Italian Serie A,
officially known as Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie A, is the premier football league in Italy and has a rich history dating back to 1898. It has existed in its current structure since 1929, and since 1961, the league champion has been awarded the prestigious trophy, the Coppa Campioni d'Italia. Over the years, Serie A has seen fluctuations in the number of participating clubs, ranging from a minimum of 16 to a maximum of 21 teams, with 20 clubs becoming the standard since the 2004-2005 season. The league is commonly referred to as Lega Serie A or simply Serie A.
History:
- The Italian National Championship was established in 1898, with Genoa Cricket & Athletic Club becoming the first champions, although it was determined through a single match.
- For over two decades, the competition was organized into regional groups. From 1922 to 1929, various arrangements were attempted until several interregional divisions merged into one unified league. This period also witnessed the introduction of Serie B as the second-highest division.
- Notably, Italian football faced a period when the dominant Fascist party enforced a ban on foreign players in the league. This restriction was partially offset by the influx of Italian descendants from South America, known as "rimpatriato."
- In 1964, the league adopted the name Lega Serie A when the Lega Calcio was founded as a replacement for the Italian Federal Football Association.
- The term "Scudetti," which translates to "little shield" in Italian, has been in use since 1924 and represents the emblem or logo awarded to the Serie A champion to be worn on their jerseys. Winning Serie A is often colloquially referred to as "winning the scudetto."
League System:
- Serie A serves as the top tier of the Italian football league system, with Serie B as the second division. Subsequently, Serie C was introduced as the third tier. Below the third tier, the league is played at semi-professional or non-professional levels and is divided into regional divisions.
Serie A is the highest level of the Italian football league system. The league system consists of multiple tiers, with Serie A being the top division. Below Serie A, you have:
1. Serie B, which is the second division.
2. Serie C, the third tier of Italian football.
Beyond the third tier, the league competitions are played at semi-professional or non-professional levels and are organized into regional divisions. This tiered structure allows for the development and promotion of clubs through the ranks of Italian football.
Qualification for European Cups:
- The top three teams in Serie A qualify for the UEFA Champions League, with one place also going to the winner of the Coppa Italia. Additionally, teams placed 3rd to 6th have the opportunity to participate in various European Cups.
Relegations:
- Since the 2006-2007 season, the three teams finishing at the bottom of the Serie A table (places 18-20) have been relegated to Serie B. In the 2005-2006 season, only two teams faced relegation. Prior to this, two teams (places 18-20) were directly relegated, and two teams (places 17-18) would compete in playoffs consisting of a two-legged game, with the winner avoiding relegation.
Statistics:
- The league has witnessed multiple clubs achieving success. Juventus leads with 35 championships, followed by Milan and Internazionale with 19 titles each. Clubs such as Genoa, Pro Vercelli, Torino, and Bologna have also enjoyed success.
League Records:
- Juventus holds the record for the most championships, with 35 titles, followed by Milan and Internazionale with 19 titles each.
- The most played seasons in Serie A belong to Internazionale, with 88 seasons to their name.
Audience:
- The stadium capacities of Serie A teams vary, with San Siro, shared by Internazionale and Milan, having the highest capacity of over 80,000 seats. The league's average stadium capacity is 39,410.
The seating capacities of the stadiums used by Serie A teams are as follows, as of the 2018-2019 season:
1. Atalanta - Atleti Azzurri d'Italia: 21,300 seats
2. Bologna - Renato Dall'Ara: 38,279 seats
3. Cagliari - Sardegna Arena: 16,233 seats
4. Chievo - Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi: 38,402 seats
5. Empoli - Stadio Carlo Castellani: 16,284 seats
6. Fiorentina - Stadio Artemio Franchi: 43,147 seats
7. Frosinone - Stadio Benito Stirpe: 16,227 seats
8. Genoa - Stadio Luigi Ferraris: 36,685 seats
9. Internazionale - San Siro: 80,018 seats
10. Juventus - Juventus Stadium: 41,507 seats
11. Lazio - Stadio Olimpico: 72,698 seats
12. Milan - San Siro: 80,018 seats
13. Napoli - Stadio San Paolo: 60,240 seats
14. Parma - Stadio Ennio Tardini: 27,906 seats
15. Roma - Stadio Olimpico: 72,698 seats
16. Sampdoria - Stadio Luigi Ferraris: 36,685 seats
17. Sassuolo - Mapei Stadium: 23,717 seats
18. SPAL - Stadio Paolo Mazza: 13,020 seats
19. Torino - Stadio Olimpico di Torino: 27,994 seats
20. Udinese - Stadio Friuli-Dacia Arena: 25,132 seats
San Siro, shared by Internazionale and Milan, boasts the highest capacity, accommodating over 80,000 spectators. The average stadium capacity across the league stands at 39,410, providing a range of options for fans to experience the thrill of Serie A matches in these iconic venues.
Players:
- The all-time leading goalscorer in Serie A is Silvio Piola, who scored 274 goals while playing for Cagliari Calcio from 1929 to 1952. Francesco Totti is the second-highest goalscorer with 250 goals between 1992 and 2017. Other notable goalscorers in the league include Gunnar Nordahl, José Altafini, Giuseppe Meazza, Antonio Di Natale, and Roberto Baggio, all of whom scored over 200 goals.
- In terms of appearances, the player with the most Serie A matches is the defender Paolo Maldini, who played for Milan from 1984 to 2009 and recorded 647 appearances. Gianluigi Buffon, an active player as of November 2019, is likely to surpass Maldini's record, as he has 644 appearances.
- Four players have made more than 600 appearances in Serie A, including Paolo Maldini, Gianluigi Buffon, Francesco Totti, and Javier Zanetti, with Zanetti holding the record for the most appearances among foreign players.
Legendary Players:
Throughout its history, Serie A has been graced by legendary footballers. Silvio Piola, who played for Cagliari Calcio, is the league's all-time leading goalscorer with 274 goals between 1929 and 1952. Francesco Totti, an iconic figure in AS Roma, follows closely with 250 goals between 1992 and 2017. Other notable goalscorers include Gunnar Nordahl, José Altafini, Giuseppe Meazza, Antonio Di Natale, and Roberto Baggio, all of whom have scored over 200 goals in Serie A.
Participated:
Here is an overview of the number of teams that have participated in Serie A over the years:
- 2004/2005–: 20 teams
- 1988/1999–2003/2004: 18 teams
- 1967/1968–1987/1988: 16 teams
- 1952/1953–1966/1967: 18 teams
- 1948/1949–1951/1952: 20 teams
- 1947/1948: 21 teams
- 1946/1947: 20 teams
- 1934/1935–1942/1943: 16 teams
- 1929/1930–1933/1934: 18 teams
It's worth noting that due to World War II, no seasons were played during the period 1944-1945. These variations in the number of participating teams reflect the dynamic nature of Serie A over the years.
Clubs and Italian Football Championship titles
Here are the statistics for Italian clubs that have secured the most top division titles, encompassing the period from 1929 to 2023:
- Juventus: 36 titles (1st title: 1905)
- Milan: 19 titles (1st title: 1901)
- Internazionale: 19 titles (1st title: 1952-53)
- Genoa: 9 titles (1st title: 1898)
- Pro Vercelli: 7 titles (1st title: 1908)
- Torino: 7 titles (1st title: 1926-27)
- Bologna: 7 titles (1st title: 1924-25)
- Roma: 3 titles (1st title: 1941-42)
- Napoli: 3 titles (1st title: 1986-87)
- Fiorentina: 2 titles (1st title: 1955-56)
- Lazio: 2 titles (1st title: 1973-74)
- Casele: 1 title (1st title: 1913-14)
- Novese: 1 title (1st title: 1921-22)
- Cagliari: 1 title (1st title: 1969-70)
- Hellas Verona: 1 title (1st title: 1984-85)
- Sampdoria: 1 title (1st title: 1990-91)
Additionally, it's worth noting that Juventus secured the league title in the 2004-05 season, but the title was later revoked.
These clubs have left an indelible mark on Italian football, with their impressive championship records spanning both pre- and post-Serie A eras, showcasing their rich history and success in the top division.
Serie A Timeline:
- 1898: The Italian Football Federation (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio; FIGC) is founded.
- 1921: Prima Divisione, a predecessor to Serie A, is recognized as the top level of the Italian Football Championship.
- 1926: Divisione Nazionale, another predecessor to Serie A, is identified as the top level of the Italian Football Championship.
- 1929: Serie A is established.
- 1929: The league is expanded to 18 clubs.
- 1934: The league is reduced to 16 clubs.
- 1943: The 1943-44 season is canceled due to World War II.
- 1945: The league is reinstated after the war.
- 1946: The league is expanded to 20 clubs.
- 1947: The league is expanded to 21 clubs.
- 1948: The league is reduced to 20 clubs.
- 1967: The league is reduced to 16 clubs.
- 1988: The league is expanded to 18 clubs.
- 1993: From the 1993-94 season, wins are awarded three points instead of two.
- 2004: The league is expanded to 20 clubs.
The rich history, competitive nature, and dynamic elements of Serie A have made it one of the most prestigious and captivating football leagues globally.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. When was Serie A officially established?
- Serie A, officially known as Lega Serie A, was established in 1929.
2. Which team has won the most Serie A championships?
- Juventus holds the record with 35 championships.
3. How many teams qualify for the UEFA Champions League from Serie A?
- The top three teams in Serie A qualify for the UEFA Champions League, and the Coppa Italia winner also earns a spot.
4. Who is the all-time leading goalscorer in Serie A?
- Silvio Piola holds this record with 274 goals.
5. Which stadium has the highest capacity in Serie A?
- The San Siro, shared by Internazionale and Milan, has the highest capacity, with over 80,000 seats.
