Atalanta B.C.

Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.

They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici. Atalanta play in blue-and-black vertically striped shirts, black shorts and black socks.

The club stadium is the 26,638 seater Atleti Azzurri d'Italia. In Italy, Atalanta is sometimes called Regina delle provinciali (queen of the provincial clubs) to mark the fact that the club is historically one of the best among non-metropolitan ones.

In 2010-11, the club gained promotion from Serie B to Serie A, but captain Doni and Manfredini seem to be involved with a match-fixing scandal. In August 2011, Atalanta was punished with 6 points of penalty in the 2011-2012 season, Doni has given a three-and-a-half-ban, while Manfredini has been absolved. Atalanta surprisinly reached the Cup Winners' Cup Semifinal in 1988, when it was still competing in Serie B. This is still the best ever performance by a non-first division club in a major UEFA competition (together with Cardiff City).^[1]

History

The club was founded in 1907. A football club had existed in Bergamo since 1904. Founded by wealthy Swiss immigrants, it was known as FC Bergamo. The rival Atalanta club grew out of a division between different sporting societies in the town. The name is taken from the female athlete of Greek mythology. The FIGC was unimpressed with the new club and did not officially recognize them until 1914. The current club is the result of a merger between Atalanta and a third team called Bergamasca. The first, black and white coloured and the second wearing a blue and white shirt, merged in 1924 as Atalanta Bergamasca di Ginnastica e Scherma 1907. The team moved to the site of the current ground, on the Viale Giulio Cesare, in 1928.

Atalanta joined the Italian league in 1929. The club first reached Serie A in 1937, but was relegated immediately. The club returned in 1940 and remained in A until 1959; after a single season in Serie B the club was promoted and lasted a further decade in A, before relegation in 1973 led to an uncertain period of promotion and relegation between the two levels.

The club achieved its highest position in 1948, finishing in 5th place. In 1981 the club fell into Serie C1, a blow which revitalised the club. The team returned to B the next season and made it back to A in 1984. The club's form in Serie A remains uncertain, as it was relegated in 1987, 1994, 1998, 2003, 2005 and 2010. After a change of ownership, in 2011 Atalanta has immediately come back to Serie A: it will dispute its 51st season in the major level of Italian football system. In terms of titles the club has won little, their sole silverware is the 1963 Coppa Italia. The club has had very few good runs in Europe, the best spell ending in a Cup Winners' Cup semi-final in 1988; in 1991 Atalanta reached UEFA Cup quarter-finals.

Current squad

As of 23 September 2011^[2]

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

Out on loan

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

Primavera

Noted players

• See also: Category:Atalanta B.C. players

Presidential history

Atalanta have had several presidents over the course of their history. Some of them have been the main shareholder of the club, while others have been honorary presidents. The past president is Ivan Ruggeri, who was relieved of his duties after he suffered a stroke in January 2008, being replaced by his son Alessandro^[3] that was named president of Atalanta in September 2008.Alessandro's father is unable to manage the team due to the consequences of the stroke.^[4] In June 2010 after another relegation in Serie B Alessandro Ruggeri sold his share of Atalanta to Antonio Percassi that become president of Atalanta.^[5]

Managerial history

Atalanta have had many managers and head coaches throughout their history, below is a chronological list of them from when Serie A was changed into a league format, from 1929–30 onwards.

Honours

• Coppa Italia
  • Winners 1962/63
• Serie B
  • Champions 1927/28, 1939/40, 1958/59, 1983/84, 2005–06, 2010–11
• Serie C1
  • Northern Champions 1981/82

Supporters

Atalanta's supporters are considered very loyal. When Atalanta plays at the Atleti Azzurri d'Italia, the supporters in the Curva Nord (North Curve) encourage the team with their chants during the entire match.

The biggest rivalry is with the neighbouring supporters of Brescia, and there are strong rivalries also with supporters of Verona, Genoa, Fiorentina, Roma, Lazio, Napoli, Milan, Inter, Torino; while there has been a long-standing friendship with Ternana, fans of the German Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt and fans of the Austrian club Wacker Innsbruck.

On special occasions Atalanta supporters display a very large black and blue flag called Bandierone which covers the whole Curva Nord stand.

References

1. ^ Cardiff City
2. ^ "Squadrea - Atalanta.it" (in Italian). Atalanta B.C.. http://www.atalanta.it/web/guest/team. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
3. ^ News from Yahoo news
4. ^ http://www.eco.bg.it/EcoOnLine/SPORT/2008/09/03_ruggeri_intervista.shtml
5. ^ From Gazzetta dello Sport website
6. ^ http://www.endtoendstuff.co.uk/main-book.php?element_id=1&chapter_id=130

External links

• (Italian) Official Atalanta BC Website
• (Italian) Official Atalanta BC fans site
• (Italian) Tutto Atalanta: Atalanta News & Gossip