 ACF Fiorentina, commonly referred to simply Fiorentina, is a professional Italian football club from Florence, Tuscany. Founded in 1926 (re-established in 2002), Fiorentina is a club that plays in the Italian Serie A league. Fiorentina have won Serie A, in the 1955-56 season and again in 1968-69, as well as winning six Coppa Italia trophies and one Italian Super Cup. On the European stage Fiorentina won the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1960-61 and lost in the finals and one year later. They were in the runner-up in the 1956-57 European Cup, after being defeated by Real Madrid, and also nearly won the UEFA Cup, and finished runner-up in the 1989-90 season. Fiorentina have played at the Stadio Artemio Franchi since 1931, which currently has a capacity of 47 282. The stadium uses several names over the years and has undergone several renovations. Fiorentina are known widely by the nickname Viola them, which refers to their distinctive color, purple. Established history Fiorentina Associazione Calcio Fiorentina was founded in the fall of 1926 by local officials who constitute the National Fascist Party (National Fascist Party) Luigi Ridolfi, who proposed the merger of two earlier Florentine clubs, CS Firenze and PG Libertas. With the aim to provide a formidable club in the city of Florence, and able to be more dominant Italian Football Championship. And also in the rise of modern football Calcio Fiorentino, which is the origin of modern football that is played by the Medici family. After struggling in the first three seasons in the lower division, Fiorentina promotion to Serie A in 1931. In the same year opened a new stadium, named Giovanni Berta, taken from the name of a prominent Fascist, but is now better known as the Stadio Artemio Franchi. At that time, the stadium is the best stadium and the stadium has been named as the most monumental. In order to compete with the best teams in Italy, Fiorentina strengthened the team with new players, the Uruguay striker Pedro Petrone, nicknamed el Artillero. Although successfully occupies the fourth position in the season, but Fiorentina were relegated the following season, but returned to Serie A promotion quickly. In the 1940s Fiorentina won their first Coppa Italia, but they can not rebuild their success during the 1940s, as World War II and other problems. First scudetto and the 1950s-60s In 1950 Fiorentina started to consistently occupy the top five in the domestic league. At that time the team consisted of Giuliano Sarti, Sergio Cervato, Francesco Rosella, Guido Gratton, Giuseppe Chiappella and Aldo Scaramucci, in addition to the players, there is also a duet Brazil striker Julinho and Argentine attacker, Miguel Montuori. The team won the first Scudetto for Fiorentina in 1955-56, with 12 points from second place AC Milan. A.C. Milan Fiorentina throne next year.  After several years of runner-up position, Fiorentina performance declined in 1960, catapulted to positions 4 and 6, but returned to win the Coppa Italia and the Mitropa Cup in 1966. Second Scudetto and 1970s While in the 1960s Fiorentina won several trophies and a satisfactory position in Serie A, no one believes they can achieve it. In the 1968-69 season began with A.C. Milan champion as a candidate, but in the 7th game they lost by Bologna and taken over by Gigi Riva from Cagliari. After a less than satisfactory start to the season, Fiorentina finished top of Serie A, but at the end of the first half of the season they were held to a 2-2 draw by Varese, and was forced to give up the top spot in Cagliari. In the second half of the season, there are three teams vying for the title, AC Milan, Fiorentina and Cagliari. A.C. Milan finally gave up and shifted focus to the European Cup, and it seems Cagliari was the one who would be a champion, but it turns out Cagliari defeated by Juventus, and Fiorentina managed to reach the top. Fiorentina won all the remaining matches, beating rivals Juventus, and they earned a second series. In the same year in the European Cup, Fiorentina reap good results, including a win against FC Dynamo Kiev, but eventually lost in the quarterfinals after losing away against Celtic. Flavio Pontello Era In 1980, Fiorentina was bought by Flavio Pontello, a luxury home contractor. Pontello directly replace the logo and hymn Fiorentina, which led to protests from fans. However Pontello also began recruiting quality players such as Francesco Graziani and Eraldo Pecci from Torino, Daniel Bertoni from Sevilla, Daniele Massaro from Monza, and young players Sampdoria, Pietro Vierchowod. In 1982, in the Giancaro Antognoni, engaging duel Fiorentina draw with Juventus. Fiorentina failed to win the Serie A title at the end of the season due to a severe injury suffered by Antognoni and disallowed goals against Cagliari, so the champions Juventus penalty. Since then, the feud between the two clubs was inevitable. Subsequent years Fiorentina achievement tides, sometimes at the top, but sometimes almost relegated. Fiorentina also bought two star players, El Puntero Ramon Diaz of the most interesting and Roberto Baggio. In 1990, Fiorentina have struggled to avoid relegation, but managed to reach the UEFA Cup final against Juventus. The Turin team won the trophy, but Fiorentina tifosi have reason to protest, because the second leg played in Avellino (Fiorentina Cage suspended), most of the population of the city is Juventus fans, and the candidate star Roberto Baggio was sold to Juventus in the Final. Pontello Economic crisis and started to sell some players led to protests and chaos in the streets of Florence. Fiorentina then bought by film producer Mario Cecchi Gori. Cecchi Gori era: from Champions Cup to the Bankruptcy At the beginning of the season under the ownership of Cecchi Gori, Fiorentina position stabilized. And the president of the club began to recruit good players like Brian Laudrup, Stefan Effenberg, Frencesco Baiano, and Gabriel Batistuta, who became a legend Fiorentina in the 1990's. In 1993, Cecchi Gori died and was replaced by his son, Vittorio. Although a good start to the season, Cecchi Gori fired the coach of Fiorentina, Luigi Radice, after losing against Atalanta and replace it with Aldo Agroppi. The result was even more dreadful: Fiorentina stranded at the bottom of the standings and were relegated at the end of the season. Fiorentina coach Claudio Ranieri called the 1993-94 season, and in that season, Fiorentina dominated Serie B. After promotion back to Serie A, Ranieri built a team that is centered on the top scorer Batistuta. Recruiting talented young midfielder Rui Costa from Benfica and defender from Brazil, Marcio Santos. The first player to be idol Fiorentina fans and players both disappointing and should be sold next season. Fiorentina ended the season in 10th position. The following season Cecchi Gori bought other important players like Stefan Scwarz. And again proving resilient in the competition by winning the Coppa Italia Italy after beating Atalanta, and finished 3rd in Serie A. In summer, Fiorentina became the first club to win a non-national championship, Super Coppa Italiana. Face Milan in a 2-1 win at San Siro. In the 1995-96 season Fiorentina disappointing performance in the league, but they managed to reach the quarter-finals of the Cup Winners Cup by beating Gloria Bistrita, Sparta Prague, and Benfica. They lost in the Semi Final by Barcelona (1-1 away, 0-2 pen) which later became champions of the competition. This season is a major player Luís Oliveira and Andrei Kanchelskis who often suffer injuries. At the end of the season, Ranieri left Fiorantina and moved to Valencia, his position was filled by Alberto Malesani. Fiorentina played well but not consistently against small teams, despite that they managed to qualify for the UEFA Cup. Malesani left Fiorentina after practice during the season and was replaced by Giovanni Trapattoni. Under coach Trapattoni and made goals Batistuta, Fiorentina dominate half the 1998-99 season, but eventually came in third at the end of the season. They also qualified for the Champions League. Fiorentina next season again undergo a disappointing season in Serie A, but La Viola played some historical matches in Champions League, beating Arsenal 1-0 at Old Wembley and beat Manchester United on Artemio Franchi. They were knocked out in the second group stage. At the end of the season Trapattoni left the club which was later replaced by Turkish coach, Fatih Terim. The most surprising is Batistuta sales to the U.S. Rome, who then won the Serie A that season. Fiorentina played pretty good and ended the 2000-01 season in mid-table, and Fiorentina coach again changed. Fatih Terim replaced by Roberto Mancini. They also won the Coppa Italia for the sixth time and their last trophy. The biggest changes occurred in 2001, which hit financial problems were revealed: They are not able to pay the salaries of the players and the club's debts totaled $ 50 million. The club's owner, Vittorio Cecchi Gori, was not able to collect the money again, and no longer able to sustain the club. Fiorentina were relegated at the end of the 2001-02 season and into the control of administrative law in June 2002. In the bankruptcy (sports companies in Italy can not go bankrupt just like that, but had to undergo several procedures) which means the club rejected in Serie B for the 2002-03 season, and Fiorentina are considered non-existent. Era Della Valle Fiorentina re-established in August 2002 as Associazione Calcio Fiorentina e Florentia Viola with Diego Della Valle as new owner, and be enrolled in Serie C2, which is the fourth division of the Italian League. The only player who still stay at the club until his reincarnation process was Angelo Di Livio is committed to remain at the club for the fans. Joint top scorer Di Livio and Christian Rigano, Florentia Viola won the Serie C2 with ease. Fiorentina are supposed to promotion to Serie C1 in fact directly jump to Serie B, as Caso Catania case that led to the expansion the number of teams in Serie B from 20 teams to 24 teams in order to save Catania from relegation Serie B. Italian Football Federation to promote Fiorentina to Serie B in 2003. The club also bought back the rights to use the Fiorentina name along with the costume design, and using the name of ACF Fiorentina. Fiorentina experienced double promotion led to protests in several parties. But nevertheless remain Fiorentina in Serie B, and managed to occupy position 6 at the end of the 2003-04 season. Fiorentina face of Perugia (Perugia occupies the 15th position in Serie A at the time) in the playoff game to be able to promotion to Serie A next season. Fiorentina won the match with a 2-1 aggregate score, with both goals scored by Enrico Fantini. They must fight to avoid relegation in the first season in Serie A, and was only able to avoid a playoff game at the end of the season against Bologna and Parma. In 2005, Della Valle appointed as sporting director Pantaleo Corvino's new at Fiorentina. In the 2005-06 season, as Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli brings and recruit some new players like Palermo's top scorer, Luca Toni and Sébastien Frey. Combination captain and defender Dario Dainelli Rep. Czech, Tomas Ujfalusi in defense. Cristian Brocchi as a defensive midfielder, Martin Jorgensen on the wing, Stefano Fiore as playmaker and Luca Toni as the main striker, with Frey in goal, Fiorentina managed to prove himself in Serie A with ranks 4th with 74 points and won a ticket Champions Cup qualifier. Luca Toni scored 31 goals from 38 appearances, becoming the first player to score 30 goals in Serie A since Antonio Valentin Angelillo in the 1958-59 season, and Toni also received the European Golden Boot. On July 14, 2006, threatened Fiorentina were relegated back to Serie B for their part in a match-fixing scandal and received Series A 12 point reduction. Fiorentina managed to stay in Serie A on appeal, but with a reduction of 19 points in the 2006-07 season. Ticket to the Champions League was also canceled. Reduction Points Fiorentina eventually reduced to 15 points after returning an appeal in the Court of Italy. Though started the 2006-07 season with minus 15 points, Fiorentina nevertheless managed to secure a UEFA Cup 2007-08 Tiken headed. Duet striker Adrian Mutu and Alberto Gilardino proved to be a fertile duet attacker in Serie A, with yield 31 goals. While many who doubted the potential of La Viola in the 2007-08 season due to Toni's departure, Fiorentina surprise early in the season and Marcello Lippi remarked that Scudetto challengers Fiorentina is the most surprising. Fiorentina ended the season in mid-table, after a few disappointments and the departure of coach Prandelli's wife from cancer. Fiorentina reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, after losing dramatically from Rangers on penalties (0-0). Fiorentina ended the season in 4th place after beating Torino 1-0, and Milan successfully shift to obtain a ticket to the Champions League qualifiers. Struggle in the Champions League at the group stage ended with the 3rd position standings, and is entitled to proceed to the UEFA Cup. Fiorentina continued success in the 2008-09 season with a 4th position in the Serie A and get a ticket to the Champions Cup 2010 qualifiers. La Viola participated in the 2008-09 Champions League, managed to reach the group phase after defeating Slavia Prague in the third qualifying round, but lost in the round failed knockuout after being defeated by Ajax. Contrary to the fate of the Champions League, Fiorentina are top of Serie A. The turning point came in the 2009-10 season, they successfully proved itself as a scapegoat in the European scene and followed the standings Serie A, Internazionale, Juventus and Sampdoria at the beginning of the season, but they were thrown from the track champion in the second half of the season. In Europe they got past Sporting Clube de Portugal in the qualifying round and the group with Olympique Lyonnais, Liverpool and Debrecen. Lost in the first match against Lyon, Fiorentina managed to comeback in the next matches, including beating Liverpool at home and away games. La Viola qualify for the next round and lost on away goals to Bayern Munich as well as the leadership of a bad referee in the game. Tom Henning Ovrebo, who led the first leg gets a lot of criticism from leaders and media Italy, for his decision to endorse a goal offside Miroslav Klose (who led Bayern to qualify for the next round). Fiorentina remain consistent in the Coppa Italia, made it to the semifinals before losing to Internazionale. In domestic competition, Fiorentina had to give a ticket to the European arena. In this period, Andrea Della Valle resigned as president on September 24, 2009. Duty for a while in the turn to the Vice President of the club, Mario Cognini.  In June 2010, Cesare Prandelli left Fiorentina for the Italian National Team training (Prandelli as coach of the longest train at Fiorentina). Prandelli position was replaced by former Catania coach, Sinisa Mihajlovic. Under the coaching Mihajlović, Fiorentina ended in ranks 9th. Fiorentina in the 2011-11 season struggling in the league along with the departure of key players such as Alberto Gilardino, Adrian Mutu, Sebastian Frey, Dario Dainelli, Jorge Martinez and Martin Jorgensen. And in the middle of the 2011-12 season Mihajlović fired and replaced by Delio Rossi. Substitution coach still has not produced results. And just in the last match Delio Rossi was involved in a row with his own players, Adem Ljajic, in the match against Novara where Fiorentina 0-2. At the end of the match that ended with the score 2-2, Fiorentina announced the sacking Delio Rossi. (Delio Rossi was sentenced suspended 3 games by FIGC). On June 11, 2012, Fiorentina announced the new coach Vincenzo Montella. With 2 year contract. Achievement Fiorentina  National title Series A: Champion (2): 1955-56; 1968-69 Two ratings (5): 1956-57, 1957-58, 1958-59, 1959-60, 1981-82 Coppa Italia: Champion (6): 1939-40; 1960-61; 1965-66; 1974-75; 1995-96; 2000-01 Two Rating (3): 1958, 1959-60, 1998-99 Supercoppa Italiana: Champion (1): 1996 Two Rating (1): 2001 European title European Cup / Champions League: Two Rating (1): 1956-57 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: Champion (1): 1960-61 Two rankings (1): 1961-62 UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League: Two Rating (1): 1989-90 Minor title Mitropa Cup Champion (1): 1966 Anglo-Italian Cup Champion (1): 1975 Series B Champion: 1930-31; 1938-39; 1993-94 Serie C2 (using the name Florentia Viola) Champion: 2002-03  Reference: http://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACF_Fiorentina |
Labels: Fiorentina, Italy, Serie A
