History of A.C. Ancona

The history of Associazione Calcio Ancona has covered 105 years of the football from the club based in Ancona, Marche. It was a professional Italian football club, founded in 1905 as Unione Sportiva Anconitana, changing its name to Ancona Calcio in 1982 and being refounded in 2004 with its last denomination. Since 2010 the club is in liquidation and the current liquidator is Giorgio Paolo Raffaele Perrotti.

The nicknames of the team were i Dorici (The Dorians) and i Biancorossi (The Red and Whites).

From 1905 to 2010

From U.S. Anconitana to Ancona Calcio

Ancona had spells in Serie B before World War II and shortly after, but would not return to that level until 1988. Under coach Vincenzo Guerini, the club's rise was meteoric: 5th place in 1990 and promotion was achieved two years later. Although they would finish 17th and were relegated after just one year, the club nonetheless played in some memorable high-scoring games including a 3–0 home win over Inter. Midfielder Lajos Detari, winger Fabio Lupo and striker Massimo Agostini ensured Ancona had a respectable Goals For tally but conceded goals at an alarming rate.

The following year, Ancona reached an Italian Cup final but were heavily beaten by Sampdoria. Near misses in the promotion race was followed by relegation in 1996 and again in 1998. After returning to Serie B in 2000, Ancona would achieve another promotion in 2003.

Its second Serie A season would be one of the worst enjoyed by any Serie A club, with a record-equalling 28-game winless streak from the start. They finished the season with a pitiful 13 points. This was followed by bankruptcy and condemnation to Serie C2.

AC Ancona

Former AC Ancona logo

Ancona finished 5th in 2005–2006 season and lost promotion play-off against Sassuolo by finishing best place but promoted after expulsions of Gela and Sassari Torres due to financial troubles. They finished 16th in Serie C1/B and played relegation play-off against Teramo in 2006–2007 season. Ancona won 4–2 by aggregate and remained in Serie C1.

In October 2007 it was reported that Centro Sportivo Italiano (CSI), run by the Vatican's Conference of Bishops, had purchased an 80% share in the club. The report read:

"It is a way to moralise football, to bring some ethics to a sector that is going through a deep crisis of values," said Ancona Archbishop Edoardo Menichelli, who recently played a benefit game against an Italian national team of singers.

CSI president Edio Costantini said the centre wanted "to invest in the true meaning of sport. We want football to be again a means of education and not tied to strictly monetary values".

"We will show that, for boys, football is not just an illusion or a bad example."[1]

According to Catholic World News on 9 October 2007, the Vatican was distancing itself from the move, claiming the CSI was a group of 'lay Catholics' and the Vatican had 'nothing to do' with the project.[2] Yet in a Reuters report on 11 October 2007, both the Vatican Secretary of State and the Pope endorsed the move, quoted as saying respectively:

Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone praised the project in a statement read at its presentation, saying it was designed to 'bring out the human and spiritual values in sport'.

Pope Benedict XVI also encouraged the team after receiving a shirt with his name and the number 16 on from them at a general audience in St Peter's Square [3]

The club has had several Papal connections. The 'Project Soccer' initiative was blessed by Pope Benedict XVI with a letter sent by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone to the Centro Sportivo Italiano.[4] The 'Del Conero' stadium was visited by Pope John Paul II twice.[5]

The club has been promoted back to Serie B after winning promotion playoff after defeating Perugia by finished best place and Taranto by 2–1 aggregate in 2007–2008 season. Ancona finished 19th at Serie B at next season and faced with Rimini at play-outs. Ancona won them with a 2–1 aggregate and remained in it.

The liquidation

Ancona played the 2009–10 season in Serie B, finishing 17th despite 2 points deduction due to financial irregularities in the season and avoiding relegation, but eventually filed for bankruptcy and was unable to join any of the lower divisions. The club, however, managed to submit application for a place in Terza Categoria, the lowest level of the Italian football league system.[6] Their application was accepted on 13 September 2010, as they were granted a playing ground by the city administration.[7] However, they were still lacking players and a manager and were subsequently forced to forfeit the first four games of the season. According to FIGC regulations, this led to the club's removal from the league and they are now expected to undergo liquidation.[8]

Notable former players

This list of former players includes those who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.

See also Category:A.C. Ancona players

Former Managers

See Category:A.C. Ancona managers.

Last technical staff

Coach:Italy Sandro Salvioni
Coach at:Italy Massimo Di Stefano
Athletic trainer:Italy Alessandro Spaggiari
Goalkeeping coach:Italy Bruno Fantini
Team manager:Italy Paolo Rossi
Responsible for health:Italy Marzio Merli
Medical team:Italy Dott. Minciotti Paolo; Dott. Defranco Edoardo

Supporters and rivalries

The main rivals of Ancona was Ascoli.

The football in Ancona now

US Ancona 1905

Meanwhile, due to the uncertain future of A.C. Ancona, amateur side S.S. Piano San Lazzaro had become the main football club in the city.[9] Backed up by the Mayor and a vast majority of Ancona supporters, the club changed their denomination to U.S. Ancona 1905, but it is not his legitimate heir not having yet acquired its brand, its trophies and its sports title.[9][10] [11] [10]

U.S. Ancona 1905 started the 2010–11 season in Eccellenza Marche and it was promoted to Serie D winning also the Coppa Italia Dilettanti.[12] and the Regional Coppa Italia Marche.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Malcolm Moore (4 October 2007). "Vatican buys team to clean up Italian football". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 October 2007.
  2. ↑ "Vatican not sponsoring soccer team, spokesman clarifies". Catholic World News. 9 October 2007. Retrieved 10 October 2007.
  3. ↑ "Vatican backs club's mission". The World Game. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  4. ↑ "CSI e Ancona insieme nel progetto Soccer". CSI - Centro Sportivo Italiano. 10 October 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  5. ↑ "Lo Stadio". anconacalcio.it. 1 January 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  6. ↑ "Petocchi paga ma non ha lo stadio". Corriere Adriatico (in Italian). 9 September 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
  7. ↑ "La vecchia società iscritta alla Terza categoria: giocherà a piazza d’Armi". Il Corriere Adriatico (in Italian). Retrieved 14 September 2010.
  8. ↑ "L’Ancona di Petocchi verrà esclusa dal campionato. Poi la liquidazione?". Il Corriere Adriatico (in Italian). Retrieved 19 October 2010.
  9. 1 2 Giuseppe Poli (5 August 2010). "L'Ancona del calcio riparte dal Piano e da Marinelli". il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  10. 1 2 "Il sindaco annuncia il nome: "Sarà Us Ancona 1905"". il Resto del Carlino (in Italian). 10 August 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2010.
  11. ↑ Giorgio Paolo Raffaele Perrotti (17 May 2011). "(MIS)FATTI E DOMANDE" (in Italian). anconacalcio.it. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  12. ↑ "Ancona Piglia Tutto!" (in Italian). ancona1905.it. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 2 August 2011.
  13. ↑ "Riviera Oggi » L’Ancona ha vinto la Coppa Italia Dilettanti ed è promossa in serie D". rivieraoggi.it.

External links

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