2003–04 U.S. Città di Palermo season

U.S. Città di Palermo played the season 2003-04 in the Serie B league. The rosanero ended the season in first place, being crowned Serie B champions and promoted to Serie A after over 30 years in the lower divisions.

Review and events

Ambitious Palermo failed to gain promotion to Serie A in the previous season following a 3-0 away defeat in the final match against Lecce, which were promoted at Palermo's place. That dramatic defeat was also the last appearance in his playing career for team captain Antonino Asta, who seriously injured during the match and did not manage to recover; he was part of the first team squad in the season 2003-04, without however making a single appearance. Following the events, Palermo made a number of prominent signings in the summer market, such as Eugenio Corini, Andrea Gasbarroni and Luca Toni; in addition, Palermo-born star Gaetano Vasari agreed to join the rosanero with a salary based on the number of appearances he would have made in the season. Silvio Baldini was appointed as new boss to replace Nedo Sonetti. Several football pundits suggested Palermo to be the real favourite team to win the Serie B league because of the quality of its roster.

The team made a very impressive start by defeating Gianfranco Zola's Cagliari Calcio, and managed to be always in the promotion spots. However, following a surprising 3-1 home defeat to Salernitana that brought Palermo down to third place, Baldini heavily criticized club chairman Maurizio Zamparini who consequently fired him and appointed Francesco Guidolin at his place. On the last day of the January transfer market, three new notable signings were made: Antonio Filippini, Emanuele Filippini and Fabio Grosso. Palermo later returned to top the table and eventually won the league, ending with the same points than Cagliari, but being crowned as Serie B champions due to head-to-head matches.

2003-04 squad

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Serie B		Coppa Italia
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK		Gianluca Berti	43	-35	42	-35	1	0
12	GK		Nicola Santoni	8	-10	4	-4	4	-6
84	GK		Paolo Comi	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	DF		Gianluca Atzori	18	0	17	0	1	0
6	DF		Christian Terlizzi	15	0	12	0	3	0
13	DF		Pietro Accardi	35	0	32	0	3	0
18	DF		Fabio Grosso	21	1	21	1	0	0
21	DF		Giuseppe Biava	19	3	19	3	0	0
25	DF		Kewullay Conteh	34	0	32	0	2	0
29	DF		Valentin Năstase	19	1	16	1	3	0
81	DF		Michele Ferri	39	2	36	1	3	1
5	MF		Eugenio Corini	43	12	40	12	3	0
7	MF		Gaetano Vasari	30	2	26	1	4	1
8	MF		Daniele Di Donato	39	3	39	3	0	0
10	MF		Lamberto Zauli	24	4	21	4	3	0
11	MF		Salvatore Masiello	22	0	18	0	4	0
17	MF		Antonino Asta	0	0	0	0	0	0
22	MF		Massimo Mutarelli	44	2	41	2	3	0
23	MF		Emanuele Filippini	20	4	20	4	0	0
26	MF		Antonio Filippini	21	2	21	2	0	0
46	MF		Andrea Gasbarroni	41	6	39	6	2	0
79	MF		Evans Soligo	13	1	9	0	4	1
82	MF		Nicola Milano	1	0	0	0	1	0
9	FW		Luca Toni	47	30	45	30	2	0
20	FW		Simone Pepe	24	3	19	1	5	2
24	FW		John Otuagomah Olufemi	1	0	0	0	1	0
30	FW		Jeda	17	3	17	3	0	0
Players sold or loaned out during the January transfer market:
3	DF		Francesco Modesto	6	0	1	0	5	0
18	MF		Franco Brienza	21	1	18	1	3	0
21	MF		Paul Codrea	12	0	8	0	4	0
23	MF		Ighli Vannucchi	11	2	8	0	3	2

January transfer market bids

In

18		DF	Fabio Grosso (from Perugia)
21		DF	Giuseppe Biava (from AlbinoLeffe)
23		MF	Emanuele Filippini (from Parma)
26		MF	Antonio Filippini (from Brescia)
30		FW	Jeda (from Vicenza)

Out

3		DF	Francesco Modesto (to Reggina)
18		MF	Franco Brienza (on loan to Perugia)
21		MF	Paul Codrea (on loan to Perugia)
23		MF	Ighli Vannucchi (to Empoli)