A.S.D. Legnano Calcio 1913
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| Full name | Associazione Sportiva Dilettantistica Legnano Calcio 1913 | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Lilla (Lilacs) | ||
| Founded |
1913 2011 (refounded) | ||
| Ground |
Stadio Giovanni Mari, Legnano, Italy | ||
| Capacity | 6,700 | ||
| League | Eccellenza Lombardy/A | ||
| 2013-14 | Eccellenza Lombardy/A, 2nd | ||
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A.S.D. Legnano Calcio 1913 is an Italian football club, based in Legnano, Lombardy, that was founded in 1913. The team's colors were lilac and white. In the past Legnano have played three seasons in Italy's top league, Serie A, finishing bottom of the league each time.
The club were perhaps best known as the starting place for Italy's all-time top scorer, Luigi Riva.
History
Foundation
The club was founded in 1913 as Associazione Calcio Legnano.
Several notable players appeared for Legnano in their early years; goalkeeper Angelo Cameroni was called up to the Italian national side in 1920, he was the first Legnano player to achieve this. Luigi Allemandi played four seasons with the club from 1921 onwards, until he was bought by Italian giants Juventus. He later won the World Cup with Italy at the 1934 FIFA World Cup.
Serie A: Club at their peak
Legnano first gained access to Serie A for the 1930–31 season, the previous year they had finished as runners up in Serie B. The first match at the top level of Italian football was the shocking 2–1 defeat of Italy's oldest club; Genoa C.F.C.
Unfortunately for Legnano, they finished bottom of the table that season and were relegated; other notable results however were a 1–1 draw with eventual runners up; A.S. Roma and a 2–1 defeat of S.S.C. Napoli in Naples.
Left-winger Emilio Caprile was called up by the azzurri, to play in two international games during 1948, he became the first Legnano played to score for Italy with a goal in each match.
Slide down the Italian league
After their last relegation in from Serie A in 1953–54, the club have gradually declined. First they came close to promotion back into the league with a 3rd position in B, but two years later they were relegated down to Serie C.
Legnano spent 18 years in a row competing in Serie C, only able to finish as high as 5th in that time (they achieved this three times). 1974–75 saw the club slump down in Serie D, this was soon rectified as coach Luciano Sassi pulled the club back into Serie C2 with a runners up spot in 1977–78.
Giovanni Mari lifts Legnano
Giovanni Mari took over as club president in 1979 and under him, Legnano would achieve the championship of Serie C2, this was the first time A.C. Legnano had finished first position in any league since 1919. The club's stadium was later named Stadio Giovanni Mari in honour of the man.
The refoundation
Following bankruptcy in 2010, Legnano subsequently folded.
It was refounded on July 15, 2011 as A.S.D. Legnano Calcio 1913 and was admitted to Group N of Prima Categoria Lombardy in the 2011-12 season. The club was promoted to Group A of Promozione Lombardy.[1]
The club went successive second promotion after finishing champions of Group A of Promozione Lombardy next season and promoted to Group A of Eccellenza Lombardy.
Players
Notable former players
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Staff
Presidential history
Over the years Legnano has had various owners, chairmen or presidential figures; here is a chronological list of the known presidents;
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Honours
- Runners-up: 1929–30, 1946–47, 1950–51, 1952–53
Serie C2
- Champions: 2006–2007