January 2012
25 posts
My guide to the grounds of Serie A: Genoa
Stadio Luigi Ferraris
Teams: Genoa and Sampdoria
Capacity: 35,536
Built: 1911
City: Genoa
Also known as the Marassi, the Stadio Luigi Ferraris is one of the oldest in Italy. Built in 1911 the stadium was originally property of Genoa and was the stage of Genoa’s early titles that were won during Serie A’s primitive years. The Stadium today is a daunting place with the crowd close to the pitch...
Serie A: The season so far
The new Serie A season, new players, new aspirations, a new stadium, new tactics, but not everything had changed: “Roma have several interesting players, like Lamela. He does what he wants with the ball at his feet, so would be excellent in a circus. How he does on a playing field in Serie A is another matter.” Luciano Moggi.
Read more on http://thinkfootball.co.uk/?p=1790e seaosn
My guide to the grounds of Serie A: Fiorentina
Stadio Artemio Franchi
Teams: Fiorentina
Capacity: 47,290
Built: 1931
City: Florence
Florence is one of the most beautiful cities in the world and is renowned for art and culture. Its is therefore quite apt that it has a stadium that is one of the best examples of 20th century architecture in the whole of the city. Designed by architect Pier Luigi Nervi the stadium includes a huge tower called the...
When Calcio ruled the world: Zvonimir Boban
Arguably one of the most talented players to play for Milan in the 1990’s Boban combined skill, intelligence, and outstanding passing range with a devastating shot.
Signed by Fabio Capello for £8 million in 1991 from Dinamo Zagreb the Croatian initially was loaned straight out to Bari. After suffering relegation with the team he came back to Milan to embark on a journey that would see him...
My guide to the grounds of Serie A: Chievo
Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi
Teams: Chievo and Hellas Verona
Capacity: 38,402
Built: 1963
City: Verona
The Stadio Marc’Antonio Bentegodi is one of Italy’s iconic stadiums. Built in
1963 this stadiums only fault was that it may have been too big for the teams which it had been built for. The ground was renovated for the World Cup in 1990 and became a superb arena for football from this date. The...
Calcio travel tip. Weather
Check the Weather? Weather in Italy you ask? Yes weather, this is only a quick tip but it sprung to my mind.
I went to see Fiorentina’s last home game of the season in 2010/11 versus Bologna. Florence the day before had been spectacularly beautiful, I had proposed in the Boboli Gardens and it had been lucky enough for Rachel to say yes. We had eaten in the beautiful Piazza della Signoria...
Ibra takes the Oscar Del Calcio award
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been voted the best player in Seire A 2011 at the Oscar Del Calcio awards.
The Milan forward scooped the best player and foreign player whilst his coach Massimiliano Allegri also picked up an award for being the best in his field. Milan were clearly the most decorated club at the event whilst Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Del Piero picked up lifetime achievement awards.
My guide to the stadiums of Serie A: Cesena
Stadio Dino Manuzzi
Teams: Cesena
Capacity: 23,860
Built: 1957
City: Cesena
The Stadio Dino Manuzzi was finished in 1957 and is somewhat different to many Italian stadium designs of that era. The first thing that is noticeable is that the entire stadium has a roof and it is also extremely close to the pitch. The absence of an athletics track provides an intimidating atmosphere as the crowd are...
When Calcio ruled the world: Tomáš Skuhravý
Tomas Skuhravy first exploded onto the world stage at the 1990 World Cup in Italy. The Czechoslovakian striker showed his predatory instincts scoring five times in the competition taking his team to the quarter finals. His ability to score with his feet or his head saw him finish second top scorer in the tournament, a feat not missed by Genoa, who snapped him up in time for the 1990/91 season.
...
My guide to the grounds of Serie A, Catania
Stadio Angelo Massimino
Teams: Catania
Capacity: 23,420
Built: 1937
City: Catania
Sicily can be as violent as it is beautiful and although the Stadio Angelo Massimino is in a fantastic setting its history is marred by recent events. Constructed in 1937 this stadium has not been modified as much as many in the Peninsula however, its atmosphere is second to none. The extremely passionate Catania...
My guide to the grounds of Serie A, Cagliari
Stadio Sant’Elia
Teams: Cagliari
Capacity: 23,486
Built: 1970
City: Cagliari
The Stadio Sant’Elia lies in the beautiful setting of Sardinia and must be one of the most picturesque venues in the whole of Italy. The stadium itself was built in 1970 following Cagliari’s first and last Scudetto triumph and has been recorded to have held 70,000.The ground went through major refurbishing for the 1990...
A look to the quarters, the Coppa Italia is...
This years Coppa Italia is shaping up to be one of the finest in recent yearsWith Milan booking their place in the last eight this week and Inter beating Genoa by two memorable goals last night the quarter finals look mouth watering.
On the 24th Jan, Juventus will host Roma in what could prove to be an electric tie. The Turin crowd will certainly provide a white hot atmosphere in the Juve Arena...
Tesser needs to find route to goal if Novara are...
My Latest article for Football ItalianoFootball
Rooted to the foot of the Serie A table, Novara are in dire straits. With no win in six games and only two all season, at first glance it seems Attilio Tesser’s men face an almost impossible task to save themselves falling back from whence they came. What ails this minnow of Serie A however, may not be as cancerous as first though and survival may...
My guide to the grounds of Serie A, Bologna
Teams: Bologna
Capacity: 38,297
Built: 1927
City: Bologna
The Stadio Renato Dall’Ara is a multi-purpose stadium that will be mostly remembered by English viewers of Italian football due to an incident in the Italia 90 World Cup. England faced Belgium in the second round and were only minutes away from going into a penalty shoot out before Paul Gascoigne floated in a free kick for David Platt to...
Buying tickets for your Italian Football match
If you have plans to watch Milan or Inter at the Giuseppe Meazza, Roma or Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico or even try to enjoy a game in one of Italy’s less well know venues, it is essential that you know how to over come some of the hurdles you will encounter re ticket acquisition.
Firstly DO NOT purchase your tickets from an online ticket seller. They will charge you an extortionate amount...
Travel tips for your Calcio trip
Passports and Tickets
“Her Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State requests and requires in the name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary.”
Whilst waiting in the queue which you have formed and the Italian’s have quickly ignored, you maybe getting quite...
“Coming to Rome was the best decision I could have possibly taken. Before I came...”
– Miroslav Klose on what football means in Italy 16/01/2012
Pining for Prandelli?
I saw Fiorentina last year at home to Bologna and two weeks ago against Novara, two very different teams with one major factor in common
The football world is constantly battling to create the perfect doctrine of how the game should be played. Just as it seems there is some sort of conclusion, the very nature of the game itself turns everything on its head.
This is the unfortunate conundrum...
My guide to the grounds of Serie A, first Bergamo
Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia
Teams: Atalanta and Albinoleffe
Capacity: 24,642
Built: 1928
City: Bergamo
Newly promoted Atalanta will be playing their home games in the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia during the 2011/12 campaign. The ground is often referred to as a relic of Mussolini’s Italy and is now deemed to be fairly outdated. With no roof and some obstructed views there is no doubt that...
The Gentleman Ultra
My name is Richard Hall and I am the Gentleman Ultra. Quintessentially English but embroiled in a love affair with the Italian Peninsula, its people and more importantly its football. Infatuated with Calcio since 1990 in love with the Ultra since 2007, this is not just an assortment of Italian Football articles this is a diary of my travels and experiences from the sublime to the bizzare.
