Associazione Calcio Reggiana,commonly referred to asReggiana,is a professionalfootballclub based inReggio Emilia,Emilia-Romagna,Italy. The club was formed in 1919, reformed in 2005 (Serie C2) and 2018 (Serie D) after going bankrupt twice, and currently plays in theSerie B,the second tier ofItalian football.Reggiana is known asi Granata( "the Maroons" ) in reference to the club's main colour:maroon.

Reggiana
Full nameAssociazione Calcio ReggianaS.r.l.
Nickname(s)I Granata(The Maroons)
Regia(local dialect for Reggiana)
Teste Quadre(Square Heads) from an ancient Poems
Founded25 September 1919;105 years ago(1919-09-25)
GroundMapei Stadium – Città del Tricolore
Capacity21,584
OwnerRomano Amadei; Carmelo Salerno; Giuseppe Fico[1]
ChairmanCarmelo Salerno
ManagerWilliam Viali
LeagueSerie B
2023–24Serie B, 11th of 20
Websitewww.reggianacalcio.it
Current season

The club was reformed twice after going bankrupt: in 2005 as Reggio Emilia Football Club, and in 2018 as Reggio Audace Football Club. On both occasions, the club regained the naming rights and the trophies of A.C. Reggiana via judicial auction. The club has participated inSerie A,the top tier of Italian football, seven times; their last appearance dates back to the1996–97 season.

History

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Formation

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The first football game in Reggio Emilia was played under the roof of the old market in 1909, via an exhibition promoted by the local multi-sports association “Forti per Essere Liberi” (Strong to be Free). The first football clubs emerged subsequently in the coming years, with Reggio Football Club, formed in 1912, rising to prominence as the main local side due to its participation to Promozione, the then Italian second tier, divided into regional groups. In 1914, a group of Reggio F.C. members in disagreement with the presidency at the time decided to leave the club and form Juventus F.C. The two sides clashed in 1914–15 Promozione. The entry of Italy into World War 1 in May 1915 caused a vacuum in the local football scene, as many young players were drafted into the army and lost their lives in the war. On 25 September 1919, in the main town square (today's Piazza Prampolini), a group of former footballers, assembled by former Reggio F.C. footballer Severino Taddei, decided to form a new local club, using Juventus’ ground Campo Mirabello and Reggio F.C. colours (maroon and blue). The new club was formed as Associazione Calcio Reggiana.

A.C. Reggiana (1919–2005)

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The club was originally founded in 1919 under the nameA.C. Reggiana,and played in the Italian First Division for several seasons in the 1920s. More recently, it played inSerie Ain 1993–94,1994–95,and1996–97.Their highest ranking was 13th place in the1993–94 Serie Achampionship, where its main name was Brazilian goalkeeperCláudio Taffarel,who would go on to win the1994 FIFA World Cupafter the season.

A.C. Reggiana 1919 (2005–2018)

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In July 2005, the sports title of A.C. ReggianaS.p.A.was transferred to a new investor, Reggio Emilia F.C. S.p.A.,[2][3]before being renamed asA.C. Reggiana 1919S.p.A. soon after the start of the 2005–06 season.

In the2007–08 Serie C2regular season, the team finished first in Group B, and won direct promotion toLega Pro Prima Divisione(formerly known as Serie C1 until that year) for the 2008–2009 season. Reggiana also won 2008Supercoppa di Serie C2,a competition for three group stage winners of Serie C2.

The club was acquired by Italian-American former baseball playerMike Piazzain 2016. After the 2017–18 season, the Piazza family decided not to register the team in the 2018–19 Serie C season, leading the club to the loss of its sporting title and subsequent exclusion from the Italian professional leagues.[4]

Reggio Audace F.C. (2018–2020)

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On 31 July 2018, a new entity was formed in Reggio Emilia, calledReggio Audace F.C..The name was given in honour of a precursor entity of the 1910s, where Reggiana founder Severino Taddei used to play before founding the granata club.[5]The new club, whose ownership was the expression of local entrepreneurs from Reggio Emilia, subsequently announced former Ravenna manager Mauro Antonioli as the new gaffer of the newborn club, admitted into the2018–19 Serie D.[6]Two days later a three-year partnership was signed with Macron.[7][8]On 20 August 2018 striker Nicola Luche became the first ever signing of the club.[9]

The club gained promotion to theSerie B,after having been admitted byrepechageto theSerie Cdue to vacancies left by bankrupt clubs in the third tier of Italian football and winning the2019–20 Serie Cplayoff, returning to Serie B after an absence of 21 years, gaining subsequently two consecutive promotions.

A.C. Reggiana 1919 (2020–present)

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On 28 July 2020, the club changed its name back to A.C. Reggiana 1919.[10][11]

Colors and badges

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The team's home jersey color isgranata(maroon), hence the nickname "Granata" or "Regia". However, the team's shorts are traditionally dark blue, and their badge has traditionally been an orange football surrounded by the text: "Associazione Calcio Reggiana" surrounded by a Granata border.

Stadium

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Reggiana played all of its matches inStadio Mirabellountil 1994, when it moved to a modern arena,Stadio Città del Tricolore(a site previously known asStadio Giglio). The stadium was subsequently bought byU.S. Sassuolo Calcio.[citation needed]

Fans

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Like other Italian cities, the birth of the "ultras"phenomenon in the 1980s also affected A.C. Reggiana. With Reggiana battling forSerie BandCantine Riunite Reggio Emiliacompeting inLega Basket Serie A,the youth of the city formed and gathered in ultras every Sunday.[citation needed]

The leading group of Reggiana "Curva Sud" was "Ultras Ghetto", which was famous for its choreography. Since the late 1990s, the leading groups have been "Teste Quadre" and "Gruppo Vandelli", which situate themselves in the East Stand of the stadium. Reggiana fans have always had good numbers on away days with a peak of 10,000 fans in Milan in 1994.[citation needed]

Friendships and rivalries

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Reggiana fans have good and friendly relationships with fans from:

The main rivals are:

Notable players

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Former Reggiana players have included:

Italy
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Colombia
Croatia
Czech Republic
Georgia
Germany
England
France
Montenegro
Nigeria
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Spain
Sweden
Venezuela

Youth sector

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Reggiana have always had a good tradition in developing youth players, being a rare club with a training ground which has 16 football pitches, located in the nearbies of the club house. The youth teams play their games inStadio Mirabello,via Agosti training ground or in small grounds located in the local province.

The academy has produced various players, notably:

Italy
Gabon
Ghana
Morocco
Nigeria

Players

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Current squad

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As of 4 February 2025[12]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules;some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK ITA Edoardo Motta
3 DF URU Joaquín Sosa(on loan fromBologna)
4 DF ITA Paolo Rozzio(captain)
5 MF ITA Alessandro Sersanti(on loan fromJuventus)
6 MF SVN Leo Štulac(on loan fromPalermo)
7 FW ITA Manuel Marras
8 MF ITA Luca Cigarini
10 FW ITA Luca Vido
11 FW CIV Cedric Gondo
13 DF ITA Andrea Meroni
14 MF NGA Nuhu Shaibu
15 DF ITA Riccardo Fiamozzi
16 MF ARG Tobías Reinhart
17 DF ITA Lorenzo Libutti
22 GK ITA Francesco Bardi
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 FW ITA Stefano Pettinari
25 MF ITA Lorenzo Ignacchiti(on loan fromEmpoli)
27 FW ITA Matteo Maggio
29 MF DEN Oliver Urso
30 MF ITA Antonio Vergara(on loan fromNapoli)
31 DF ITA Mario Sampirisi
44 DF ITA Lorenzo Lucchesi(on loan fromVenezia)
55 MF ITA Justin Kumi(on loan fromSassuolo)
77 MF ALB Elvis Kabashi
80 FW SUI Natan Girma
87 DF FRA Yannis Nahounou
90 MF ITA Manolo Portanova(on loan fromGenoa)
99 GK ITA Alex Sposito
DF CRO Filip Brekalo

Reggiana 1919 Primavera

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As of 19 January 2025

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules;some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
12 GK ITA Matteo Donelli
19 GK NGA Simon Esosa Aibangbee
No. Pos. Nation Player
47 MF ITA Filippo Tessitori
97 MF ITA Osmane Camara

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules;some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF ITA Giacomo Cavallini(atLeccountil 30 June 2025)
DF ITA Diego Stramaccioni(atGubbiountil 30 June 2025)
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF ITA Alessandro Fontanarosa(atCarrareseuntil 30 June 2025)
FW POR Muhamed Varela Djamanca(atTorresuntil 30 June 2025)

Coaching Staff

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Manager William Viali
Assistant manager Massimiliano Guidetti
Technical coach Simone Baroncelli
Match analyst Vincenzo Perri
Fitness coach Giacomo Ceci
Assistant fitness coach Mattia Fantuzzi
Fitness trainer technical assistant Alessandro Spaggiari
Goalkeeping coach Marco Bizzarri
Team manager Michele Malpeli
Head of medical staff Dott. Stefano Bondi
Club doctor Dott. Massimiliano Manzotti
Physiotherapist Remigio Del Sole
Filippo Torricelli
Gabriele Di Paola
Kit manager Matteo Ferri

Updated to match played 1 July 2024
Source: AC Reggiana Website

Backdoor and directors staff

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Honorary President and majority shareholder Romano Amadei
Chairman and CEO Carmelo Salerno
Vice-President Giuseppe Fico
Vice-President and Director of Operations Vittorio Cattani
Director of Football Marcello Pizzimenti
Head of the Academy Pietro Lodi
Head of Commercial Area Luca Tedeschi
General Secretary Nicola Simonelli
Head of Media and Marketing Alessandro Marconi
Press Officer Andrea Montanari
Social Media Manager Marcello Tosi

Updated to match played 1 July 2019
Source: Reggio Audace Website

Managers

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The team's most famous coach wasCarlo Ancelotti,who coachedAC Milanfrom 2001 to 2009 and then managedJuventus,Chelsea,Paris Saint-Germain,Real Madrid,Bayern Munich,Napoli,Evertonbefore returning to Real Madrid.

Chairmen

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  • 1919–1923:Giuseppe Cassoli
  • 1923–1925:Vittorino Palazzi Trivelli
  • 1925–1928:Giovanni Bonini
  • 1928–1930:Renato Bertolini
  • 1930–1931:Mario Muzzarini and Franco Fontanili
  • 1931–1932:Enrico Bottazzi
  • 1932–1936:Marcello Bofondi
  • 1936–1937:Giuseppe Pietranera
  • 1937–1938:Eugenio Bolondi
  • 1938–1939:Giovanni Marzi
  • 1939–1941:Giovanni Robba
  • 1941–1942:Alberto Ferrari
  • 1942–1943:Antonio Alessio
  • 1943–1945:Regolo Ferretti
  • 1945–1946:Carlo Visconti and Mario Curti
  • 1946–1947:Carlo Visconti
  • 1947–1948:Mario Dallaglio
  • 1948–1951:Renato Simonini
  • 1951–1955:Enzo Dal Conte
  • 1955–1956:Gianni Landini
  • 1956–1965:Carlo Visconti, Gino Lari and Giorgio Degola
  • 1965–1979:Carlo Visconti
  • 1979–1982:Franco Vacondio
  • 1982–1988:Giovanni Vandelli
  • 1988–1993:Ermete Fiaccadori
  • 1993–1994:Gianfranco Morini
  • 1994–1995:Luciano Fantinel
  • 1995–1996:Loris Fantinel
  • 1996–2001:Luciano Ferrarini
  • 2001–2002:Federico Spallanzani
  • 2002–2004:Chiarino Cimurri
  • 2004–2005:Federico Spallanzani
  • 2005–2009:Vando Veroni
  • 2009–2010:Clarfiorello Fontanesi
  • 2010–2015:Alessandro Barilli
  • 2015–2016:Stefano Compagni
  • 2016–2018:Mike Piazza
  • 2018–2020:Luca Quintavalli
  • 2020–present:Carmelo Salerno

Honours

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Divisional movements

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Series Years Last Promotions Relegations
A 3 1996–97 4 (1926,1929,1995,1997)
B 34 2023–24 4 (1924,1927,1993,1996) 8 (1930,1942,1952,1962,1970,1976,1983,1999,2021)
C
+C2
47
+3
2022–23 9 (1940,1946,1958,1964,1971,1981,1989,2020,2023)
1 (2008 C2)
3 (1953,2005✟,2018✟)

86 out of 90 years of professional football in Italy since 1929
D 4 2018–19 2 (1956,2019) never

References

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  1. ^"Amadei, Salerno e Fico unici soci della Reggiana".Gazzetta di Reggio(in Italian). 3 July 2020.Retrieved30 July2020.
  2. ^"COMUNICATO UFFICIALE N. 67/A (2005–06)"(PDF)(in Italian). FIGC. 16 August 2005.Retrieved11 July2015.
  3. ^"Comunicazioni della F.I.G.C"(PDF).Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2 November 2006.
  4. ^"Reggiana calcio, è finita. La squadra non si iscrive al campionato di serie C"[Reggiana soccer, is ended. The team does not join the championship of series C].il Resto del Carlino(in Italian). 16 July 2018.Retrieved19 July2018.
  5. ^"Reggiana, è nata la nuova società"(in Italian). 31 July 2018. Archived fromthe originalon 21 August 2018.Retrieved22 August2018.
  6. ^"La Reggio Audace è iscritta alla serie D: l'allenatore è Mauro Antonioli".gazzettadiparma.it.28 March 2017.Retrieved22 August2018.
  7. ^"Reggio Audace, Macron sponsor tecnico e Malpeli team manager - Reggionline - Telereggio Reggionline – Telereggio".reggionline(in Italian).Retrieved22 August2018.
  8. ^"Finalmente la fumata bianca: nasce la Reggio Audace Fc - Reggionline - Telereggio Reggionline – Telereggio".reggionline(in Italian).Retrieved22 August2018.
  9. ^"UFFICIALE: Reggio Audace, preso l'attaccante Luche dalla Feralpisalò".Retrieved22 August2018.
  10. ^Redazione (28 July 2020)."Reggio Audace addio: torna l'AC Reggiana 1919".Calcio e Finanza(in Italian).Retrieved11 August2020.
  11. ^"Da Reggio Audace a Reggiana: con la Serie B torna lo storico nome | Goal".goal.Retrieved15 August2020.
  12. ^"PRIMA SQUADRA".Reggiana Calcio.Retrieved30 August2024.
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