 MF   ITA Luca Valzania (on loan from Cremonese)
44 DF   SVN Aljaž Tavčar
54 DF   ITA Nicola Falasco
55 DF   ITA Giuseppe Bellusci
73 MF   ITA Patrizio Masini (on loan from Genoa)
90 FW   POR Pedro Mendes
99 FW   ESP Pablo Rodríguez (on loan from Lecce)

Out on loan edit

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK   ITA Davide Barosi (at Cerignola until 30 June 2024)
GK   ITA Andrea Mancini (at Fermana until 30 June 2024)
FW   ITA Francesco Forte (at Cosenza until 30 June 2024)
No. Pos. Nation Player
FW   ITA Filippo Palazzino (at Monterosi until 30 June 2024)
FW   ITA Alessio Re (at Recanatese until 30 June 2024)

Coaching staff edit

Updated 15 August 2022[6]

Position Name
Head coach   Massimo Carrera
Assistant coach   Mirko Savini
Technical collaborator   Fabio Giampieretti
Technical collaborator   Andrea Mazzantini
Goalkeeper coach   Andrea Aquilanti
Fitness coach   Iuri Bartoli
Fitness coach   Vincenzo Paradisi
Kinetotherapist   Nazzareno Salvatori

Honours edit

Divisional movements edit

Series Years Last Promotions Relegations
A 16 2006–07   5 (1976, 1985, 1990, 1992, 2007)
B 25 2021–22   5 (1974, 1978, 1986, 1991, 2005)   2 (1995, 2013)
C 32 2014–15   3 (1972, 2002, 2015)   2 (1933, 1948)
73 out of 90 years of professional football in Italy since 1929
D 15 1958–59   3 (1930, 1938, 1959)   1 (1955)
E 2 1956–57   1 (1957) never

Partnership(s) edit

The club is currently[when?] partnership[vague][clarification needed] with Young Blasters & Sporthood to provide young footballers within the YBSA network access to world-class coaching and development facilities.[citation needed]

Records edit

References edit

  1. ^ Valutazione azienda sportiva calcistica Ascoli Calcio 1898 SpA
  2. ^ Abete, Giancarlo; Di Sebastiano, Antonio (12 May 2014). "Comunicato Ufficiale №147/A" (PDF) (Press release) (in Italian). Italian Football Federation. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  3. ^ "storia". Ascoli Calcio 1898 FC. Archived from the original on 7 August 2018. Retrieved 7 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Ascoli, inizia il ritiro di Cascia: primo allenamento per Vivarini". Sky Sport (in Italian). Sky Italia. 19 July 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  5. ^ "Rosa" (in Italian). Ascoli Picchio FC 1898. Archived from the original on 19 June 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
  6. ^ "ORGANIGRAMMA SPORTIVO 2022/23" (in Italian). Ascoli Calcio 1898 F.C. July 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.

External links edit