Torino F.C.

Torino

Full name	Torino Football Club S.p.A
Nickname(s)	il Toro (The Bull), i Granata (The Maroons)
Founded	3 December 1906 (3 December 1906), as Foot-Ball Club Torino 1 September 2005, as Torino Football Club[1][2]
Ground	Stadio Olimpico Turin, Italy
Ground Capacity	28,140[3]
Chairman	Urbano Cairo
Head Coach	Giampiero Ventura
League	Serie A
2013–14	Serie A, 7th
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Torino Football Club (Italian pronunciation: [tɔˈrinɔ]), commonly referred to as Torino or simply Toro, is a professional Italian football club based in Turin, Piedmont, that plays in Serie A.

Founded as Foot-Ball Club Torino on 3 December 1906, the club was renamed Associazione Calcio Torino from 1936 to 1943 and 1959 to 1977, Torino FIAT in 1944, Associazione Calcio Talmone Torino in 1958–59 and Torino Calcio from 1977 until the club was declared bankrupt in 2005. The new club regained the rights and the title of the old association, continuing as Torino Football Club.

Domestically, Torino are among the most successful clubs in Italy with seven league titles, consisting of five successive titles from 1942 to 1949, tying the all-time record, as well as becoming the first Italian club to win the double. The club has won the Coppa Italia five times, the last of which was in the 1992–93 season, and the Mitropa Cup, won in 1991. On the international stage, Torino were finalists in the UEFA Cup in 1991–92.

In the perpetual ranking of Serie A, which takes into account all the football teams that have played in the top flight at least once, Torino occupies 8th place, having participated in 70 of the 82 editions held.

History

The foundation (1887–1906)

In the city of Turin the game of football arrived at the end of the nineteenth century, first introduced by the industrial Swiss and English. By 1887 Football & Cricket Club – the oldest Italian football club – had already been founded in the in the capital of Piedmont, followed in 1889 by Nobili Torino. In 1891 the two clubs merged to form Internazionale Torino, after which Football Club Torinese was founded in 1894.^[4][5][6]

The new game quickly supplanted the popularity of pallapugno, which led to the foundation of the football sections of the sports club Ginnastica Torino and Juventus. On 8 May 1898 Internazionale Torino, Football Club Torinese and Ginnastica Torino, along with Genoa as part of the International Exhibition for the fiftieth anniversary of the Statuto Albertino gave birth to the first Italian Football Championship on the field of the Velodrome Umberto I of Turin, won by the Genoese.

In 1900, Football Club Torinese absorbed Internazionale Torino, but the real turning point for the club arrived on 3 December 1906: at the Voigt brewery (now bar Norman) of Via Pietro Micca, when an alliance was formed with a group of Juventus dissidents, led by the Swiss financier Alfred Dick, who disagreed with the professionalism of Juventus. The meeting at the brewery was scheduled at nine o'clock in the evening with 23 people present, namely: Alfred Dick, Giovanni Secondi, Fritz Bollinger, Eugenio De Fernex, Giuseppe Varetto, Enrico Debernardi, Arthur Rodgers, Federico Ferrari-Orsi, Fritz Roth, Carlo Pletscher, Carlo Dick, Hans Kaempfer, Oreste Mazzia, Paul Boerner, Ugo Muetzell, Robert Depenheuer, Alfredo Jaquet, C. Bart, O. Quint, I. Michel, I. Faelmdrich, A. Boulaz and Walter Streule.^[7] Franz Schoenbrod, the president, was absent, with the cashier, Luigi Custer, randomly seated in his elected seat. While not intervening, Giacomo Zuffi, Gian Luigi Delleani, Vittorio Morelli di Popolo, Ademaro Biano, Ettore Ghiglione, Vittorio Berrà and Vittorio Pozzo had given their support to the club. Through the merger of Football Club Torinese and the aforementioned group of dissidents "Foot-Ball Club Torino" was born.

The new club chose to use different colors, opting in the end for granata; a dark red, similar to burgundy.

From first steps to the Great War (1906–1915)

The first official match was played on 16 December 1906 in Vercelli against Pro Vercelli, won 3–1 by the Granata, though still only in name, as Torino wore the yellow and black kits inherited from Football Club Torinese. The historic photo of that first meeting portrays a boy destined to play an important role in the history of Italian football, Vittorio Pozzo.

The first derby was played in the new year at the Velodrome Umberto I, dated 13 January 1907, in which the Bull defeated Juventus 2–1. Torino successfully replicated this by a margin of 4–1 a month later and gained the right to enter the final round of the Italian Football Championship, placed 2nd behind A.C. Milan. Torino's home ground would be, until 1910, the aforementioned Velodrome Umberto I.

Torino did not participate in the 1908 Italian Football Championship as a rule was passed which limited the use of foreign players. The club instead played in two popular "minor" tournaments: the coveted "Palla Dapples" (a silver trophy in the shape of a regulation football), won against Pro Vercelli; and an international tournament organised by La Stampa, which took place in Turin that year. Torino lost in the final to Swiss side Servette FC.^[8]

In 1912 Vittorio Pozzo joined the technical staff: with him in 1914, Torino participated in a tour of South America, winning six in as many games against teams of the calibre of the Argentine national team and Brazil's Corinthians.

In 1915 Torino were denied their first real championship attempt by the outbreak of World War I. With one match left to play, Torino (2nd), were two points behind leaders Genoa. In the final game of the championship Torino would have had the opportunity to play the Genoese head-on after defeating them in the first leg 6–1. At that time, albeit in different years, four different siblings played for Torino, the Mossos: which at the time was a custom quite widespread.

The longest match (1919–1942)

After the war the league resumed in October 1919. Like other teams, Torino lost many of its players during the war. The recovery was muted when Torino squad came 3rd in the Piedmont group, behind Pro Vercelli and Juventus. Even in 1920–21, there was not a single league, but a series of regional groups. Torino finished the semi-final round of northern Italy on par with Legnano.^[9] The match against Legnano seems to be the longest official match ever played in Italy: at the end of regular time the result was 1–1; two extra times of 30 minutes each then followed, at the end of which the result was still a draw. The referee decided to play a third extra time, but after 8 minutes the teams mutually agreed to not continue.^[9]

In the early twenties the Martin brothers, four of them, like the Mossos, began to play for Torino. Martin II was the most talented and made 359 appearances for Torino. In a match against Brescia on 9 November 1924, for the first and only time, all four of the Martin brothers (Pietro, Cesare, Dario and Edmondo) played together.^[9] On 7 April 1922 Vittorio Pozzo resigned from Torino for family and professional reasons, replaced by Francesco Mosso.^[9]

In 1924 Count Marone Cinzano was elected to the presidency of Torino and brought the first success to the club. In the summer of 1925 Cinzano brought the Argentine Julio Libonatti to Torino (the first foreign native to represent the Italian national team) as well as Adolfo Baloncieri. That year Torino finished 2nd in their group behind Bologna, but Libonatti and Baloncieri immediately proved their worth and scored 38 of the team’s 67 goals. The following year Gino Rossetti arrived from Spezia for a fee 25,000 lira.^[9] Rossetti, together with Libonatti and Baloncieri, gave birth to the famous "trio of wonders", enriched by the clever tactics of the coach Tony Cargnelli.^[9] The following season saw the inauguration of the Stadio Filadelfia: the event was celebrated on 17 October 1926 with a 4–0 victory over Fortitudo Roma.^[9]

Headed by Imre Schoffer, Torino won their first Scudetto on 10 July 1927 after a 5–0 success against Bologna. However, the title was revoked on 3 November 1927 for the alleged bribery on the part of a Torino doctor and Juventus player, Luigi Allemandi, during the derby held on 5 June 1927. It was already the end of the season when the Milanese newspaper "Lo Sport" published the news of the alleged fraud in favour of Torino. The story was taken from the "Tifone" of Rome, and was expanded by a journalist who lived in the same hotel as Allemandi. While the Italian title in 1927 remained unassigned, Allemandi was banned for life, although he was later pardoned and only served one year of suspension.^[9]

The following season Torino were reconfirmed Champions of Italy. After the cancellation of their prior Scudetto, the team responded well under the captaincy of Baloncieri, a natural leader; some of the scorelines became historic, such as 11–0 wins over Brescia and Napoli and a 14–0 over Reggiana, all at Filadelfia. The “Trio of Wonders” scored 89 goals between them.^[9] The long-awaited tricolor, which Torino won on the 22 July 1928 with a 2–2 draw against A.C. Milan, was celebrated with a tour of South America. Soon after, the Count Marone Cinzano’s resigned; he had been too badly shaken by the charge that had led to the cancellation of the title in 1927.^[9]

In the early thirties Torino saw a succession of numerous presidents after Cinzano’s departure: Ferrari, Vastapane, Gervasio, Mossetto, Silvestri and Cuniberti.^[9] It was a period of instability reflected by the team’s mediocre positions in the league: 7th in 1930–31, 8th in 1931–32, 7th in 1932–33, 12th in 1933–34 and 14th, a step away from Serie B in 1934–35.^[9] Meanwhile, teams in Italy began to develop youth divisions. In honour of Adolfo Baloncieri, Torino dedicated their youth sector to him: the Balon boys. From here emerged the likes of Raf Vallone, Federico Allasio, Giacinto Ellena and Cesare Gallea.

It was not until the 1935–36 season that the club began its revival: Torino fought for the title until the middle of the second round, even though Bologna eventually won the championship, one point ahead of Roma. However, Torino were consolidated by their first victory of the Coppa Italia, a tournament which began that year.^[9] Here, Torino overwhelmed Reggiana 2–0, Catania 8–2 (six goals by Pietro Buscaglia) Livorno 4–2 and Fiorentina 2–0. The final against Alessandria saw Torino prevail 5–1.

In the 1936–37 Torino was renamed "Associazione Calcio Torino" due to the Italian fascist regime which did not tolerate the presence of foreign words at the time. Torino closed the 1937–38 season in a lowly 9th place. Some satisfaction came from the Coppa Italia, where Torino were only beaten in the final.^[9] In 1938–39 Torino finished in 2nd place, behind a strong Bologna who were victorious by four points. The Hungarian Egri Erbstein became Torino's Technical Director and the coach was Mario Sperone. The Balon Boys continued to supply players to the main team, such as the three midfielders who went down in history as the midfield of the "six L’s”: Allasio, Gallea and Ellena.^[9]

In 1939–40, Torino finished 5th place, however, it would also see the important arrival of the president Ferruccio Novo. A turning point, Novo would provide financial support to the club and his skill as a careful administrator. With valuable contributions from Antonio Janni, Giacinto Ellena and Mario Sperone, Novo was able to build a team known as the "Grande Torino".^[9]

Grande Torino (1942–1949)

The most shining moment, however, is represented by the Grande Torino, an unbeatable team, who won five titles in a row (not considering the interruption to the league in the 1944 Campionato Alta Italia, in which the FIGC in 2002 recognised only unofficial and honorary value, won by Spezia) between 1942 and 1949, and an Coppa Italia in 1943 (and, thanks to this success, Torino was the first team to win the coveted Scudetto-Coppa Italia double in Italy the same season). Torino was the backbone of the national team of those years, able to field 10 players simultaneously in the Azzurri.

The captain and undisputed leader of the team was Valentino Mazzola, father of Ferruccio and Sandro, who then would walk in their father's footsteps by becoming footballers. The typical team was: Bacigalupo; Ballarin, Maroso; Grezar, Rigamonti, Castigliano; Menti, Loik, Gabetto, Mazzola, Ossola. The cycle of victories abruptly ended on 4 May 1949, when the plane carrying the whole team, returning from a friendly with Benfica played in Lisbon, due to a dense fog and a faulty altimeter, crashed against the retaining wall of the Basilica of Superga. In the incident, the Superga air disaster, in addition to the entire team, and reserves players, perished two executives (Agnisetta and Civalleri), coaches Egri Erbstein and Leslie Lievesley, the masseur Cortina and three journalists in tow, Luigi Cavallero, Renato Tosatti and Renato Casalbore.

From relegation to the title (1949–1988)

Difficult years followed in the aftermath of the tragedy. The slow decline led to the club's first relegation to Serie B, which took place under the name "Talmone Torino" in 1959. The stay in the cadets would only last one season, with Torino's return to the top flight in 1960–1961, contributing, among others, to Italy's victory in the French-Italian Coppa dell'Amicizia. In 1963 Orfeo Pianelli assumed presidency. To rebuild the team the fans would have to wait for the arrival of of a player who would become an icon: Gigi Meroni, nicknamed the "The Granata Butterfly". Already by 1964–1965 the team, led by Nereo Rocco, finished in 3rd place.

The parable of Torino and Meroni ended tragically on 15 October 1967. The Torino player, at the end of a league match played against Sampdoria, while crossing the street in Corso Re Umberto I, was hit and killed by a car driven by Attilio Romero (who became the president of Torino 2000–2005). Torino, this time, remained one of the stars of Serie A and concluded the season in 7th place. That same season, Torino also triumphed in the Coppa Italia. The reconstruction of a winning team, initiated by the president Pianelli, continued in 1971 with another Coppa Italia trophy.

In the 1971–72 season Torino reached a 2nd place, placed just one point behind their "cousins" Juventus. Across the following three seasons Torino would place among the first teams as a prelude to the conquest of what would be their 7th national title.

The championship was won in the 1975–76 season, after a thrilling comeback against the Juventus, which in the spring had come to have a five-point advantage over the Granata. But three straight losses for the Bianconeri, the second of which was in the derby, allowed Torino to overtake. In the final round Torino arrived with the advantage of a point and, until then, was always victorious at home. Torino hosted Cesena at the Comunale: but did not go past a draw; Juventus, however would fall at Perugia. The title was won by two points ahead of Juventus: 27 years after Superga.

The challenge was repeated the next year in an exciting championship that saw Torino finish with 50 points against the 51 of Juventus (record for the league to sixteen teams). In 1978 Torino finished second again (tied with surprising Vicenza of Paolo Rossi), still behind Juventus but more detached; in later years, while remaining one of the top teams, the team began a slow decline and was not be able to repeat these results, with the exception of the second place in 1984–85, behind the Verona of Bagnoli. In 1987–88 Torino lost a play-off to qualify for the UEFA Cup against Juventus.

Venture in Europe (1988–2000)

At the end of the 1988–89 season Torino relegated to Serie B for the second time in its history. The year in the cadets seemed to regenerate the team, which, after a rapid ascent in the 1989–90 season, lived an exciting season on the return to Serie A. Under the guidance of coach Emiliano Mondonico, the team qualified for the UEFA Cup, placing before Juventus that, surprisingly, remain out of European competition for the first time in twenty-eight years (1963–1991). The run in Europe during the 1991–92 season was almost unstoppable: Torino arrived in the final by eliminating, among others, Real Madrid. However, the final with the Ajax appeared almost haunted: after a 2–2 draw in the first leg in Turin, the second leg in Amsterdam finished 0–0 with the Dutch champions, despite Torino hitting the woodwork three times and a dubious contact in the penalty area that would infuriate the coach Mondonico – who vented by lifting a chair to the sky, an image etched in the history of the Granata. The season would conclude with a 3rd place in the league.

The appointment with the victory was only postponed for a year. Torino would add a fifth Coppa Italia in the 1992–93 season against Roma. This will also be another close final: after a 3–0 at home the Granata appeared to close the contest, however, in the second leg at home to the Giallorossa there was be a pulsating game that would see Roma prevail 5–2, thanks to three penalty kicks awarded by the referee. By virtue of the away goals rule that, in the event of a tie, away goals are worth "double", Torino won the trophy the same way Ajax had done the previous year.

The newly promoted Torino of Mondonico in 1990–91, was the winner of the Mitropa Cup at the end of the season, the first international title of the club. After the conquest of the Coppa Italia, the club went through a period of severe economic difficulties. Changing presidents and coaches, the results continued to worsen: in 1995 a 5–0 derby lost cost Nedo Sonetti his job, and at the end of the season the team was relegated to Serie B for the third time. The return to Serie A after a playoff lost on penalties to Perugia in 1997–98 (3–5 on penalties in Reggio Emilia, with the Umbrians promoted to Serie A) took place in 1998–99, with a second place achieved by the goals of Marco Ferrante.

Rebirth after bankruptcy (2000–present)

Torino began the 1999–00 season with the aim of retaining its place in Serie A, but on 7 May 2000 lost a decisive match against Lecce 2–1 and retreated back to Serie B. The club was bought by Francesco Cimminelli, who appointed Attilio Romero president. Luigi Simoni was instated coach, but the beginning of the season saw Torino risk relegation to Serie C. Giancarlo Camolese, head of the youth team, was appointed at the helm of team. With eight consecutive home wins and ten away wins, Torino managed to recover and ended 2000–01 in 1st place with 73 points. In 2001–02 Torino obtained salvation and qualified for the UEFA Intertoto Cup. The return to Europe came against Austria's SC Bregenz, won 2–1 across both legs, before exiting to Spaniards Villarreal on penalties (3–4). That season, Torino suffered its worst performance in Serie A and finished last, after alternating 4 coaches: Camolese, Renzo Ulivieri, Renato Zaccarelli and Giacomo Ferri. The identity of Torino Calcio was kept alive by its fans: unique in its history was a popular march (50,000 people according to organisers) that on May 4, 2003, in the aftermath of yet another relegation to Serie B, would march the streets of the capital of Piedmont, starting from the remains of the Stadio Filadelfia, pass in front of the memorial plaque of Gigi Meroni in Piazza San Carlo, reaching the tombstone of the Grande Torino of Superga.^[10]

The 2003–04 season saw the participation of over 24 teams (the highest ever) and ended in an anonymous 12th place, with Ezio Rossi on the bench. In 2004–05, the Granata, under the guidance of Zaccarelli, finished 3rd after eliminating Ascoli in the playoffs. On 26 June 2005 Torino celebrated its return to Serie A after defeating the nemesis of the 1998 playoffs, Perugia. However, the joy did not last long: heavy debts accumulated during past administrations (the last, under Cimminelli) meant the club was denied entry to Serie A. Forced to await the outcome of appeals, it was revealed that Cimminelli had not paid a large part of the clubs taxes in five years and failed to deposit a guarantee to the FIGC by a deadline. The appeals were negative; and after 40 long days Torino Calcio was declared definitively unsuitable for participation in Serie A. Inevitably, after 99 years of history, the bankruptcy of Torino Calcio was announced on 9 August 2005 and the club ceased to exist.^[11]

As a result of this dire situation, a new consortium of businessmen (headed by the lawyer Pierluigi Marengo) was responsible for the rebirth of a new professional entity known as "Società Civile Campo Torino" (taken from the old name of the Stadio Filadelfia). The consortium submitted an application for admission to the law Lodo Petrucci, which guaranteed registration to Serie B. A first economic proposal, however, was deemed insufficient by the FIGC. The consortium added the sponsorship of the municipal SMAT (the company that manages the water supply in Turin), thus completing the bureaucratic process. On 16 August 2005 the FIGC officially entrusted the new club with the titles of "Torino Calcio". The new club, restarting from scratch, acquired the burden of re-establishing the company structure, as well as players and the employees of the club. On 19 August 2005, in the bar Norman (once known as "Voigt brewery", origin of the club), during a press conference that was supposed to see the presentation of the new company structure, it was announced that the club would be sold to the publisher and advertiser Urbano Cairo, who just the day before had launched an offer to purchase the club. When everything seemed to be concluded, on August 22, Luke Giovannone, entrepreneur from Ceccano, that had contributed €180,000 to finance the Lodo Petrucci (which guaranteed him 51% of the shares of the new Torino), refused to sell. In an ongoing push-pull negotiation that involved the mayor of Turin, Sergio Chiamparino, Giovannone was prepared to sell on 24 August – but changed his mind, infuriating fans. Fleeing Turin, Giovannone was traced to a hotel in Moncalieri and besieged by Torino supporters. Refusing to mediate with the Mayor, Giovannone was escorted by the police and left the city.

On 26 August, at a shareholders meeting resolution of SCC Torino, capital was raised to €10 million. On 31 August, Giovannone yielded after a long negotiation process: with Cairo becoming the second president of the new Torino on 2 September. Cairo immediately called to the head of the team coach Gianni De Biasi and formed the first embryo of the football club. Torino was transformed from S.R.L to S.p.A, with Cairo pouring in €10 million for capital. The reunification to the "old" Torino was completed on 12 July 2006 when at a bankruptcy auction, Cairo purchased all the cups and memorabilia of the Grande Torino for €1,411,000, allowings fans and representatives of Torino to plan the celebrations for the Torino centenary. The team made its debut just 7 days after the signing of Cairo, reinforced by some late signings (some of whom were bought the night before). Torino debuted victoriously on 10 September 2005 against AlbinoLeffe, 1–0 with a goal from Enrico Fantini. The match would also highlight a young player taken from Parma, Alessandro Rosina. In short time, Torino, reinforced with further signings in the winter transfer period finished 3rd and qualified directly for the playoffs. Here, victories against Cesena (1–1 and 1–0) and Mantova (2–4 and 3–1 after extra time) marked the return of Torino to Serie A in 2006–07.

The return to the top flight was characterised by the arrivals of Christian Abbiati, Stefano Fiore and Simone Barone. Gianni De Biasi was sacked before the season began and replaced by Alberto Zaccheroni, who led Torino to a mid-table position halfway through the season. However, a six-game losing streak cost Zaccheroni his job and De Biasi was reinstated, who achieved salvation on the penultimate day of the season. The young Alessandro Rosina was Torino's top scorer that season. In 2007–08, Walter Novellino arrived on the bench, but was fired on 15 April 2008 following a series of negative results. With 5 remaining games, De Biasi was recalled, with Torino finishing 15th. Torino's leading scorer was once again Alessandro Rosina. The following season, despite many purchases (Rolando Bianchi, Blerim Dzemaili and Ignazio Abate) Torino performed poorly, with three different coaches (De Biasi, Novellino and, finally, Giancarlo Camolese) and failed to avoid relegation to Serie B.

Stefano Colantuono was appointed coach following relegation. After a brilliant start to the season, the second part saw a performance crisis that led to the arrival of Mario Beretta. However, the situation did not improve, and after the defeat to Cittadella, Beretta was sacked. In his place, Colantuono was recalled. Meanwhile, Cairo named Gianluca Petrachi, famous for his work at Pisa, the new sporting director at Torino. In a period of two weeks Petrachi almost re-establish the entire team, completing 10 outgoing and 12 incoming transfers. The new team amassed 42 points in the second half of the season. On 26 February 2010, Urbano Cairo announced that he had officially put the club up for sale. On 2 May 2010, through a letter to the fans, the chairman communicated that he would not participate in the annual Holy Mass at Superga in memory of the Grande Torino, something he had always done since beginning of his term. Torino finished in 5th place, qualifying for the playoffs. Here, Torino eliminated Sassuolo in the semi-finals (1–1 at home; 2–1 away) but lost in the final with the Brescia (0–0 at home; 2–1 away). The following season, Colantuono moved to Atalanta, with Franco Lerda named his replacement. He was relieved on 9 March 2011 to make way for Giuseppe Papadopulo, but on 20 March, after just 11 days, he was fired. Lerda returned and did not lose until the final day of the season, a 0–2 at home to Padova, thus remaining outside the playoff zone and the second tier for a third consecutive year.

On 6 June 2011 the club officially announced Giampiero Ventura as the new manager ahead of the 2011–12 Serie B season,^[12] making him sign a one year contract.^[13] After a long campaign and with a day of advance, the Granata returned to Serie A on 20 May 2012, beating Modena 2–0.^[14] Torino finished the season level on points with Pescara, but in second place in the standings by virtue of goal difference. In the following season in the top flight, Torino achieved mathematical salvation and confirmed stay in Serie A on 12 May 2013, after the 1–1 draw away to Chievo Verona and Palermo's defeat in Florence to Fiorentina. The 2013–14 season marked a sharp reversal for Torino, who closed the season above expectations in seventh place, qualifying for the Europa League after 12 seasons of absence:^[15] the stars of the positive year were Alessio Cerci and Ciro Immobile; the latter, with 22 goals was the top scorer in Serie A, a title a Torino player had not achieved since Francesco Graziani (1977–78).^[16][17]

Players

As of 31 January 2015.^[18][19]

First team squad

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Salvador Ichazo (on loan from Danubio) 3 DF Cristian Molinaro 4 MF Migjen Basha 5 DF Cesare Bovo 7 MF Omar El Kaddouri (on loan from Napoli)[20] 8 MF Alexander Farnerud 10 FW Barreto 11 FW Maxi Lopez 13 GK Luca Castellazzi 14 MF Alessandro Gazzi 15 MF Álvaro González (on loan from Lazio) 17 FW Josef Martínez 18 DF Pontus Jansson

No. Position Player 19 DF Nikola Maksimović 20 MF Giuseppe Vives (vice-captain) 21 DF Gastón Silva 22 FW Amauri 24 DF Emiliano Moretti 25 DF Kamil Glik (captain)[21] 27 FW Fabio Quagliarella 30 GK Daniele Padelli 32 DF Salvatore Masiello 33 DF Bruno Peres 36 DF Matteo Darmian (3rd captain) 94 MF Marco Benassi

Current youth players with first-team appearances

Torino's under-19 youth team team, which the club terms the Primavera, plays in the Campionato Nazionale Primavera – Trofeo "Giacinto Facchetti" and Coppa Italia Primavera competition. The following youth players have made first-team appearances for the club in 2014—15.^[22]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 45 FW Facundo Lescano 91 MF Giovanni Graziano

On loan

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

No. Position Player — GK Vlada Avramov (at Atalanta until 30 June 2015)[23] — GK Alessandro Gilardi (at Bellinzago until 30 June 2015)[24] — GK Alfred Gomis (at Avellino until 30 June 2015) — GK Lys Gomis (at Trapani until 30 June 2015)[25] — GK Nicholas Lentini (at Bari until 30 June 2015) — GK Marco Sordi (at Olginatese until 30 June 2015)[24] — DF Pietro Barale (at Cuneo until 30 June 2015)[24] — DF Antonio Barreca (at Cittadella until 30 June 2015)[26] — DF Alessio Capello (at Lumezzane until 30 June 2015)[24] — DF Luca Cargnino (at Borgosesia until 30 June 2015)[24] — DF Federico Caronte (at Udinese until 30 June 2015) — DF Marco Chiosa (at Avellino until 30 June 2015)[27] — DF Andrea Ientile (at Südtirol until 30 June 2015)[28]

No. Position Player — DF Stefano Ignico (at Pro Piacenza until 30 June 2015)[29] — DF Marko Vešović (at Rijeka until 30 June 2015)[30] — MF Mattia Aramu (at Trapani until 30 June 2015)[31] — MF Alessandro Comentale (at Como until 30 June 2015)[32] — MF Vittorio Parigini (at Perugia until 30 June 2015)[33] — MF Luca Parodi (at Ancona until 30 June 2015)[34] — MF Juan Sánchez Miño (at Estudiantes until 30 June 2015) — MF Alen Stevanović (at Spezia until 30 June 2015) — MF Sergiu Suciu (at Crotone until 30 June 2015)[35] — MF Simone Verdi (at Empoli until 30 June 2015)[36] — FW Abou Diop (at Matera until 30 June 2015) — FW Emmanuel Gyasi (at Mantova until 30 June 2015) — FW Marcelo Larrondo (at Tigre until 30 June 2015)

Co-ownerships

The following are players who have been transferred to another team with Torino retaining the right of participation (i.e. 50% of the patrimonial rights) to their contracts. For further information, see: Co-ownership.

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

No. Position Player — DF Filippo Scaglia (Cittadella)[37][38] — DF Nicolò Sperotto (Carpi)[39]

Notable players

World champions

• Giuseppe Dossena (1982)

Torino and the Italian national team

Among the players of Torino to win titles with the Italian national team are Adolfo Baloncieri, Antonio Janni, Julio Libonatti and Gino Rossetti, all winners with Italy at the Central European International Cup 1927–30, which (with exception of Libonatti) won the bronze medal at the 1928 Summer Olympics.^{[40][41][42][43]} Subsequently, Lido Vieri and Giorgio Ferrini conquered the 1968 European Championship with the Azzurri,^[44][45] while Giuseppe Dossena won the FIFA World Cup in 1982.^[46]

Youth system

The Torino youth system is formed by three men's teams that participate in separate national leagues (Primavera, Allievi Nazionali and the Beretti) and five that participate at a regional level (Allievi Professionisti Lega Pro, Giovanissimi Regionali, Giovanissimi Professionisti, Giovanissimi Regionali Sperimentali and the Giovanissimi Regionali Sperimentali B).^[47] Torino was one of the first Italian clubs to adopt a youth system, organised as early as the 1930s and is considered one of the best in Italy.^[48]

The players trained in the Torino youth system were nicknamed "Balon-Boys" in honour of Adolfo Baloncieri, the player and club symbol who ended his career in those years.^[49] The Torino youth system has developed numerous players, including actor and journalist Raf Vallone, who devoted himself to a career in the arts after his debut for the first team.^[50]

Non-playing staff

Board of directors

Position	Name
President	Urbano Cairo
Vice-president	Giuseppe Cairo
Director-general	Antonio Comi
Sporting director	Gianluca Petrachi
Team manager	Giacomo Ferri

Team management

As of 2 May 2014.^[51][52]

Position	Name
Manager	Giampiero Ventura
Assistant manager	Salvatore Sullo
Fitness coaches	Alessandro Innocenti
	Paolo Solustri
	Luis Rodoni Iribarnegaray
Goalkeeping coach	Giuseppe Zinetti
Team manager	Giacomo Ferri

Notable managers

Name	From	To	Honours
Imre Schoffer	1926	1927	1926–27 Divisione Nazionale[53]
Tony Cargnelli	1927 1934	1929 1936	1927–28 Divisione Nazionale, 1935–36 Coppa Italia
András Kuttik Antonio Janni	1942	1943	1942–43 Serie A, 1942–43 Coppa Italia
Luigi Ferrero	1945	1947	1945–46 Serie A, 1946–47 Serie A
Mario Sperone	1947	1948	1947–48 Serie A
Leslie Lievesley Oberdan Ussello	1948	1949	1948–49 Serie A
Edmondo Fabbri	1967	1969	1967–68 Coppa Italia
Giancarlo Cadè	1969	1971	1970–71 Coppa Italia
Luigi Radice	1975	1980	1975–76 Serie A
Emiliano Mondonico	1990	1994	1992–93 Coppa Italia, 1990–91 Mitropa Cup

Supporters and rivalries

The fans of Torino are "twinned" with the fans of Fiorentina. The link between the two sides was born in the early 1970s to a common anti-Juventus sentiment and the closeness of the Viola after the Superga tragedy.^[54] Supporters of Turin are on good terms with the curva nord of Alessandria and curva sud of Nocerina.^[55]

The friendship between the Corinthians and Torino dates back to 1914: in that year, Torino became the first Italian club to land in South America on tour. The club disputed six friendly matches, two of which, were against the Corinthians. Despite the results on the field, the two clubs - both popular at home - grew and established friendly relations. On 4 May 1949, when the Grande Torino perished in plane crash of Superga, the Corinthians paid tribute to the Italians in a friendly match against Portuguesa, when the 11 players took to the field in Torino's kit.^[56]

The Argentines of River Plate are historically twinned with Torino , since the time of the tragedy of Superga. In the period following the disaster, the Argentine club was very close to the Italian club, organising a friendly and fundraiser to help the devastated team; on 26 May 26 1949 River flew to Turin to play a friendly charity match, organised by the FIGC, together with a selection that included the strongest Italian players of the era, gathered under the name of "Torino symbol".^[57] As a testimony to the relationship between the two clubs, on several occasions the away jersey of the Argentine club was maroon (most recently, the 2005–06 season) while Torino have sported several variations of an away kit with a diagonal band, an homage to River's home kit.^[58] Other supporters with whom there is a friendship is Manchester City.^[59]

Torino's historical rivalries are with Sampdoria, Piacenza, Hellas Verona, Lazio, Perugia, Inter, Atalanta, Ternana and Ancona.^[60] Torino's friendship with Genoa turned negative because of genoese festivities during the Torino - Genoa on 24 May 2009, won by the Rossoblu which contributed greatly to the relegation of Torino in Serie B;^[61] on 16 December 2012, the day when the two clubs met for the first time after the return of Torino in Serie A, there was clashes between the two club's organised supporters.^[62] The rivalry with Juventus is the most heartfelt, with the two teams giving life to the so-called Derby della Mole, one of most popular derbies in Italian football and the oldest still disputed.

Stadium

Stadio Olimpico

Stadio Olimpico di Torino
Location	Via Filadelfia 96/b, 10134 Turin, Italy
Owner	Municipality of Turin
Operator	Torino F.C.
Capacity	28 140 seated
Construction
Broke ground	1932
Opened	14 May 1933
Renovated	2006
Construction cost	€ 30,000,000 (2006)
Architect	Raffaello Fagnoni (1932)
Tenants
Torino (1958–1990, 2006–present), Juventus (1934–1990, 2006–2011)

Torino's stadium is the 28,140 seat Stadio Olimpico. Constructed in the thirties, it was previously known as the Stadio Municipale "Benito Mussolini" and Stadio Comunale "Vittorio Pozzo". Torino initially moved to the stadium in 1958, however, the move was short-lived due to superstition following the club's first relegation that season. The move from was completed in 1963 and was the site of all of Torino's home games until 1990. In 2006, the stadium was renovated on the occasion of the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin and renamed the "Stadio Olimpico". The new stadium has a capacity of 28,140 – 38,000 less than the original Comunale.^[63]

On 27 May 1990 the Comunale was temporarily abandoned in favour of the Stadio delle Alpi, a stadium of a capacity of 70,000 seated, purposely built by the city of Turin and the Italian National Olympic Committee for the 1990 FIFA World Cup. The estimated construction cost was €200 million. In return for partially paying for the cost of the stadium, the Olympic Committee demanded the ground be fitted with athletics tracks. The result was a "soulless" stadium that spectators hated^[64] and design flaws that reduced visibility and left fans exposed to the elements.^[64] The ground was shared with Juventus and abandoned in 2006.

Torino's former stadium was the Stadio Filadelfia, the home ground inextricably linked to the deeds of the Grande Torino. Located in Via Filadelfia, Turin, the legendary ground first opened on 17 October 1926 in the presence of Umberto II of Italy and 15,000 spectators with a 4–0 victory over Fortitudo Roma. The Filadelfia hosted all of Torino's home games until the 1962–63 season and was the site of all but one of Torino's 7 Scudetti (not counting the one revoked in 1927). Torino remained unbeaten at the ground for 6 years, over 100 consecutive matches, between 17 January 1943 – 1949 and was the site of numerous records, including the famous 10–0 defeat of Alessandria.

Prior to the Filadelfia, Torino led somewhat of a nomadic existence. On 13 January 1907 Torino played its first official match at the Stadio Velodrome Umberto. On 9 January 1910, the club began using the Piazza d'armi where there were numerous fields: the Lato Ferrovia and from 26 February 1911 the Lato Crocetta. In the 1913–14 season Torino transferred to the Stradale Stupinigi, which was converted for military purposes due to the outbreak of the First World War. From 11 October 1925 and the duration of the 1925–26 season, Torino played its home games at the Motovelodromo di Corso Casale while awaiting transfer to the Filadelfia. Today, the Motovelodromo has been restored and dedicated to Fausto Coppi and hosts American football meetings.

Average attendance

Year Average 1963 Serie A 23.877 1964 Serie A 21.153 1965 Serie A 24.336 1966 Serie A 21.171 1967 Serie A 17.147 1968 Serie A 27.182 1969 Serie A 25.435 1970 Serie A 23.813 1971 Serie A 26.234 1972 Serie A 31.386 1973 Serie A 31.694

Year Average 1974 Serie A 34.549 1975 Serie A 30.311 1976 Serie A 39.077 1977 Serie A 40.513 1978 Serie A 38.818 1979 Serie A 33.818 1980 Serie A 27.607 1981 Serie A 24.294 1982 Serie A 24.105 1983 Serie A 30.014 1984 Serie A 31.946

Year Average 1985 Serie A 37.328 1986 Serie A 29.871 1987 Serie A 28.141 1988 Serie A 29.053 1989 Serie A 27.551 1990 Serie B 30.198 1991 Serie A 33.990 1992 Serie A 35.364 1993 Serie A 26.914 1994 Serie A 26.130 1995 Serie A 22.205

Year Average 1996 Serie A 20.284 1997 Serie B 13.461 1998 Serie B 19.505 1999 Serie B 19.687 2000 Serie A 21.857 2001 Serie B 17.027 2002 Serie A 19.002 2003 Serie A 14.870 2004 Serie B 9.831 2005 Serie B 10.003 2006 Serie A 24.995

Year Average 2007 Serie A 20.576 2008 Serie A 19.226 2009 Serie B 17.552 2010 Serie B 13.584 2011 Serie B 11.413 2012 Serie A 15.897 2013 Serie A 15.615 2014 Serie A 17.024 2015 Serie A -

Kit and badge

The first uniform of "Foot Ball Club Torino", used only a few days after the club's foundation – in the first game in its history – against Pro Vercelli, was a yellow and black striped jersey previously worn by Internazionale Torino and Football Club Torinese.

Later, given the need to adopt a definitive color for the new club, the founders opted for granata, an Italian word for a shade of red (maroon). The most accepted story is that it was adopted in honour of the Duke of the Abruzzi and the House of Savoy, which, after the victorious liberation of Turin from the French in 1706, adopted a blood-colored handkerchief in honour of a messenger killed bringing the news of victory.^[65] Other reconstructions, considered less reliable, speak of a tribute to the founder Alfredo Dick, who was a fan of the Genevan team Servette FC, or even the color born from a washing accident, a story repeated with many other club's kits.^[66][67]

The Torino away shirt that pays homage to Club Atlético River Plate

Since then, the traditional Torino home kit is composed of a maroon shirt with white shorts (sometimes also maroon) and black socks with maroon cuffs;^[68] However, in recent times, it is not unusual to see the team take to the field with maroon socks as well, permanently adopting a complete maroon kit. Away, the colors are usually inverted with a white shirt and maroon shorts, although these are also sometimes white.^[69] Since 1953, a cyclically recurring away shirt has been white with a maroon diagonal band: this is an homage to Club Atlético River Plate, the Argentine club which has close historical ties to Torino since the tragedy of Superga.^[70][71][72] During 2007–08, Torino unveiled a third kit with yellow and black stripes, referring to the ones used by Football Club Torinese; one of the first football clubs in Turin and considered the historical progenitor of Torino.^[73]

Badge

The Torino club badge has always featured a rampant bull, the symbol of the city of Turin.^[74] The current badge was adopted in the 2005–06 season; the first after the bankruptcy of Torino Calcio. The "1906" on the left side of the shield was later added to recall the founding year of the historic "Foot-Ball Club Torino".^[74]

In the 1980s, the Torino badge was square in shape with a stylised bull and the words "Torino Calcio". This badge is still very much loved by the fans, and in 2013 it was voted by the readers of Guerin Sportivo the most beautiful club logo of all time.^[75] From 1990 until the bankruptcy, the badge in use recalled the one used at the time of the Grande Torino, with the important difference that the right side of the oval crossed the letter "T" and "C" (initials of "Torino Calcio") instead of the letters "A", "C" and "T" (initials of "Associazione Calcio Torino").

Kit manufacturers and shirt sponsors

Years	Kit manufacturer	Sponsors
1990–1991	ABM	Indesit
1991–1993		Beretta
1993–1994	Lotto
1994–1995		Bongioanni
1995–1996		SDA Courier
1996–2000	Kelme
2000–2001		Directa
2001–2002	ASICS	Conto Arancio
2002–2003		Ixfin
2003–2005		Bavaria
2005–2008		Reale Mutua	Beretta
2008–2009	Kappa		Renault Trucks
2009–2011		Italporte	Dahlia TV
2011–2012		Valmora	Aruba
2012–2013		Beretta
2013–2015			Suzuki[76]

Honours

Domestic

League

• Italian Football Championship / Serie A

• Winners (7): 1927–28, 1942–43, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1975–76 ¹
• Runners-up (7): 1907, 1914–1915, 1928–1929, 1938–1939, 1941–42, 1976–77, 1984–85

• Serie B

• Winners (3): 1959–60, 1989–90, 2000–01
• Runners-up (1): 2011–12

Cups

• Coppa Italia

• Winners (5): 1935–36, 1942–43, 1967–68, 1970–71, 1992–93
• Runners-up (8): 1937–38, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1969–70, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1987–88

• Supercoppa Italiana

• Runners-up (1): 1993

European

• UEFA Cup

• Runners-up (1): 1991–92

Other

• Mitropa Cup

• Winners (1): 1990–91

• Amsterdam Tournament:
  • Runners-up (1): 1987

Notes:
^1 Torino won the title in the 1926–27 season, but it was later revoked.

Club records

League statistics

Below is a table showing the participation of Torino in the Italian leagues.

Level	Category	Participation	Debut	Final season	Total
1º	Prima Categoria	7	1907	1920-21	87
	Prima Divisione	5	1921-22	1925-26
	Divisione Nazionale	4	1926-27	1945-46
	Serie A	71	1929-30	2014-15
2º	Serie B	12	1959-60	2011-12	12

Team statistics

Torino is in 8th place in the Serie A perpetual standings,^[77] which takes account of all the football teams that have played in the top flight at least once.

In the Italian league, the team has finished in first place on eight occasions, although the club has only won seven championship titles,^[78] seven times in second place and nine times in third place.^[1] In 100 seasons, including 18 in various championships that preluded the single round format (Torino withdrew in 1908 and the 1915–16 Coppa Federale is not recognised), 70 in Serie A and 12 in Serie B, the club has finished on podium in 24% of cases.^[1]

In the 2006–07 season, Torino, for the first time in history played in a category higher than Juventus played: while the Granata competed in Serie A, Juventus took part in Serie B following the aftermath of the Calciopoli scandal.^[1]

Individual statistics

Giorgio Ferrini holds the club's official appearance record with 566 appearances (plus 56 goals) put together between 1959 and 1975.^[79] The record for the most goals scored is held by Paolo Pulici, with 172 official goals (in 437 appearances) between 1967 and 1982.^[80]

Among the top goalscorers, eight different Torino players have won the Capocannoniere award for league topscorer in the Italian top flight: the first was the Austrian Heinrich Schönfeld with 22 goals in 1923–24.^[81] He was followed by the Italian Argentine Julio Libonatti, who scored 35 goals in 1927–28 and Gino Rossetti (36) in 1928–29.^[81] Rossetti's tally of 36 goals is still the most goals ever scored to win the award. Eusebio Castigliano was the leading scorer (13) of the first 1945–46 season after the Second World War,^[81] followed by Valentino Mazzola in 1946–47 (29).^[81] Torino would have to wait almost 30 years before another league top scorer emerged: when Paolo Pulici broke the long fast in the mid-1970s and won the award in 1972–73 (17), 1974–75 (18) and 1975–76 (21).^[81] He was succeeded by teammate Francesco Graziani in 1976–77, who scored 21 goals. After almost 40 years, Ciro Immobile (22) established himself as the league top scorer in 2013–14.^[81]

No. Name Nationality Appearances 1 Giorgio Ferrini 566 2 Paolo Pulici 437 3 Renato Zaccarelli 413 4 Claudio Sala 360 5 Lido Vieri 357 6 Cesare Martin 345 7 Luigi Danova 340 8 Natalino Fossati 361 9 Antonio Janni 330 10 Giorgio Puia 326

No. Name Nationality Goals 1 Paolo Pulici 172 2 Julio Libonatti 157 3 Gino Rossetti 144 4 Guglielmo Gabetto 127 5 Marco Ferrante 125 6 Valentino Mazzola 123 7 Francesco Graziani 122 8 Adolfo Baloncieri 100 9 Franco Ossola 85 10 Rolando Bianchi 77

See also

Club related topics

• Torino F.C. Primavera
• Derby della Mole
• Grande Torino
• Superga air disaster

Historical information

• Association football in Italy
• Dynasties in Italian football
• Timeline of football

Lists

• List of Italian club competition winners
• List of Italian football champions

Records and recognitions

• Football records in Italy

References

External links

• (Italian) (English) Torino FC Official website

Torino Football Club Overview History Players Managers Supporters Honours Europe Home stadium Stadio Olimpico (2006-present) Rivalries Derby della Mole Related articles Grande Torino Torino F.C. Primavera Zona mista

Torino F.C. seasons 1907 1908 1909 1909–10 1910–11 1911–12 1912–13 1913–14 1914–15 1915–16 1916–17 1917–18 1918–19 1919–20 1920–21 1921–22 1922–23 1923–24 1924–25 1925–26 1926–27 1927–28 1928–29 1929–30 1930–31 1931–32 1932–33 1933–34 1934–35 1935–36 1936–37 1937–38 1938–39 1939–40 1940–41 1941–42 1942–43 43–1944 1944–45 1945–46 1946–47 1947–48 1948–49 1949–50 1950–51 1951–52 1952–53 1953–54 1954–55 1955–56 1956–57 1957–58 1958–59 1959–60 1960–61 1961–62 1962–63 1963–64 1964–65 1965–66 1966–67 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 1972–73 1973–74 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98 1998–99 99–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15

Serie A 2014–15 clubs Atalanta Cagliari Cesena Chievo Empoli Fiorentina Genoa Internazionale Juventus Lazio Milan Napoli Palermo Parma Roma Sampdoria Sassuolo Torino Udinese Verona Former clubs Alessandria Ancona Ascoli Avellino Bari Bologna Brescia Casale Catania Catanzaro Como Cremonese Foggia Lecce Lecco Legnano Livorno Lucchese Mantova Messina Modena Novara Padova Perugia Pescara Piacenza Pisa Pistoiese Pro Patria Pro Vercelli Reggiana Reggina Salernitana Siena SPAL Ternana Treviso Triestina Varese Venezia Vicenza Organisations Lega Serie A Football League Higher Divisions Directory Competition Champions Foreign players Statistics Records Finances Richest clubs: (Deloitte list) (Forbes' list) Average attendances Associated competitions Supercoppa Italiana UEFA Champions League UEFA Europa League Serie B

Original Italian Serie A clubs, 1929–30 Alessandria Bologna Brescia Cremonese Genoa (as Genova 1893) Internazionale (as Ambrosiana) Juventus Lazio Livorno Milan Modena Napoli Padova Pro Patria Pro Vercelli Roma Torino Triestina