Football in Italy
A bit of history …
Different forms of football were played in Italy in ancient times, the
earliest of which was Harpastum, played during the times of the
Roman Empire. This game may have also been influential to other
forms throughout Europe due to the expansion of the Empire,
including Medieval football in England.
The first leagues were started by English emigrants in the 1891s in Italy.
The first club was Genoa Cricket and Athletic Club (now Genoa Cricket &
Football Club). Initially there were separate leagues for Italians and
foreigners, they merged around 1897. In March 1898, the Italian Football
Federation (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio , FIGC) was set up in Turin
with four clubs joining: Genoa, FC Torinese, Internazionale di Torino and the
Società Ginnastica di Torino (Gymnastic Society of Torino). Other clubs
existed but decided not to join. The first league took place on a single day,
May 8, 1898 in Torino. The title was won by Genoa.
Football is the most popular sport in Italy. The Italian national
football team has won the Football World Cup four times and is the
current title-holder. Italy's club sides have won 27 major European
trophies, making them the most successful footballing nation in
Europe.
World Champion 1934
World Champion 1938
World Champion 1982
World Champion 2006
BUFFON Gianluigi - ZAMBROTTA Gianluca
CANNAVARO Fabio
IAQUINTA Vincenzo - GROSSO Fabio
TOTTI Francesco
GATTUSO Gennaro - PIRLO Andrea
DEL PIERO Alessandro
CAMORANESI Mauro - TONI Luca
MATERAZZI Marco
DE ROSSI Daniele - PERROTTA Simone
National Football
Championship
The Italian football league system is a series
of interconnected leagues for football teams
in Italy. At the top there is the Lega
Nazionale
Professionisti
(Professional
national League, often referred to as “Lega
Calcio”)
which
manages
the
two
main
divisions: Serie A e Serie B.
In Serie A, the major professional division, there are 20 teams
competing and the one which gains more scores wins the so called
Scudetto. Serie A is widely regarded as an elite in the footballing world.
Historically it has produced the highest number of European Cup
finalists.
The most famous teams in
Serie A are:
Juventus Football Club
Football Club Internazionale
•La vecchia Signora
(The Old Lady)
Nickname
•I Bianco neri
(The White-blacks)
Founded
1 November 1897, Turin
• I Nero azzurri
(The Black-Blues)
Nickname
•La Beneamata
(The Cherished)
Founded
9 March 1908, Milan
Coach
Claudio Ranieri
Coach
José Mourinho
Famous
players
Alessandro Del Piero (Captain)
Gianluigi Buffon (Goalkeeper)
Famous
players
Javier Zanetti (Captain)
Marco Materazzi (Defender)
Associazione Sportiva (AS) Roma
Associazione Calcio Milan
Nickname
•I Giallo Rossi
(The Yellow-Reds)
•La Magica
(The Magic)
Nickname
•I Rosso Neri
(Red-Blacks)
•Il Diavolo
(The Devil)
Founded
22 July 1927, Rome
Founded
16 December 1899, Milan
Coach
Luciano Spalletti
Coach
Carlo Ancelotti
Famous
players
Francesco Totti (Captain)
Vincenzo Montella (Striker)
Famous
players
Paolo Maldini (Captain)
David Beckham (Midfielder)
Italian coaches and players in UK
Fabio Capello, Ex football
player and coach for many
important Italian teams. In
2007, he became coach for
the English National Football
team.
 Gianluca Vialli,
retired player and
coach. In 1996, he
joined Chelsea as
striker and then
player-coach. After,
he became coach for
Wattford
Gianfranco Zola, ex
player. He played for
Chelsea and in 2008
became coach for West
Ham.
Paolo Di Canio,
retired player. He
has played for
many years as
striker for Celtic,
Glasgow, Sheffield
Wednesday, West
Ham and
Charleton.
Carlo Cudicini, goalkeeper
for Chelsea and currently
plays for Tottenham.
Andrea Dossena,
defender for
Liverpool since
2008.
David De Michele,
striker for West Ham
since 2008.
Le parole del calcio
Football words
Le divise ufficiali
The official uniforms
Lo stemma
The badge
In casa
Home Colours
Fuori casa
Away Colours
L’allenamento… – Coaching…
…La partita - The match…
…e il goal! – …and the goal!
I tifosi
The supporters
Squadra
Team
Allenatore
Coach
Calciatore
Football player
Difensore
Defender
Portiere
Goalkeeper
Centrocampista
Midfielder
Attaccante
Striker
Riserva
Substitute
Arbitro
Referee
Calcio di punizione
Free kick
Calcio d'angolo
Corner kick
Guardalinee
Linesman
Calcio di rigore
Penalty kick
Cartellino rosso/giallo
Red / yellow Card
Palla
Ball
Fischietto
Wistle
Scarpette
Cleats
Rete
Goal Net
Spogliatoio
Changing room
Coppa del mondo
World Cup
Tifosi
Supporters
Campo da calcio - Soccer Field
Area di rigore
Penalty area
centrocampo
midfield
Linea di difesa
Zone defense
porta
goal area
rete
net
calcio d’angolo
corner kick
Edited by: Sabrina Lombardi (2006)
Ri-edited by: Paola Digregorio (2009)
Education Department
Italian Consulate General, London