Serie B

Serie B

The Serie B logo
Countries Italy
Confederation UEFA
Founded 1929
2010 (Lega Serie B)
Number of teams 22
Levels on pyramid 2
Promotion to Serie A
Relegation to Lega Pro Prima Divisione
Domestic cup(s) Coppa Italia
Current champions Atalanta
(2010–11)
Most championships Genoa (6 titles)
TV partners SKY[1]
Mediaset Premium[2]
Website legaserieb.it
2011–12 Serie B

Serie B, currently named Serie bwin due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie A. It is contested by 22 teams and organized by the Lega Serie B since July 2010, after the split of Lega Calcio that previously took care of both the Serie A and Serie B. Common nicknames for the league are campionato cadetto and cadetteria, as cadetto is the Italian for junior or cadet.

Serie B was composed of 20 teams until the 2002–03 season. It was enlarged to 24 teams for the 2003–04 season due to legal problems relating to Calcio Catania relegation. The league reverted to 22 teams for the 2004–05 season, while Serie A expanded from 18 to 20 teams.

During the regular season, each team plays 42 games – two games against every opponent. In Italian football, a true round-robin format is used. In the first half of the season, called andata, each team plays once against all its opponents, a total of 21 games. In the second half of the season, called ritorno, each team will play the same teams in exactly the same order, the only difference being that a home game played in the first half will be an away game with that same team in the second half, and vice versa.

Since the 2006–07 season, the Serie B champion is awarded the cup Ali della Vittoria (Wings of Victory). The trophy is 63 cm high and weighs 5 kg. Its structure represents the wings of the goddess Nike, the goddess of victory, holding a cup similar to an olympic flame.

Serie B matches are usually played on Saturday. After one year where all games were played on Saturday, the league is again scheduling one game that is played on Friday called anticipo (the advanced game) and one game that is played on Monday called posticipo (the post-dated game). The league also plays on several Tuesdays to fit in all 42 games. The league also plays on Sunday if Serie A is off.

Contents

Promotion and relegation

At the end of the season, three teams are promoted to Serie A and four teams are relegated to Lega Pro Prima Divisione. The top two teams are automatically promoted. If the 3rd-placed team is 10 or more points ahead of the 4th-placed team, it too is automatically promoted, otherwise the 3rd through 6th-placed teams enter a playoff tournament to determine the other team that will be promoted.

If the playoff conditions exist, the first round pairs the 3rd-placed team vs the 6th-placed team and the 4th-placed team vs the 5th-placed team in a double-leg series with the higher classified team having home-field advantage in the 2nd leg. The team with the higher aggregate score moves on to the second round. If at the end of regular play in the second leg an aggregate tie exists, the higher classified team moves on. The away goals rule is not used.

The two winners then play in a two-legged 'final' under a similar format with the higher-classified team at home in the second leg. The only difference being that if an aggregate tie exists at the end of regular play in the second leg, extra time is played. If the two teams are still tied after thirty minutes, the higher classified team is the one promoted.

In the relegation zone, the three last-placed teams (20th,21st and 22nd) are automatically demoted to Lega Pro Prima Divisione. If the 18th-placed team is 5 or more points ahead of the 19th-placed team, then the 19th-placed team becomes the 4th and final team to be demoted, otherwise the conditions for a playoff more commonly called playout exist.

If the playout is necessary, the 18th and 19th-placed teams are paired in a two-legged series with home-field advantage in the 2nd leg going to the 18th-placed team. The team with the higher aggregate score remains in Serie B while the loser becomes the fourth team relegated to Lega Pro Prima Divisione. If an aggregate tie exists at the end of regulation play of the 2nd leg, the 18th-placed team is saved, and the 19th-placed team is demoted.

Brief history

A junior football championship was created at first in Italy in 1904, after seven editions of the major tournament of FIGC: it was called Second Category, and was composed both by senior squads of town clubs and by youth teams of city clubs. If the first ones won the championship, they would be promoted to First Category, which consequentely improved in size: the first team to reach the honour, was Pro Vercelli in 1907, which even won the scudetto in 1908. FIGC attempted many times to introduce relegations on the contrary, but the reform was really adopted only in 1921 by the secessionist CCI in its Northern League, which consisted of a First Division and a Second Division: the first teams to be relegated were AC Vicenza and FC Inter even if, after the reunion with FIGC, the regulations were changed, and SSC Venezia was demoted instead of the Milanese club. Even if part of the same league, differently from First Division, Second Division was based on local group with proximity criteria. Only in 1928, the big reform was conceived by FIGC's President Leandro Arpinati: after a year, a new second division based on the same national format of the major tournament would be born. Serie B began in 1929 with 18 clubs and continued until WWII after whom it was divided again between the northern and the southern part of the country, due to the destructions of the war. The championship became national again in 1948, and for many years in the second half of the 20th century, it was played by 20 clubs. In 2003–04 a single group of 24 teams was formed, the biggest in all history of all levels of the Italian championship. After 2004, a 22-teams format was introduced together with playoffs.

After Serie A split with Serie B to form Lega Serie A, Lega Serie B was formed on 7 July 2010. The league signed a new sponsor bwin for 2010–11 and 2011–12 season; changed the league name from Serie B TIM in the last season to Serie bwin.[3]

Serie B is the lowest division where five clubs have ever played: Torino, Juventus, Milan, Roma and Lazio.

Club performances

Promotions by season

Season Winners Runners-up Third Place Other promotions
1929–30 Casale Legnano (La Dominante)
1930–31 Fiorentina Bari (Palermo)
1931–32 Palermo Padova (Verona)
1932–33 Livorno Brescia (Modena)
1933–34 Sampierdarenese (Bari) (Modena)
1934–35 Genova 1893 Bari
1935–36 Lucchese Novara (Livorno)
1936–37 Livorno Atalanta (Modena)
1937–38 Modena Novara (Alessandria)
1938–39 Fiorentina Venezia (Atalanta)
1939–40 Atalanta Livorno (Lucchese)
1940–41 Liguria Modena (Brescia)
1941–42 Bari Vicenza (Pescara)
1942–43 Modena Brescia (Napoli)
1945–46 Alessandria (Pro Patria) (Vigevano)
1946–47 Gir. A: Pro Patria
Gir. B: Lucchese
Gir. C: Salernitana
Gir. A: (Legnano)
Gir. B: (Padova)
Gir. C: (Ternana)
Gir. A: (Novara)
Gir. B: (Empoli)
Gir. C: (Pescara)
1947–48 Gir. A: Novara
Gir. B: Padova
Gir. C: Palermo
Gir. A: (Brescia)
Gir. B: (Verona)
Gir. C: (Pisa)
Gir. A: (Como)
Gir. B: (Spal)
Gir. C: (Lecce)
1948–49 Como Venezia (Vicenza)
1949–50 Napoli Udinese (Legnano)
1950–51 S.P.A.L. Legnano (Modena)
1951–52 Roma (Brescia) (Messina)
1952–53 Genoa Legnano (Catania)
1953–54 Catania Pro Patria (Cagliari)
1954–55 Lanerossi Vicenza Padova (Modena)
1955–56 Udinese Palermo (Como)
1956–57 Verona Alessandria (Brescia)
1957–58 Triestina Bari (Venezia)
1958–59 Atalanta Palermo (Lecco)
1959–60 Torino Lecco Catania
1960–61 Venezia Ozo Mantova Palermo
1961–62 Genoa Napoli Modena
1962–63 Messina Bari Lazio
1963–64 Varese Cagliari Foggia
1964–65 Brescia Napoli S.P.A.L.
1965–66 Venezia Lecco Mantova
1966–67 Sampdoria Varese (Catanzaro)
1967–68 Palermo Verona Pisa
1968–69 Lazio Brescia Bari
1969–70 Varese Foggia Catania
1970–71 Mantova Atalanta Catanzaro
1971–72 Ternana Lazio Palermo
1972–73 Genoa Cesena Foggia
1973–74 Varese Ascoli Ternana
1974–75 Perugia Como Verona
1975–76 Genoa Catanzaro Foggia
1976–77 Lanerossi Vicenza Atalanta Pescara
1977–78 Ascoli Catanzaro Avellino
1978–79 Udinese Cagliari Pescara
1979–80 Como Pistoiese Brescia
1980–81 Milan Genoa Cesena
1981–82 Verona Pisa Sampdoria
1982–83 Milan Lazio Catania
1983–84 Atalanta Como Cremonese
1984–85 Pisa Lecce Bari
1985–86 Ascoli Brescia Empoli
1986–87 Pescara Pisa Cesena
1987–88 Bologna Lecce Lazio Atalanta
1988–89 Genoa Bari Udinese Cremonese
1989–90 Torino Pisa Cagliari Parma
1990–91 Foggia Verona Cremonese Ascoli
1991–92 Brescia Pescara Ancona Udinese
1992–93 Reggiana Cremonese Piacenza Lecce
1993–94 Fiorentina Bari Brescia Padova
1994–95 Piacenza Udinese Vicenza Atalanta
1995–96 Bologna Verona Perugia Reggiana
1996–97 Brescia Empoli Lecce Bari
1997–98 Salernitana Venezia Cagliari Perugia
1998–99 Verona Torino Reggina Lecce
1999-00 Vicenza Atalanta Brescia Napoli
2000–01 Torino Piacenza Chievo Venezia
2001–02 Como Modena Reggina Empoli
2002–03 Siena Sampdoria Lecce Ancona
2003–04 Palermo Cagliari Livorno Messina, Atalanta, Fiorentina [4]
2004–05 (Genoa) Empoli (Torino) Treviso, Ascoli
2005–06 Atalanta Catania Torino
2006–07 Juventus Napoli Genoa
2007–08 Chievo Bologna Lecce
2008–09 Bari Parma Livorno
2009–10 Lecce Cesena Brescia
2010–11 Atalanta Siena Novara

Performance by club

Club Winners Runners-up Winning Years
Genoa 6 1 1935, 1953, 1962, 1973, 1976, 1989
Atalanta 5 3 1940, 1959, 1984, 2006, 2011
Bari 3 6 1935, 1942, 2009
Brescia 3 6 1965, 1992, 1997
Verona 3 4 1957, 1982, 1999
Como 3 2 1949, 1980, 2002
Palermo 3 2 1932, 1968, 2004
Sampdoria (2 as Liguria) 3 1 1934, 1941, 1967
Torino 3 1 1960, 1990, 2001
Varese 3 1 1964, 1970, 1974
Vicenza 3 1 1955, 1977, 2000
Fiorentina 3 1931, 1939, 1994
Venezia 2 3 1961, 1966
Novara 2 3 1938, 1948
Udinese 2 2 1956, 1979
Ascoli 2 1 1978, 1986
Livorno 2 1 1933, 1937
Bologna 2 1 1988, 1996
Lucchese 2 1936, 1947
Milan 2 1981, 1983
Salernitana 2 1947, 1998
Modena 1 4 1943
Pisa 1 4 1985
Padova 1 3 1948
Lazio 1 2 1969
Napoli 1 3 1950
Lecce 1 2 2010
Perugia 1 2 1975
Pescara 1 2 1987
Pro Patria 1 2 1947
Alessandria 1 1 1946
Catania 1 1 1954
Empoli 1 1 2005
Foggia 1 1 1991
Mantova 1 1 1971
Piacenza 1 1 1995
Siena 1 1 2003
Ternana 1 1 1972
Casale 1 1930
Chievo 1 2008
Juventus 1 2007
Messina 1 1963
Reggiana 1 1993
Roma 1 1952
Spal 1 1951
Triestina 1 1958
Legnano 4
Cagliari 3
Catanzaro 2
Cesena 2
Lecco 2
Cremonese 1
Parma 1
Pistoiese 1
Treviso 1

Titles by region

Region Titles Winning Clubs
 Lombardia
18
Atalanta (5), Brescia (3), Como (3), Varese (3), Milan (2), Mantova (1), Pro Patria (1)
 Toscana
10
Fiorentina (3), Livorno (2), Lucchese (2), Empoli (1), Pisa (1), Siena (1)
 Veneto
10
Verona (3), Vicenza (3), Venezia (2), Chievo (1), Padova (1)
 Liguria
9
Genoa (6), Sampdoria (3)
 Piemonte
8
Torino (3), Novara (2), Alessandria (1), Casale (1), Juventus (1)
 Emilia-Romagna
6
Bologna (2), Modena (1), Piacenza (1), Reggiana (1), SPAL (1)
 Puglia
5
Bari (3), Foggia (1), Lecce (1)
 Sicilia
5
Palermo (3), Catania (1), Messina (1)
 Campania
3
Salernitana (2), Napoli (1)
 Friuli-Venezia Giulia
3
Udinese (2), Triestina (1)
 Lazio
2
Lazio (1), Roma (1)
 Marche
2
Ascoli (2)
 Umbria
2
Perugia (1), Ternana (1)
 Abruzzo
1
Pescara (1)

Titles by city

City Titles Winning Clubs
Genova
9
Genoa (6), Sampdoria (3)
Bergamo
5
Atalanta (5)
Torino
4
Torino (3), Juventus (1)
Verona
4
Verona (3), Chievo (1)
Bari
3
Bari (3)
Brescia
3
Brescia (3)
Como
3
Como (3)
Firenze
3
Fiorentina (3)
Palermo
3
Palermo (3)
Varese
3
Varese (3)
Vicenza
3
Vicenza (3)
Ascoli Piceno
2
Ascoli (2)
Bologna
2
Bologna (2)
Livorno
2
Livorno (2)
Lucca
2
Lucchese (2)
Milano
2
Milan (2)
Novara
2
Novara (2)
Rome
2
Lazio (1), Roma (1)
Salerno
2
Salernitana (2)
Udine
2
Udinese (2)
Venezia
2
Venezia (2)
Alessandria
1
Alessandria (1)
Busto Arsizio
1
Pro Patria (1)
Casale Monferrato
1
Casale (1)
Catania
1
Catania (1)
Empoli
1
Empoli (1)
Ferrara
1
SPAL (1)
Foggia
1
Foggia (1)
Lecce
1
Lecce (1)
Mantova
1
Mantova (1)
Messina
1
Messina (1)
Modena
1
Modena (1)
Napoli
1
Napoli (1)
Padova
1
Padova (1)
Perugia
1
Perugia (1)
Pescara
1
Pescara (1)
Piacenza
1
Piacenza (1)
Pisa
1
Pisa (1)
Reggio Emilia
1
Reggiana (1)
Siena
1
Siena (1)
Terni
1
Ternana (1)
Trieste
1
Triestina (1)

Promotions by region

Region Promotions Promoted Clubs
 Lombardia
48
Atalanta (12), Brescia (11), Como (5), Cremonese (4), Varese (4), Legnano (3), Mantova (3), Lecco (2), Milan (2), Pro Patria (2)
 Veneto
25
Verona (7), Venezia (6), Vicenza (5), Padova (4), Chievo (2), Treviso (1)
 Puglia
22
Bari (9), Lecce (8), Foggia (5)
 Toscana
22
Pisa (5), Empoli (4), Fiorentina (4), Livorno (4), Lucchese (2), Siena (2), Pistoiese (1)
 Emilia-Romagna
21
Modena (5), Cesena (4), Bologna (3), Piacenza (3), Reggiana (2), Spal (2), Parma (2)
 Sicilia
15
Palermo (8), Catania (5), Messina (2)
 Liguria
13
Genoa (8), Sampdoria (5)
 Piemonte
13
Torino (5), Novara (4), Alessandria (2), Casale (1), Juventus (1)
 Campania
8
Napoli (5), Salernitana (2), Avellino (1)
 Friuli-Venezia Giulia
7
Udinese (6), Triestina (1)
 Marche
7
Ascoli (5), Ancona (2)
 Lazio
6
Lazio (5), Roma (1)
 Calabria
5
Catanzaro (3), Reggina (2)
 Sardegna
5
Cagliari (5)
 Umbria
5
Perugia (3), Ternana (2)
 Abruzzo
4
Pescara (4)

Complete team list

Seasons in Serie B

These are the 133 clubs which took part to the 80 Serie B editions played from 1929–30 to 2011–12.[5][6] The bolded teams compete in Serie B in the current season.

^ Includes championships played by its forerunners Sampierdarenese and Liguria.

The Serie B-C Alta Italia post-war championship

This championship was organized by geographical criteria with only Northern Italy Serie B and the best Northern Italy Serie C teams taking part. Southern Italy Serie B teams took part to Serie A 1945-46. For this reason, this championship is not included in the statistics.

Serie B members for 2011–12

The following twenty-two clubs will be competing in Serie B during the 2011–12 season.

Club
Finishing position
in 2010–11
First season in
Serie B
First season of
current spell in
Serie B
Last season in
Serie A
AlbinoLeffe 18th 2003–04 2003–04 Never
Ascoli 17th 1972–73 2007–08 2006–07
Bari 20th in Serie A 1929–30 2011–12 2010–11
Brescia 19th in Serie A 1932-33 2011–12 2010-11
Cittadella 14th 2000–01 2008–09 Never
Crotone 11th 2000–01 2009–10 Never
Empoli 9th 1946–47 2008–09 2007–08
Grosseto 15th 2007–08 2007–08 Never
Gubbio Prima Divisione/A champions 1947-48 2011-12 Never
Juve Stabia Prima Divisione/B play-off winners 1951-52 2011–12 Never
Livorno 7th 1931–32 2010–11 2009–10
Modena 10th 1932–33 2004–05 2003–04
Nocerina Prima Divisione/B champions 1947–48 2011–12 Never
Padova 5th 1930–31 2009–10 1995–96
Pescara 13th 1941–42 2010–11 1992–93
Reggina 6th 1965–66 2009–10 2008–09
Sampdoria 18th in Serie A 1929–30 2011–12 2010–11
Sassuolo 16th 2008–09 2008–09 Never
Torino 8th 1959–60 2009–10 2008–09
Varese 4th 1946–47 2010–11 1974–75
Verona Prima Divisione/A play-off winners 1929–30 2011–12 2001–02
Vicenza 12th 1933–34 2001–02 2000–01

List of Lega Serie B presidents

See also

External links

References

  1. ^ "La Serie bwin su SKY" (in Italian). legaserieb.it (Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie B). 5 August 2010. http://www.legaserieb.it/it/sala-stampa/archivio-dettaglio/-/news/LA_SERIE_BWIN_SU_SKY/170428. Retrieved 15 August 2010. 
  2. ^ "Diritti Tv: a Mediaset la Serie B, ma pagano anche ex abbonati Dahlia" (in Italian). tvdigitaldivide.it (TV Digital divide). 31 March 2011. http://www.tvdigitaldivide.it/tag/liquidazione-dahlia-tv/. Retrieved 8 May 2011. 
  3. ^ "Dalla nuova Lega Serie B, nasce il campionato Serie bwin" (in Italian). Lega Serie B. 7 July 2010. http://www.legaserieb.it/comunicato2.html. Retrieved 7 July 2010. 
  4. ^ Due to expand from 18 teams to 20 teams of Serie A.
  5. ^ "Italy - Serie B All-Time Table 1929-2011". rsssf.com. http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/ital2alltime.html. Retrieved 21 September 2011. 
  6. ^ The championship was suspended from 1943 to 1945 due to WWII, and the 1945–46 northern edition is not statistically considered by FIGC, even if its promotion result was official.
  7. ^ "Comunicato ufficiale N.2" (in Italian) (PDF). legaserieb.it (Lega Nazionale Professionisti Serie B). 20 July 2010. http://www.legaserieb.it/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=80bb73c3-a277-49dd-a64e-2fd3911779a4&groupId=115051. Retrieved 8 August 2010.