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After a scandalous and chaotic summer in Italian football, this weekend the country's main championship, the "Serie A" competition, will kick off. The battles of the 2005/06 season of one of Europe's strongest leagues will involve 20 teams.
Everyone understands that just like in previous years, the fight for the "scudetto" title in "Serie A" will be among three clubs – Turin's "Juventus" and Milan's teams "Milan" and "Inter". The remaining fourth place should be contested by the very unsuccessful "Roma" and "Fiorentina" teams from last season, as well as "Palermo". Joining the competition for places in European tournaments will also be "Udinese" and "Sampdoria". Teams like "Lazio," "Parma," and possibly "Cagliari" could aim for the top ten, while other clubs will fight for survival.
The EuroFootball.com portal presents the preview of the upcoming season's "Serie A" teams, Part I:
"Ascoli"
Head coach: Massimo Silva
Last season: 6th place in "Serie B", promoted due to "Torino" bankruptcy
Incomings: Maurizio Domizzi (from "Sampdoria"), Corrado Colombo ("Sampdoria"), Gianluca Comotto ("Roma"), Carlo Zotti ("Roma"), Francesco Carbone ("Chievo"), Nicolas Cordova ("Livorno"), Marco Ferrante ("Torino"), Fabio Quagliarella ("Torino"), Daniele Adani ("Brescia"), Roberto Guana ("Brescia"), Vittorio Tosto ("Genoa"), Massimo Paci ("Genoa"), Sasa Bjelanovic ("Lecce"), Nicola Zanini ("Genoa"), Ivan della Morte ("Genoa")
Exits: Francesco Modesto (to "Palermo"), Cristian Bucchi ("Modena"), Isah Eliakwu ("Inter"), Filippo Antonelli ("Chievo"), Roberto Colacone ("Modena")
Leaders: Robson Machado, Nicolas Cordova, Oscar Brevi
Outlook: fight for survival
Due to bankruptcies and disqualifications, "Ascoli" officially learned about their promotion to "Serie A" only twelve days before the start of the season, so they had to hastily assemble the team. Many new players, including promising goalkeeper C. Zotti, defenders M. Domizzi and D. Adani, forwards M. Ferrante and S. Bjelanovic, joined the club in the last week. The team has no time to bond – they will have to do it during the season. Under such circumstances, inexperienced coach M. Silva has a very difficult task, and if he manages to keep the team from relegating back to "Serie B," it would be a great success.
"Cagliari"
Head coach: Attilio Tesser
Last season: 10th place
Incomings: Andrea Capone ("Treviso"), Andrea Cossu ("Verona"), Alessandro Conticchio ("Torino"), Fabian Carini ("Inter")
Exits: Edgar Alvarez ("Roma"), Rolando Bianchi ("Reggina"), Gianfranco Zola (retired)
Leaders: David Suazo, Mauro Esposito, Antonio Langella
Outlook: mid-table
Returns: fight for survival
The revived "Cagliari" demonstrated beautiful football last year, but this season they lost one of their veterans, G. Zola, who decided to retire. The Sardinian club did not look for a replacement for him, and was one of the most passive participants in the transfer market in Italy over the summer, only adding goalkeeper H. F. Carini from more well-known players. Nevertheless, this has its advantages, as the team's core remains intact, with D. Suazo, M. Esposito, and A. Langella expected to remain particularly dangerous in the attack and score many goals. If coach A. Tesser can manage to keep his players free from injuries and focused on defense, the "Cagliari" team should be strong enough to stay in the league.
"Chievo"
Head coach: Giuseppe Pillon
Last season: 14th place
Incomings: Alberto Fontana ("Inter"), Andrea Mantovani ("Torino"), Giovanni Marchese ("Torino"), Antonios Natsouras ("Torino")
Exits: Julio Cesar ("Inter"), Roberto Baronio ("Lazio"), Luca Marchegiani (retired)
Leaders: Luciano, Amauri, Federico Cossato, John Mensah
Outlook: fight for survival
Last season, after a long break without their coach L. Del Neri, "Chievo" narrowly avoided relegation and their game no longer impresses Italy. Not much has changed in the team, but they lost important players like R. Baronio, who returned to his club in the capital after a loan. So, much will depend on how the new players will be able to replace them, but most likely, the core of the team, participating in Serie A for several years, should be able to fight for a place in the league next season due to their experience.
"Empoli"
Head coach: Mario Somma
Last season: 1st place in "Serie B" (after "Genoa" disqualification)
Incomings: Gianluca Berti ("Torino"), Matteo Serafini ("Catania"), Nicola Pozzi ("Milan")
Exits: Zlatko Dedic ("Parma"), Luca Saudati ("Atalanta"), Siyabonga Nomvethe ("Udinese")
Leaders: Antonio Busce, Sergio Almiron, Igli Vannucchi, Francisco Tavano
Outlook: fight for survival
Relegated from "Serie A" in the 2003/04 season, "Empoli" sold its leaders and now, back in the top league, did not try to strengthen too much, so they will rely on less-known players and hope that they will be able to shine. Although last year the Serie B Tuscan team seemed solid, it is hard to say how they will perform against the strongest clubs in the country. The burden will fall on the team's leaders – defender I. Vannucchi and forward F. Tavano. If they can handle this burden and continue to play successfully, "Empoli" has the potential to fight to stay in the league.
"Fiorentina"
Head coach: Cesare Prandelli
Last season: 16th place
Incomings: Sebastien Frey ("Parma"), Luca Toni ("Palermo"), Giuseppe Pancaro ("Milan"), Christian Brocchi ("Milan"), Stefano Fiore ("Valencia"), Alessandro Gamberini ("Bologna"), Marco Di Loreto ("Perugia"), Guilherme Do Prado ("Perugia"), Zisis Vryzas ("Celta"), Michele Pazienza ("Udinese"), Riccardo Montolivo ("Atalanta")
Exits: Cristiano Lupatelli ("Parma"), Giorgio Chiellini ("Juventus"), Hidetoshi Nakata ("Bolton"), Fabrizio Miccoli ("Juventus"), Enzo Maresca ("Sevilla"), Christian Obodo ("Udinese")
Leaders: Martin Jorgensen, Tomas Ujfalusi, Valeri Bojinov, Giampaolo Pazzini
Outlook: top six
Revived two years ago, "Fiorentina" has high ambitions. However, last year, despite many high-profile signings, they nearly dropped to Serie B. The club underwent major changes over the summer – leaders like C. Lupatelli, G. Chiellini, E. Maresca, F. Miccoli left, but suitable replacements were found – the team was reinforced by S. Frey, G. Pancaro, S. Fiore, L. Toni, one of the most promising players in Italy R. Montolivo. In addition, promising forwards like V. Bojinov and G. Pazzini, who joined the team last season, are now firmly established, and they will now be coached by C. Prandelli, who did excellently with "Parma." If he can create a real team from them, "Fiorentina" can seriously compete for a place in European tournaments.
"Inter"
Head coach: Roberto Mancini
Last season: 3rd place
Incomings: Walter Samuel ("Real"), Julio Cesar ("Chievo"), Pierre Wome ("Brescia"), Luis Figo ("Real"), David Pizarro ("Udinese"), Santiago Solari ("Real")
Exits: Christian Vieri ("Milan"), Alberto Fontana ("Chievo"), Carlos Alberto Gamarra ("Palmeiras"), Emre Belozoglu ("Newcastle"), Edgar Davids ("Tottenham"), Andy van der Meyde ("Everton"), Hector Fabian Carini ("Cagliari")
Leaders: Javier Zanetti, Ivan Cordoba, Adriano, Juan Sebastian Veron, Esteban Cambiasso
Outlook: fight for the title
Every season is a new hope for the "Inter" club to win the Italian championship or at least another trophy, but in the past decade, with a plethora of stars, the club has only managed to win the UEFA Cup. Despite being titleless, "Inter" had to wait until last season, when under new coach R. Mancini they won the Italian Cup, and recently the Milan club also won the Super Cup – all of which seems like very promising signs for a club whose inability to win had become customary for many football fans. The club's management also did well over the summer, getting rid of players unfamiliar to the team and strengthening the weakest links with players like W. Samuel, S. Solari, L. Figo – competition for places in the starting lineup should also increase with D. Pizarro, P. Wome, and J. Cesar. It seems that there are no weak spots in the team coached by R. Mancini, but "Inter" could only become champions after 17 years if the new players successfully integrate and form a real "fist."
"Juventus"
Head coach: Fabio Capello
Last season: champions
Incomings: Patrick Vieira ("Arsenal"), Giorgio Chiellini ("Fiorentina"), Fabrizio Miccoli ("Fiorentina"), Giuliano Giannichedda ("Lazio"), Adrian Mutu ("Chelsea"), Robert Kovac ("Bayern"), Christian Abbiati ("Milan"), Federico Balzaretti ("Torino")
Exits: Stephen Appiah ("Fenerbahce"), Olivier Kapo ("Monaco"), Paolo Montero ("San Lorenzo"), Alessio Tacchinardi ("Villarreal"), Nicola Legrottaglie ("Siena")
Leaders: Gianluigi Buffon, Lilian Thuram, Alessandro Del Piero, David Trezeguet, Pavel Nedved, Emerson, Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Outlook: fight for the title
"Juventus," the most successful team in Italy, will once again try to defend their title, and although it is always very difficult, it is certainly possible for the Turin club. Experienced coach F. Capello will have an even stronger squad this season – especially notable is the addition of defensive midfielder P. Vieira, the strengthened attacking line with A. Mutu and F. Miccoli, and the team was also strengthened by R. Kovac, G. Giannichedda, C. Chiellini, and C. Abbiati temporarily replacing the injured goalkeeper G. Buffon. However, the desire of the club to win the Champions League could disrupt their pursuit of victory in Serie A, but still for any team aiming to win the Italian champions title, they will first need to overcome the "Old Lady."
"Lazio"
Head coach: Delio Rossi
Last season: tied for 10th place
Incomings: Roberto Baronio ("Chievo"), Igli Tare ("Bologna"), Emilson Cribari ("Udinese"), Manuel Belleri ("Udinese"), Valon Behrami ("Verona"), Simone Inzaghi ("Sampdoria"), Gabi Mudingayi ("Torino"), Christian Keller ("Torino"), Felice Piccolo ("Reggina"), Guglielmo Stendardo ("Perugia")
Exits: Oscar Lopez ("Betis"), Paolo Negro ("Siena"), Anthony Seric ("Panathinaikos"), Leonardo Talamonti ("River Plate"), Giuliano Giannichedda ("Juventus"), Fabio Bazzani ("Sampdoria"), Claudio De Sousa ("Messina"), Antonio Filippini ("Treviso"), Emanuele Filippini ("Treviso"), Fernando Couto (contract expired)
Leaders: Cesar, Angelo Peruzzi, Paolo Di Canio, Tommaso Rocchi
Outlook: mid-table
Struggling with financial problems, "Lazio" is no longer as powerful as before – the Roman club was forced to sell their leaders over the past three years and is now building a new team. Last year, the club tried to avoid bankruptcy, and the new owner arrived only at the end of the summer, with the team hastily assembled – even eight players joined on the last day of the transfer window, so the team lacked stability during the season. Now the newly appointed coach D. Rossi had a bit more time to assemble the team – the squad was supplemented by defenders E. Cribari, M. Belleri, midfielders R. Baronio and V. Behrami, forward I. Tare, among other players. Among the major losses are G. Giannichedda and the experienced F. Couto, but even without these players, "Lazio" should be able to fight for a place in the middle of the tournament table.
"Lecce"
Head coach: Angelo Gregucci
Last season: tied for 10th place
Incomings: Alfonso Camorani ("Siena"), Philippe Billy ("Mons"), Bruno Cirillo ("Siena")
Exits: Samuele Dalla Bona ("Sampdoria"), Sasa Bjelanovic ("Ascoli")
Leaders: Guillermo Giacomazzi, Mirko Vucinic, Cristian Ledesma
Outlook: bottom half of the table
During the summer, "Lecce" made almost no changes to the team, but there was an important change in the coaching staff, where Z. Zeman, known for his attacking play, was replaced by A. Gregucci. The new strategist is expected to achieve similar results to last season, but they will try to do it differently from before, as "Lecce" was the league's second most goal-scoring team and was second most productive last season. Playing a bit more cautiously, it is likely that "Lecce" will avoid relegation and be among the league's midtable teams once again.
"Livorno"
Head coach: Roberto Donadoni
Last season: tied for 8th place
Incomings: Ze Rodolpho ("Juventude"), Paulinho ("Juventude"), Stefano Morrone ("Palermo"), Giuseppe Colucci ("Reggina"), Rafaelle Palladino ("Salernitana"), Ibrahima Bakayoko ("Istres"), Nicola Lazetic ("Genoa"), Diego de Ascentis ("Torino")
Exits: Jose Vidigal ("Udinese"), Tomas Danilevičius ("Avellino"), Igor Protti (retired)
Leaders: Cristiano Lucarelli, Jorge Vargas
Outlook: bottom half of the table
One of last season's surprises, "Livorno" was boosted during the offseason with Brazilians Ze Rodolpho and Paulinho, strengthened their defensive line with Italians S. Morrone, G. Colucci, D. de Ascentis, and Bosnian N. Lazetić, added forwards R. Palladino and I. Bakayoko, and lost more notable players like J. Vidigal, the retired I. Protti, and on loan Lithuanian T. Danilevičius. Therefore, if the team's leader C. Lucarelli continues to score goals successfully, "Livorno" should be able to outperform other teams fighting relegation and solidify their position in the lower part of the table.
